How to Make a Feral Cat Shelter for Cold Weather Areas

Feral cats are born wild and are born from once-domesticated cats, often family pets that were abandoned, lost or allowed to breed indiscriminately. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, feral cats account for tens of millions of free-roaming felines in the United States. Unlike stray cats, feral cats have had little or no human contact and are typically too elusive and fearful to be handled or tamed. Despite this distrust of people, ferals often depend on human caretakers for their survival. A reliable source of food and adequate shelter from inclement weather can dramatically improve the lives of these animals.

Things You'll Need

  • 18-gallon or 30-gallon plastic storage bin with lid
  • Yard stick or tape measure
  • Box cutter, utility knife or a pair of straight metal snips
  • Two 8-foot by 2-foot sheets of 1-inch Styrofoam
  • Straw, shredded newspaper or other appropriate insulating material
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Select the appropriate size plastic storage tote for the number of feral cats to be sheltered: an 18-gallon tote will house one adult or two kittens; a 30-gallon tote will accommodate three or four cats.

    • 2

      Draw a 6-inch square or round opening on the short end of storage tote. Use a utility knife, box cutter or pair of straight metal snips to cut out this doorway.

    • 3

      Measure and cut Styrofoam pieces to line all four walls, the floor and roof with insulation. Draw and cut out the doorway to match the opening on the storage tote. Place the Styrofoam floor and walls inside the storage tote.

    • 4

      Add insulating material such as straw or shredded newspaper on the Styrofoam bottom.

    • 5

      Add the Styrofoam lid to fit securely on the four Styrofoam walls. Cover the plastic tote with its lid.

    • 6

      Place the shelter in a quiet, safe and secure location.