How to Build Winter Shelter Ventilation for a Cat

Save a cat's life during the harsh winter months by building her a warm shelter with ventilation. According to Nancy Peterson from the Humane Society, in areas where the temperatures can drop to single digits, feral, or wild, cats need help surviving. You can help feral cats in your neighborhood by providing a temporary outdoor home that is insulated from the cold and has proper ventilation. Constructing a shelter like this can mean life or death for a cat.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic storage bin with lid, 54-gallon
  • Ruler
  • Marker
  • Utility knife
  • Polystyrene sheet, 2-inch thick
  • 2 tubes clear silicone sealant
  • 3 squares thin linoleum tile with adhesive backing, 12-inch
  • Straw
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure a door that is 5 1/2 inches tall and 6 inches wide on the outside of one side of the 54-gallon plastic storage bin. Ensure the door is near the bottom of the bin. Cut out the door, using a utility knife.

    • 2

      Measure the bottom of the storage bin. Cut the polystyrene to fit the shelter. For example, if the floor is 32 inches by 41 inches, cut out your 2-inch polystyrene sheet to the exact dimensions, using a utility knife. Place it into the bottom of the bin. Glue it in place with clear silicone sealant.

    • 3

      Measure the inside wall dimensions of the storage bin with the new floor in place. For example if one wall is 11 1/2 inches wide by 32 inches long, cut your polystyrene sheet to fit those dimensions.

    • 4

      Place the walls into the bin. Check the fit. Trim the polystyrene sheets, if necessary. Glue each piece to the plastic storage bin with the clear silicone sealant. Remove the adhesive backing of one of the linoleum tiles. Press it onto the floor over the polystyrene. Fit the other tiles onto the floor. Trim them to fit, as necessary.

    • 5

      Measure the inside of the lid of the storage bin. Cut the polystyrene sheet approximately 2 inches smaller than the dimensions of the lid to accommodate the polystyrene walls. Glue the cut piece of polystyrene onto the inside of the lid, using clear silicone sealant.

    • 6

      Fill the storage bin two-thirds full with straw for added warmth and comfort for the feral cats. Fit the lid in place. Put the shelter outside where you have seen feral cats. Leave the shelter alone and allow the cats to familiarize themselves with it so they can use it when it is cold.