DIY Outdoor Cat Shelters

An innovative, easy-to-make insulated cat house will keep your pets or feral cats warm on the coldest days. Make a second one to keep water and food from freezing over. If you don't have a wool blanket, you can use packing peanuts or even balled newspaper as insulation.

Things You'll Need

  • Lidded plastic tote, 18-gallon
  • Lidded plastic tote, 35-gallon
  • Wool blanket
  • Scissors
  • Straw or small-animal bedding
  • Box cutter
  • Duct tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a 6-inch by 8-inch opening in one short side of each of the totes. The hole in the large tote should start about three inches from the bottom, and the hole in the small tote should go all the way to the bottom.

    • 2

      Cut the wool blanket into pieces. Fold and insert them into the bottom of the large tote, layering three inches deep. Set the small tote inside. Fold and insert the remaining pieces of wool into the spaces between the totes. Use duct tape to seal the space between the two openings all the way around.

    • 3

      Fill the bottom of the small tote with straw or small-animal bedding. This will further insulate the house to keep the cats warm, while giving them a soft, absorbent place to sleep. It will also keep the house smelling fresh.

    • 4

      Put the lid on the small tote. Cover the top of it with the rest of the wool blanket squares and top with the large tote lid.

    • 5

      To keep the cat house clean, periodically remove the two lids and use a rake to remove the old bedding and replace it with fresh bedding.