Winter Shelters
In urban areas, many free-roaming cats seek shelter in the storm drains during the winter. Unfortunately, heavy rains and melting snow kill many of these cats every year. Providing a warm, safe shelter alternative for feral cats is important for their survival.
Below you will find plans for several shelters designs, some simply made from plastic totes and styrofoam coolers.
A quick note on bedding material: The very best bedding material is straw. It holds heat and dries out quickly. Blankets and hay can both absorb moister and actually wick heat away from a cat. Straw can be found at most home improvement stores in the fall and at Chewy year-round.
Purchase ready-made shelters:
Sanctuary for Ferals That Won’t Go In A Shelter
Etsy.com (search for “outdoor cat house”)
