What's a good feral cat shelter for colder months?

[Flaxbee]

Colder months in Virginia = a few months of daytime temps hovering in the 30s, cold nights, and snow.

I've been caring for a female feral since last winter -- she had a favorite spot with the neighbors, but then they adopted a big dog and so she shifted to my house :) Anyway, she's slowly getting used to me, and I have a little cardboard box with a towel out on our covered porch for her where I put her food and water every day. Last winter I had a few cardboard boxes cobbled together, but as they got wet from blowing snow they just became unsuitable.

I am going to try to catch her and have her spayed / get her shots one of these days when I have some extra $$$ (and I think she may already be spayed because I have watched her closely for 10 months and seen no sign of babies, nursing, nothing). But meanwhile, I'd like to fix a sturdier bed / home for her when it gets colder.

My question is: I have some credit at Tractor Supply and was thinking of getting her one of the insulated, extra-small dog houses, but I wonder if she'd feel too confined and not use it. She likes her current bed because it's open on two sides so she can scoot in and out without feeling trapped.

Cat people: will she feel trapped in a single-entryway dog house? I want something sturdier and warmer for her, with a roof. The bed will be on our covered porch, but in the winter when the snow blows, it can reach to our front door (it's never very deep - it just blows onto the porch and gets things wet) so it is important that the house be insulated and mostly covered to keep snow out.

Caveat: she never, ever has slept on the porch for a full night - she just hangs out there until I feed her at night, and sometimes kicks back for a bit, staring at my other 5 indoor cats who are staring out the storm door at her. :D So in the winter I doubt she'd stay, but I want to provide something for her in case she does.

Long post for a simple question, but input appreciated. Thanks! :hi:

[blogslut]

1. Cats like hidey places

I mean, I can't give you a guarantee but most every cat I've ever known loves to find a wee cave-like place.

[Flaxbee]

2. I know a smaller place might appeal and be warmer - but will she feel cornered

since there is only one way in / out?

[blogslut]

3. I have no idea

Every cat has its own personality, even the feral ones. All I know is that, when it's cold, outdoor cats will look for a warm place to hide. It's better you give her a chance to choose an insulated doghouse than take the chance that she'll climb up in the engine of some car.

[EFerrari]

4. The very first stray I fed came inside when the winter got really cold.

I'd thought she was a kitten because she was so small but when she came in, she grew right in front of my face. She probably wasn't a feral though, but just a dumped kitty who had been out for a little while and wasn't trusting me in the beginning.

Your plan is worth a try, imo.

[Flaxbee]

5. last winter she wouldn't even stay within 10 feet of me; now she stays

still even if I'm 5 feet from her - but that's as far as it goes. She meowed at me for the first time last week; she's only hissed before.

She's been in this general area for years, according to the neighbors -- at least one or two years before we moved in ... sweet little thing.

[LaurenG]

I actually built a cat house out of a cardboard box, thick plastic sheeting

and duct tape. I covered completely 3 times in plastic sheeting, insulated the inside with rugs, actually taping the thick bathroom rugs on all sides of the inside and made a flap entry. Then I placed blankets and a kitty heating pad in it and plugged it in. It was also for a feral cat. The cat used it for the winter and early spring, it held up well. I made it as an emergency measure when the cat just showed up out of nowhere but wouldn't come in. It lasted until I threw it away because the cat wouldn't use it in the summer.

Good luck I know how icky it is too think of them out in the cold.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Get one of those big plastic storage Rubbermaid containers.

Cut an entry hole in it. Or, two if you want an escape hole. You can take the lid off to add blankets when necessary, or leave it off altogether.

I'm glad to hear that you're going to get her checked and vaccinated. You might want to check with your local humane organization. They will often help out with catching, neutering, and vaccinating feral cats.

[Auggie]

7. I thought this was a nice solution. Similar but very well insulated:

Instructions here: http://blogs.catster.com/the-cats-meow-a-cat-and-kitten-blog/build-a-cozy-low-cost-cat-shelter-for-outdoor-cats/2010/02/20/

[GoCubsGo]

8. That's what I had in mind.

Although, not insulated. But, this version is even better. The heated pad is a great idea, although if the porch gets wet, it could be really dangerous. They make self-warming pads that have a mylar center covered by thick fleece like they use for stuffed animals.

[Flaxbee]

14. huh - would I find those self-warming pads online?

Maybe I can make my own shelter and use my Tractor Supply credits for finding her a few comfy blankets/pads.

[Flaxbee]

12. that's nice - looks a little more stuffed full o'stuff than she'd probably

get into, but if I got a few comfy insulated blankets and made an escape hatch out back, she might go for it. I have about 20 of these things just sitting empty in my storage space - I'll do a DIY feral cat bed.

Thanks!

[stuntcat]

25. oh yah!

this works! I built a house like this for the ferals we t-n-r'ed! Then luckily a handyman at my husband's job built us a cat-house for free! just boards and we insulated it with styrofoam.
But since then we trapped the ferals and made them housecats so probably possums or raccoons live in the houses we made.

[madinmaryland]

9. I'm sorry, but we can't take in another feral at this time. I don't think Sonia would

allow it!!

:hi:

When are you going to come up and see her? You're not that far away.

[Flaxbee]

15. I know - we just lost one of our girls to old age and are down to 5; I don't really

want to increase the indoor cat population! Sonia was goofy - she'd RUN to me every morning, was very lovey dovey, loved to be held, sat in my lap all the way from NC to Winchester, and then it sounded like she freaked a bit when she first moved in with you. This girl (Gilda) I've been feeding for 10 or more months, and have never even been able to touch her.

:hi:

We should visit one of these days! :)

[flvegan]

10. Hay bales.

If you can find them and have the space. Break one up for a floor, then put one on each side, one for the back and two for a roof (keep them together, don't break them apart. You'll find a very sturdy, dry, insulated shelter. Works great for dogs that are left outside in the elements too.

[riderinthestorm]

17. I second this but don't ask for hay, use straw. It's cheaper

I'd recommend going to any horse barn in NC and asking if they have any old bales that you can have for a feral cat. Most barn owners are animal lovers and we ALL have old bales that we can't feed or use that they'd be happy to let you take.

I also use the insulated dog beds that are self-warming as a cushion with some old towels. You can buy them at any pet shop - they have an insulated barrier that reflects/amplifies the heat of the animal that's lying on it.

[Flaxbee]

19. OK. I'll see if that would work ...

I'll check out the local pet stores as well as Tractor Supply for cold weather stuff -- I'm mostly concerned about providing a shelter she'll feel safe using as well as one that will keep her warm.

Thanks. :hi:

[Flaxbee]

18. that might work -- I'd need to measure to see how deep the porch is

and if the bales would work... this girl only shows up in the evenings around dinner time; I'd like to have something for her to nest in if she decided to stay. We are in a very rural area with a horse barn about a block away and while I've never seen her come from that direction, she may already have a cosy place to sleep at night. I just want to give her the option.

:hi: flvegan; haven't seen you much. Hope you're well.

[flvegan]

22. Thanks, Flaxbee.

I am well, thank you. Thanks for looking out for this little girl.

[Demoiselle]

11. You could check out this web site:

www.outdoorpethouses.com

I bought one of their basic models many years ago...I don't believe they were quite that expensive then, but in any case I've gotten good value out of it.
It is well insulated, quite heavy with a heavy and tight fitting but removable roof...and it has a back door, with a see-through plastic flap, a front door and insulated plexiglas windows on the other two sides.
I have had a colony of feral cats here, am left with one now, who appears quite content in our southeastern PA winters sheltering in her private cabin. I believe they really do need two escapes to feel secure, plus sight lines all round. I've put an indoor/outdoor electric kennel heating pad on the floor of the house which really makes it snug in truly cold weather.
Mine even came with a little front "porch" with a plastic front panel which acted as a wind break for the open "front" door.

Good luck!

[Flaxbee]

16. oh my goodness, those are terrific!

Every penny counts for me now, so I'll probably make my own this time around, but I'm definitely bookmarking that site! Thanks for the link! :hi:

[Demoiselle]

24. I thought you might use them as a kind of basic model.

I think they're constructed of some very heavy fake wood panels plus maybe a lining of styrofoam. In any case, the rules of relatively small space (so the cat can heat it up with its own body heat), 4-way vision, and two exits will appeal to your feral. I just fed my pale orange girl out on my deck. She lets me pet her while she eats. And ONLY while she eats. I call her Nicole Kitman, because she's a strawberry blonde.

[applegrove]

13. I know of people who were tending to a feral cat in Ottawa, Canada. They built

it a wood shelter and put a single lightbulb in to keep it warm.

[Flaxbee]

20. so they wired it?

I'd think a heating pad would be nice, too :D

[applegrove]

21. You have a lucky critter.

[femmocrat]

23. We had one of those for our outdoor cat. It was perfect.

We put it next to the chimney and had lots of bedding inside. He was fine and lived to be 20!