Cat Shelters

Multi level rows of cat shelters. Cooler shelters on the bottom and canvas shelters on top

Elaborate Premade Shelters or
Low Cost Do It Yourself

The easiest is to purchase a small or large shelter to put out for those cold winter days.

If you're on a budget you can make your own shelter with straw for insulation.

Prefab shelters

Premade shelters are a simple and easy way to help your community cats through bad weather. You can add heating pads for the winter and they provide shade in the summer. Raised shelters help avoid flooding.

Multilevel prefabricated cat shelter with wood like construction. Three ledges for cats to sit and two cats perched on ledges
Tabby cat in small canvas cat shelter house shaped
Stack of three coolers converted to cat shelters

Cooler Shelter

An inexpensive way to build a shelter is to convert an old cooler. They are well insulated to start. Fill about half way with straw to make a softer space and help with insulation. The cat's own body heat will help warm up the space. Blankets or towels will retain moisture and hay is a food, not an insulator.

Straw is for strays
Hay is for horses

Cooler Shelter

Below are some tips for making your own cooler shelter

Tote shelter with round entry way and straw falling out of entry

Cooler Shelter Building Guide

Coolers can sometime leak at the lid. By placing the cooler upside down you can help prevent leakage. If you are in a covered area like a porch it is often not a problem. Decide if you will be building your cooler upside down or right side up.

Don’t drill the hole too close to the ground to help prevent water from coming in if there is flooding.

Decide if you want one entrance or two. If you decide to go with two place them offset from each other not opposite to help prevent drafts.

TIP: Coolers with wheels leave less space inside and can limit where you put your entrance.

Used coolers are an inexpensive way to get started. Check out estate sales in your area. Most homes have a cooler and on the last day of the sale items are usually marked half off. Sellers are often willing to negotiate on price.

You will need a six inch hole saw to create your entrance. You can find one at a hardware store or online.

Some pet supply stores have small bales of straw to use for pet insulation. You can try the hardware store, but be sure it doesn’t have a stickie additive to hold in place on a lawn.

The hole you drill will have rough edges and will need to be covered. Duct tape is often the easiest. You can also use pipe insulation, but it will make your entry smaller. While you’re at it you can create an awning to help keep out rain. Here’s a few ideas, get creative and come up with a few of your own.

  • Duct tape
  • Pipe insulation
  • Vent connector
  • Plastic flower pot with bottom cut out
  • Aluminum flashing (for awning)

Fill the cooler about half way with straw. Do not use towels or blankets! They retain moisture and can freeze. Do not use hay! Hay is a food and not an insulator and can also become moldy.

If possible place the shelter in a covered area like a porch. Nestled in a garden is also a good spot. Try to place the door away from the wind.