How to keep cat warm and dry outside? (kitty, eating)
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cut to size of the bottom to create insulation below the unit so that air is not flowing under it.
Then figure out what would best help to keep blowing rain out, perhaps another plastic container (somewhat bigger than the main house) on its side with a small opening cut on the side that faces the house wall. Straw has very good insulating properties and it's what we use for all of our foster dogs that have outside runs and houses.
How about putting it up on cinder blocks or treated lumber? Several years ago, I rescued a mama cat and her three kittens that had been dumped in a nearby park, and it took me about a month to get the kittens into the local no-kill humane society shelter. I put a large metal dog crate on three 4" x 4" x 24" pieces of treated lumber so that it wasn't on the garage floor, and that worked well.
In your case, you can get put down either the cinder blocks or the lumber and insulate the bottom with styrofoam panels ( HD or Lowe's). The styrofoam won't attract rodents.
I second the straw bedding. It can also be removed and freshened as needed.
What you also need is to block the wind from blowing into the shelter. A curtain as someone suggested might work. Perhaps a board or something that creates a "wall" opposite the door that leaves a space just wide enough for the kitty to fit through would work.
I want to elevate my shelters and never thought of the treated lumber. Great idea, and I love the wall idea. I did read recently how a tarp hanging sort of loosely over the opening provides the privacy they seek, too.
OK - It finally dawned on me that I DO have something to get it up off the ground - a lawn lounger chair... and it fits perfect.
I also draped some rugs over the top (over the tarp) and let one sort of fall down over the door... so the kitty has a door now. He also likes to sit on top of the cat house during the sunny times of the day.
So kitty is way warm and snuggly now. He's in his little cozy house now. I've been warming his dinner up for him now that the nights are really cold. He gets dry in the morning, but every evening we give him some warm moist/canned food.
I really appreciate all the info and suggestions everyone shared here. Thank you!
Silly question: where do you purchase straw? (I'm a city girl. I don't know these kinds of things. )
Last year I sold (no profit) 70 feral cat shelters and this year, 60, from my driveway.
You can see them here: They are simple: You buy fish boxes (styrofoam containers for fish) which are often seamless and cut a hold at one end. You put in straw (straw is the best and driest insulator for cats and barn animals - if they are wet with snow the water drops down through the straw) which provides outstanding insulation, and you cover the fishbox with giant contractor bags (thick). Here they are:Joe's Fish Box Shelters - a set on Flickr
Alley Cat Allies and Neighborhood Cats, as well as the ASPCA and the Humane Society all have extensive photos and how to literature on how to make a cat shelter from wood, insulated materials, rubbermaid bins, etc.
That's the heating pad we have The K & H heating pad. Kitty loves it!!
Thank you for the link to the fish box shelters you make - what a great idea! Thank you for making those - think of how many kitties are sleeping warm because of you!
OK - It finally dawned on me that I DO have something to get it up off the ground - a lawn lounger chair... and it fits perfect.
I also draped some rugs over the top (over the tarp) and let one sort of fall down over the door... so the kitty has a door now. He also likes to sit on top of the cat house during the sunny times of the day.
So kitty is way warm and snuggly now. He's in his little cozy house now. I've been warming his dinner up for him now that the nights are really cold. He gets dry in the morning, but every evening we give him some warm moist/canned food.
I really appreciate all the info and suggestions everyone shared here. Thank you!
Silly question: where do you purchase straw? (I'm a city girl. I don't know these kinds of things. )
We have an outdoor cat that adopted us. He looks to be a Maine Coon tabby with thick long fur, so winter cold won't be a big issue for him in this southwestern climate. I got a small doghouse and put a large thickly padded critter bed in it. He's very happy with the set-up. I keep thinking he'll want to come inside, but he just takes a step inside the door, looks around, and then saunters right back out.
OK - It finally dawned on me that I DO have something to get it up off the ground - a lawn lounger chair... and it fits perfect.
I also draped some rugs over the top (over the tarp) and let one sort of fall down over the door... so the kitty has a door now. He also likes to sit on top of the cat house during the sunny times of the day.
So kitty is way warm and snuggly now. He's in his little cozy house now. I've been warming his dinner up for him now that the nights are really cold. He gets dry in the morning, but every evening we give him some warm moist/canned food.
I really appreciate all the info and suggestions everyone shared here. Thank you!
Silly question: where do you purchase straw? (I'm a city girl. I don't know these kinds of things. )
Straw can be found at most feed stores - even if you live in an urban area I would think there are people who have horses.
You might also try garden centers, or even big box stores sometimes have straw this time of year.
Buy several bales now and stock up, because late fall is when straw is freshest so most available.
Then you'll have people who'll say - the straw will encourage mice! Well, gotta give the cat something fun to do over the winter!
Thank you!!
Yes we've had neighbors near us say they have mice and ask us if we have seen any. But we have not seen a single one, not even a mouse dropping.
Today I was out working in the yard and Sam he was following me everywhere I went. He's my little yard buddy. I was down on my hands and knees pulling weeds at one point, and he jumped on my back and started making biscuits and then laid down, right on my back! He is the sweetest and most affectionate cat I've ever known.
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