The fall is the perfect time of the year to build a shelter for the stray and feral cats you care about. Some cat-friendly folks choose to build outdoor homes that resemble real houses for their furry feline friends, like this one. But you don’t have to put in that much effort or money — you can create an outdoor cat shelter to keep them safe from the harsh winter weather using materials that you probably already have. Take a look through your garage, attic or storage space to find useful materials.
Convert a Large Plastic Cooler
A heavy duty plastic cooler can be transformed into a cozy shelter. The only tool needed is a jigsaw. Carve two square holes on both of the shortest sides, to create an exit and an entry way. Generally, if a cat’s head can fit in a hole, his or her entire body will fit. For added warmth, line the bottom with STRAW (moisture resistant) or blankets that work with body heat. Straw can be ordered online, picked up at a local farm or requested at your local pet store.
Tire Shelter
Cats like to sleep on tires in the winter because it’s a warm, weather resistant place that keeps them guarded from the snow. If your have old unused tires in your backyard or garage, convert them into small cat shelters. Glue a circular piece of plywood on the bottom of the tire and place a large bucket on top that will completely cover the top opening of the tire. Cut two holes into the bucket on either side to give the cat two easy escape routes, and add straw for warmth.
Old Dog House
You can also turn an old dog house into a cat shelter, and it will provide plenty of room for a small colony of stray cats. Just add extra insulation to the walls and floors for added warmth. Don’t forget to create that extra exit point, if they need to escape quickly. If you plan to put the dog house near your home where there’s an outdoor outlet, insert a cat warming pad for added warmth.
They cost about $20-$30 and really make a difference.
Old Dresser (Compartments)
If you own an indoor cat, you know how much they love to explore the different compartments in a dresser drawer. If you have a used, old or unwanted small dresser or bureau, use it to create an outdoor cat shelter. Some dressers have three or four dresser drawers and each can act as a compartment for one or two cats. Use a jigsaw tool to cut holes in the sides of each drawer and keep the front drawer panes in place. Line the interior of each drawer with cat-safe insulation or straw. Always remember to create an exit and entry point for each section where the cats have two convenient ways to escape if necessary.
* Another Option to Consider if You Have a Bit More of a Budget
I purchased this outdoor heated kitty house for my favorite feral buddy years ago, and it is still providing her with lots of warmth and comfort during the colder months. If you have the funds to spare, consider this as another option when fall starts turning into winter.
Click here for a few other tips to keep an outdoor cat warm.
Here are a few reasons why cats are beneficial to your neighborhood.
Whichever method you use to create an outdoor cat shelter, the three most important factors are:
1- Always create two escapes routes to the shelter for the safety of the cats.
2- Make sure that the bottom of the shelter is off the ground and properly insulated. You can use a couple of wooden pallets or a table to raise the cat house off the ground.
3- Ensure that you use materials that are safe for cats and that will resist moisture/mildew/mold.
God bless you for taking care of your neighborhood kitties during the winter!
Posted by Lorraine
Photo credit: Flickr/jonathan-leung
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Christian AdamsLast updated:
If your cat lives outdoors or you look after a colony of feral cats, you know that keeping them warm and dry in the winter can be a challenge. The answer is a sturdy outdoor cat house that will provide them with somewhere to shelter.
We searched the internet and have found 11 of the best DIY plans to teach you how to build outdoor cat houses that you can start building right away.
From a super smart design featuring an old cooler to a robust elevated wooden shelter, we’ve included a wide range of designs – many of them are suitable for beginners, too! Pick your favorite and get building!
Insulated DIY Cat House by My Outdoor PlansCheck Instructions Here
Skill Level: Medium to AdvancedThis cozy insulated cat house plan from My Outdoor Plans is an excellent choice if you want a robust yet attractive house to keep your outdoor cat warm all winter long.
You can follow along the detailed step-by-step plan to make this cat house, and then have fun painting and styling it however you like!
Materials
Tools
Check Instructions Here
Skill Level: BeginnerThis extremely easy shelter from Instructables is based around a Styrofoam box.
These are cheap to buy making this a great project if you’re looking for a way to provide multiple feral cats with shelter on a budget.
The instructions are easy to follow along and you can make this in a couple of hours.
Materials
Tools
Check Instructions Here
Skill Level: MediumThis is such a great idea! If you have an old cooler in your garage, you can quickly and easily turn it into an excellent outdoor cat house using this tutorial on Instructables!
You can add rope lighting as a heating option if you have harsh winters.
Materials
Tools
Easy Tire DIY Outdoor Cat House Plan by How2Skill Level: MediumGuess what – if you have a few old tires in your garage, you can learn how to make an outdoor cat shelter! This YouTube video by How2 explains the steps you’ll need to follow.
You’ll need a Dremel grinder or similar to cut through the tires, but apart from that, this is a super easy and quick project which can be completed on a tight budget.
Materials
Tools
Using a range of relatively cheap and easy to find materials, you can make this insulated and waterproof outdoor cat house.
Follow the YouTube tutorial by What We Made and you can have this completed in an afternoon.
Materials
Tools
Alley Cat Allies Outdoor Cat ShelterSkill Level: Beginner to MediumWhether you’re looking after a feral cat colony, or have domestic cats who simply don’t like to come indoors, this shelter by Alley Cat Allies is a great choice.
This requires minimal skill and easy to find materials. Straw is used to insulate the house and provide bedding, meaning it’s easy to keep this clean simply by changing the straw inside regularly.
Materials
Tools
Check Instructions Here
Skill Level: Medium to AdvancedThese Fiver Cats shelters are designed to be used to house feral cat colonies in reasonably remote locations, but their design is also perfect for use in your backyard.
The detailed step-by-step instructions provide all you need to figure out how to make an outdoor cat shelter get this built in a day or so.
The elevated height is excellent if you live somewhere with heavy snowfall too.
Materials
Tools
Cats In My Yard have created a detailed post on how to provide a heated outdoor house for multiple cats. If you live somewhere with very cold winters, your outdoor cats will appreciate this!
Materials
Tools
Check Instructions Here
Skill Level: Medium to AdvancedThis tutorial by Instructables is perfect if your outdoor cat also likes to watch the world go by while they’re keeping warm and cozy.
This cute wooden cat house has a window so they can hang out in style.
Materials
Tools
Check Instructions Here
Skill Level: BeginnerThis shelter by Ellen Hart is cheap and easy to make and uses garden lattice plus faux hedging to provide a cozy place for your cats to sleep.
Bear in mind it’s not weatherproof – but it is perfect for outdoor kitties in hotter climates or long summers.
Materials
Tools
Check Instructions Here
Skill Level: Medium to AdvancedThis detailed tutorial by Alley Cat Allies will help you make a strong and sturdy cat house for the winter.
It’s perfect for feral and domestic cats alike as soon as the colder weather comes in.
Materials
Tools
So, there you have it! We hope there’s a weatherproof DIY outdoor cat house plan here to suit you and your outdoor cat.
Whether you’re skilled with your DIY skills or just starting, there’s plenty of plans here to suit all of us. Some of the designs are extremely clever and can easily be completed using some materials you might already have on-hand. Others will need a bit more planning as well as new materials.
Either way, you’re sure to end up with a warm and cozy house for your cat. We’re sure they’ll thank you for that come winter!
Featured Image Credit: Ella Lena, Pexels
Contents Overview
Insulated DIY Cat House by My Outdoor PlansChristian Adams
An American expat living in Metro Manila, Philippines for over a decade, Christian is a lifelong cat lover and the proud papa of two rescue cats, Trixie and Chloe.
Both girls were formerly among the droves of strays that roam the cities and countryside. Three-year-old Trixie was pulled from a litter found under the porch of a neighbor’s house, while two-year-old Chloe was brought home by Christian’s young son, Henry, who found the kitten crying in the parking lot. As Editor in Chief of ExcitedCats.com, Christian is thrilled to be a part of the pro-feline movement.
by Alexey | For Pets Crafts Gifts Decor Workshop Furniture | Friday, 12 November 2021
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The world has gone crazy with love for cats. They are loyal and sweet creatures, despite the rare occasions when you find a puddle in your shoes or wake up in the morning with heavy kitty poop on your head. If you love your furry treasure, then you simply must provide him with cozy housing.
We have collected for you 33 examples of houses that you can make yourself and make your pet happy. Consider options for creating houses made of cardboard, fabric and wood. At the end of the article, a bonus awaits you, and we will also tell you how to hide cat trays.
Cardboard is a material that is in every home and is easy to work with. Therefore, cardboard houses are easy to make, and just as easy to say goodbye to them if your pet doesn't appreciate them.
Turn a cardboard box into a vintage VW bus where kittens can jump, play and sleep all day. Detailed description here.
To brighten up your day and inspire some cardboard projects, Make-Self has collected the best photos of tanks with their owners.
The owner of the cat spent so much time building a palace for her kitten, and he played in it for only 10 minutes.
If you're a fan of the TV series of the same name, you won't be able to resist this simple project that was made from a single cardboard box.
Your cat will love to roam his own house, which you can build from three cardboard boxes in just a few easy steps. Detailed description here.
The kitty was very lucky with the owner, who turned a nondescript cardboard box into a house with a lawn. Detailed description here.
This house will solve the problem of not having beautiful cat furniture and at the same time save your furniture from cat claw attacks.
Next time, think twice before throwing cardboard in the trash. Of these, you can make a great home for your favorite kitty.
Weekend project - when you really want to please the cat, but only one cardboard box is at hand. Detailed description here.
Color tiles, chimney and bright interior will make your cat even happier.
How do you like this couch for your furry friend? The important look of the cat says that he liked the bed!
A small cat guarding his own castle.
Just try to capture his possessions!
Another material you can use is cloth. Both new fabric and used T-shirts are suitable for this. And if you know how to knit, then making a house for you will not be difficult. Take a look at the ideas below, maybe they will inspire you.
We bet you've never seen anything cuter than this wigwam. You can do it in short breaks in your daily routine! It will perfectly complement the interior. It has a small opening entrance and we all know that cats love to explore these little places!
Detailed description here.
This knitted shelter has been custom-made to the size of the shelf to fit comfortably in the shelving unit.
Great idea to save space.
Awesome cat's nest! It's amazing how cats are so attracted to holes, bags, boxes, and everything that's too tight.
You can also make a temporary house out of an old T-shirt in just a few steps.
You can knit this charming rookery from coarse yarn.
These options for cat houses are more difficult to make, but they look like a full-fledged home and fit perfectly into the interior of a modern apartment.
From planks, mdf or plywood, you can build a similar wigwam for your furry friend.
Another option for a cat or small dog house, which will take more time, but it's worth it. See other furniture options that you can make yourself.
If your cat does not yet have his own personal property, then you should not force him to take out a mortgage, build him a plywood house with your own hands!
House made of wooden beams and boards Timber, planks and white water-based paint all combine to create a cozy space for your pet. Learn more about the important steps in painting furniture.
If you have a cat but no money to buy a house, then this is not a problem, because anyone can make one at home using old pallets. Detailed description here.
See also: 15 worthy lamps from industrial pallets
Create a complete apartment for your furry friend, which will consist of two tiny rooms. In crowded but not mad! Detailed description here.
No special skills or materials are required, and you get a stylish piece of furniture and a happy pet.
A house for a cat can be made from things that have already become obsolete. A TV case, a table, a suitcase - all this is suitable for creating a future home.
Give a new life to a tree by installing it in your interior and using ropes of various diameters, create an attraction for your pets.
Have you ever wanted to throw away your old coffee table? Throw away! But know that you can make an amazing rookery for a cat from it.
See also: 25 amazing coffee tables you can make yourself
What about the gothic style?
For those who do not like when the cat tray is in plain sight, we offer options for houses that are hidden in the interior.
The house is where our furry friend spends most of his life. But how to provide interesting leisure? Take a look at options to help your kitty enjoy spending time in the house.
How often do you give gifts to your cat? Even if your pet is spoiled with all sorts of benefits of civilization and master's love, we are sure: he will appreciate the cat scratcher! And for owners who are always busy, such a gadget will help make life easier and save time.
He so badly wanted to lie down on the warm grass on a sunny day, but he was afraid of the loud sounds of passing cars or the barking of a stray dog. So I used a piece of turf and a plastic tray to make the cat feel like it was on the lawn.
Is your cat lazy? This wheel will help keep your cat in good physical shape without taking up too much space in the house.
Unusual and cozy house for a cat with a ladder leading to the roof. Here, on the roof, the cat can comfortably relax under the rays of the sun. And in case of danger, you can always hide inside your mansion.
Having cats doesn't mean your home has to turn into a disaster area with toys, treats, cat trees and scratching posts. Cats like to sharpen their claws, so they need a certain place where they would be happy to do it. But, unfortunately, most store-bought cat scratching posts are either unattractive or very expensive. Luckily, making your own cat scratching post is very easy and can be made using two pieces of wood and a piece of string.
Simply wind the twine around the board, securing the ends with a construction stapler.
Since cats love to sleep all day, why not give your cat a comfortable place to sleep and a great view to look outside? All you have to do is follow three steps. Make a lounger, hang it by the window and add a pillow.
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In order for the animals to survive the long cold winter, you can help not only with food, but also build an outdoor insulated booth to protect them from the weather, where they could recuperate, sleep and warm up at least a little, so more with nutritional deficiencies.
Cold can cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, urinary, reproductive system of the animal. In fact, many stray cats cannot find shelter for the night, they are often driven out of basements, or even completely walled up there alive.
15*15 cm. The entrance can be covered with a curtain.
For the simplest option, 9 is suitable0009 cardboard box , you can ask for it in any store, they give it away for free, alcohol boxes are good. An old nightstand can replace the box, a small cabinet that neighbors often throw away. You will need adhesive tape, foam insulation and strong film (tablecloth, greenhouse film, bath curtain).
In order for cats to fill the house with their warmth, its size must be small , but the animals must be able to freely change their body position. In other words, choose the size of the cat house according to the expected number of cats and remember that in cold weather, cats huddle together, even if they are cramped.
Large box can be reduced. It is better to insulate walls and floors with polystyrene foam , compared to polystyrene foam, it is more durable, retains heat better and gains less moisture.
We securely glue a piece of insulation to each side of the house and to the bottom with adhesive tape. Next, we wrap the entire structure with waterproof thick film so that the insulation is securely closed from moisture and from cat scratches (preferably in two layers). We glue all the seams with a wide adhesive tape so that it does not inflate with the wind. It is better to fix a canopy above the entrance, you can also make side flaps, and hang a piece of felt on the entrance.
A fleece blanket, a piece of an old fur coat, coat, wool will do. The cat brings water and snow on its paws or on its fur, wet wool fabric dries longer than fleece.
Put something under the box, to raise the house above the ground: bricks, boards or parts of wooden furniture.
This will be additional good insulation from cold and rainwater.
If financial opportunity allows, you can order a ready-made house from the masters, it is easy to find such craftsmen on the Internet. From good reliable materials, the master will make a durable winter booth, which will serve as a real salvation for stray cats for many years.
Pay special attention to the choice of a PRIVATE PLACE for the house! This is very important: it will not make your work in vain, and most importantly, it will save the life of the animal.
If it is possible to put a house near a heat pipe, then this will be the best solution!
It is better to write on the dwelling so that the janitors do not throw the house into the trash. If you live in a strongly anti-cat area, you can put up a sign asking you not to clean the house, appeal to people's compassion and understanding, remind people that cats are natural enemies of rats, which carry a huge number of diseases.
