Cat house Idea

[kimlovescats]

I buy the big plastic storage tubs from Wal-Mart, and have hubby cut a hole in then end. I just leave them right side up with the lid on, since the lid overhangs the top, it doesn't leak. You can put straw inside and any type of blanket or bedding. It is very cheap and much better than them being out in the elements! I think it's great that you are wanting to do this!

[Freedom]

Oh, Oh, I am not too good at doing searches, maybe someone else can help here? (It is not just PT, I can't do internet searches well, either.)

Recently, a young lady PTer was posting from Wales. She had 2 strays in her backyard, got them fixed and released them; and her Dad built a house for them in the back yard, with a rug covered shelf and all. The 2 cats were black and white, male and female. The male has a distictive black heart shape on his white chest. Can anyone find it? Then the 2 can talk about building the house. Sorry I can't locate it.


**EDIT** Third times a charm, I guess! It is a posting by Culture Junky!

[Randi]

What a great idea!! Years ago we built houses for the kitties in our yard. We used styrofoam boxes we got from the greengrocer, two of them put together with good tape, a hole in one end (the long side) and covered with thick plastic. Inside, we put old towels or blankets, and we put the boxes on some bricks.

These worked fine for a few years, until we built a new wooden house with a little porch. This, we insulated with styrofoam.

I hope you'll find some good boxes!

Good luck!

[mruffruff]

I would be very careful about putting a light in the house for heat. Light bulbs have been known to start fires in dog houses. In your area, styrofoam insulation should be enough. Kimlovescat's large plastic box sounds like the best idea. I find that most stray cats like to have 2 doors, one on either end, offset. They have a fear of being trapped.

[Randi]

I would be very careful about putting a light in the house for heat. Light bulbs have been known to start fires in dog houses.

I find that most stray cats like to have 2 doors, one on either end, offset. They have a fear of being trapped.

I too would worry about setting fire to the house. There are some "thingy's" (flat pillow like filled with ???) that you can put in a microwave for 2 min. and they'll stay warm for hours. Some people use them for beds.

But think about the draft!! We don't want them to catch a cold.

[AbbyMom]

Check out the Indy Feral Cat Shelter.

http://indyferal.org/index.php?page=shelters

They sell kits which you can assemble yourself. Or, you can at least look at their two-story plans!

[CultureJunky]

Oh yes I missed this post, got pointed to it by Freedom.
My dad built a house for the ferals we have out our garden, it's not heated but does have blankets and is water proofed using felt to cover it.
Here is a few pictures of it, this should suffice I think.
If you wanted to heat it you could use hot water bottles and stick a few in for the night, then they may settle on it. I can't think of any other way of heating it, there are those snugglesafe pads that you heat up in the microwave and they stay hot for hours.
I can't exactly describe how it was built as my dad built it not me. But perhaps the pictures will give you an idea?

[Laura's Babies]

Well Kev, looks like you got enough here to chew on for awhile.. I LOVE CJ's shelter, that is way to neat!