How to Build an Outdoor Pet Shelter From Rigid Insulation Board

Outdoor pet shelters are a must for anyone with a pet that likes to get outside during the winter. Shelters are also great for those who want to help a feral cat, which almost certainly won't come in from the cold. Feral cats have grown up without close human bonding and typically don't trust people enough to live with them. They will live nearby, though. Instead of buying an expensive shelter, it's easy to make one of your own with some rigid insulation board and a couple plastic totes.

Things You'll Need

  • One large plastic tote
  • One medium plastic tote to fit inside the larger tote
  • 1-inch rigid insulation board
  • Box cutter
  • Duct tape
  • Plastic flap
  • Screws
  • Screwdriver
  • Measuring tape
  • Hay
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a small hole, a couple of inches wider than your pet, into the side of each plastic tote. These holes serve as an entrance to the pet shelter. Use a measuring tape to mark where the holes go exactly on each tote, so they line up when the shelter is complete, making one hole when the smaller tote rests inside the larger.

    • 2

      Cut a piece of insulation board to fit into the bottom of the larger tote. This provides insulation from the cold seeping up from the ground.

    • 3

      Place the smaller tote inside the larger one, on top of the layer of insulation.

    • 4

      Cut out four pieces of insulation board to line the empty space between the two totes. This provides warmth against the outside cold, much like insulation in the walls of a house.

    • 5

      Fill any empty spaces between the two totes with bits of smaller insulation board. This completes the weather protection.

    • 6

      Put the lid on the smaller tote.

    • 7

      Cut out a piece of insulation board to fit the space between the lid of the smaller tote and the lid of the outside tote. Place the insulation on top of the smaller tote's lid, and put the lid on the larger tote.

    • 8

      Cut the insulation out of the pet shelter entrance where you pre-cut the totes. This ensures a snug fit for the shelter walls. Press duct tape around the edges of the entrance and insulation to protect the insulation from the elements, and to reduce any sharp edges on the plastic.