Thank you for your kindness to the kitties. I once brought in an old feral cat when the cold weather came. She was scared at first but eventually learn to use the litterbox and enjoyed her retirement.
Lucky Ferals ..Watched your video again.. Great job and You've got a Heart of gold. Love your set up and the wood home you already had is wonderful. I already had one of those pads you mentioned & showed, good pad-blanket. Can you leave any kind of food out with the raccoons? I can't or they'd be here all the time. I used the straw under, above and on both sides to protect from the wind and real cold weather. I used the foam insulation boards I could cut and put them around the inside. I wish my outside farel would get as close as yours did. She's really really farel, no chance I could get my hands on her. Oh, just looking at your comments with the gal-guy? about litter training.. I've trapped & homed at least 30+ farel Cats of all ages. That's the easier thing you can do. Even a grown 2-5 yr farel Cat will immediately use a litter box, kittens too. I've got 4 inside right now, 2- 15yr olds and 2 I just had show up this last year. They have always gone straight to the litter box. when having to trap the Mama that's outside right now from spring 2015 and her kittens, they all used the box right of the bat.. Again, I'd like to subscribed, you have a good head and a great heart.. Thanks so much.. God bless💖
That's good to know. I've had two of the cats inside so far and neither has used the litter box. I have two different types of litter boxes with two different types of litter. Stella even had an accident on the floor instead of using the litter box. What type do you use for them? I have an automatic cat food feeder set up outside. It's raccoon proof. Here is the video for it - ua-cam.com/video/zYV0CWNTXok/v-deo.html Thanks for watching. :)
Lucky Ferals we used Litter Free and then later Johnny Cat. Don't used anything scented, cats are very sensitive to scents. If possible, let them see another cat using it. Don't give up, if a kitten can learn, so can a cat.
The litter was called Litter Green, it was green pellets. I don't know if they make it anymore. Keep the box clean, cats won't use a smelly litter box - that includes urine.
I splurged and bought an insulated wooden cathouse from a company called The Ark Workshop, been out there for over 10 cold winters now and still looks and functions great. The cats love it, worth every penny!
Appreciate you taking care of the furr babies… My husband and I make cat dens for our community cats, too… we put the entrances on the long side of container, 4 inches from bottom and on one end, so the cold air doesn’t blow directly on furr babies, then fill to bottom of holes with straw… we have damp air in winter, so we don’t use any bedding that might hold moisture… Thx again for helping the furr babies in your area. ❤
Thank you so much for what you are doing for these lovely helpless animals thank you . I have 4 feral cats now and they are all warm and not hungry and beautiful and most important they are happy ... west of Ireland
I have a stray black cat that keeps coming to my house and my mom said I could keep him only as an outdoor cat so I'm trying to build a house for it when it rains and storms
I saw a diy on this almost the same, with the tote, and they took a styrofoam cooler and put inside the tote, cutting a matching hole in both, then put the stuff inside to pad it for the kitty, like your soft bedding. It helps to keep the tote insulated with the foam cooler too. That's a neat idea about the self heating pad though. Thanks for helping the feral kitties. They are no less deserving of love, and all of my kitties have been rescued from around my home. I always try to help an animal in need. You are a wonderful person!
You can make those mats for practically nothing. It is called Reflectix. (bubble wrap sandwiched between sheets of silver reflective material) I buy rolls of it online at Home Depot to line the cat houses with. When you line the floor with reflectix then add straw the cats will burrow down and make a nest on top of it to keep warm. I put the houses against buildings and on concrete blocks to keep off the cold ground and also keep from flooding when it rains. I've made an entrance tube from a roll of cheap black plastic lawn edging. Measure 6" circle on house, cut the edging to fit, attach inside the hole on house with gorilla tape. It's been on some of mine for years. The cats can get in but larger animals can't. For indoor cats I buy old baby blankets at the Sally Armani resale. I sew three sides and insert a piece of reflectix then sew velcro on the open end for easy washing. The ones sold on Amazon use the mylar blanket material you can but for $2 at walmart in the camping dept. Not the best for free standing outside houses. www.homedepot.com/s/reflectix?NCNI-5
I am a stray cat Momma too! They are so grateful for their warm cozy shelter box, I purchased the exact same self warming pads as you! I keep their bellies full, and give them lots of cuddles!!
I've been looking for a simple, non-insulated design for stray cats and this is it! I live in humid, tropical climate and need something with not just ventilation, but a setup that provides ample cooling. Thank you!
Thank you so much for uploading this! There’s a cat in my neighborhood that comes to me before it storms and meows (not from hunger, I feed him daily) and acts cute, probably hoping I’ll take him inside before it rains. Will make one of these for him!
I’m happy to see these being made by others! I have been making ,using and giving out these style of shelters for years now. We need to take care of our little friends:)! **PLEASE REMEMBER- USE STRAW ONLY!! DO NOT USE HAY (as it traps moisture). And always be sure to have 2 entrances/exits so they can escapees needed.
Just some ideas: If anyone had to put one of these exposed to open sky, you can cover in Tyvek cloth to make waterproof and still breathable. You can overlap Tyvek over entrances to make a rain awning. Some drain and ventilation holes on the bottom and top to avoid clammy moisture. Elevate on something to avoid ground water,
I've been feeding a mama and her 6 month old babies. Now that its getting colder I appreciate this a ton. I will be going this weekend to make this. Thank you again for caring
Thank you for sharing. I came to you tube for a feral cat that sleeps on a chair on my front porch. It’s getting cold and I needed to get some ideas for the winter .
This is super awesome, and I'm glad to see people taking care of feral and stray kitties out there! One tip, you may want to change the blanket at the bottom to straw to make sure that any water or snow they track inside doesn't soak the fabric. Much love!
Great job.. I already had a outside warming pad and a water bowl that doesn't let their water freeze. Very cold the winter months in Michigan and she's a fixed vaccinated farel But very familiar with her home here. she showed up spring 2015 with her boyfriend and 4 kittens. all rescued, fixed and rehomed But scared to move her anywhere else. She knows this is her land. I'm following your advice and a few others. Two heads are always better than one.. lol Great job, great advice. wish me luck, I also had to make 2 doors, she wouldn't use with no way to escape.. Much appreciated
Lucky Ferals Thanks, I hope so too. I might need to downgrade the size, the straw ect around it until She's use to it. I don't have any kind of over hang or porch that's got anywhere under it to keep the rain & snow off of it. I would've made one like yours. Looks perfect. Couldn't find as tall of a container as yours either. I found one that just fit inside the other. Had to insulated the lid so all fit tightly together.. Was quite a project for myself, couldn't feel my arms or body all night and morn. Old gal.. Really Old😂
excellent!.only thing I would change is , if you are in a snowy area like I am in Canada , use only straw over waterproof reflective material because when fabric gets wet, blankets or cat beds, the fabric bedding actually will pull heat from the cat and make them colder whereas straight up straw wont. I put straw over some reflective bubble wrap.
The problem that I've had with straw is that it always gets moldy and mildewy and bugs make nests in it. And that's when using straw, not hay. I'm sure it depends on your area and the weather conditions and moisture conditions. I've also found that when given the option, cats always prefer the self-heated pet mats and the electric pet mats versus straw. We've been using them for 7 years now without issues.
Nice for summer. I saw another using a large Coleman cooler. Same concept, but they are amazingly insulated. Cut out only 1 hole, it keeps the winter wind from blasting through. 💖Cozy!💖
Yes. Although one hole is warmer, please keep in mind that many cats don't feel safe staying in a shelter with only one hole. They need an escape exit in case of a predator at the door.
This helps so much, I have a cat that comes around the house that I named Ace and since it’s fall already, I want him to be safe and warm when winter comes☺️✨
That's a neat little nook you have there. Never fails...cut a hole in something and a cat will go in. They can't help themselves haha. Use some bails of straw to wind block the outside in Winter. Made some flip doors from clear rubber mats and attached them with plastic rivets. I also have some mylar sheets cut up and gorilla taped to the inside walls and lid of my totes.
Great idea but you should only make one side open when the freezing winter comes its just going to blow right through if it's closed it will keep more body heat in..I have four ferrel cats I opened my garage enough on the bottom so they can get in and put foam on the rest of the length and made them a warm foam bed in a large cage and covered it with a blanket and put a tiny heater in front of it...
This video was posted 4 years ago and has housed cats without any issues. All shelters should have two entrances to provide an escape route for the cat inside when a predator approaches. Only one door is not safe.
Thank you for your kindness to the kitties....I've Seen 4 altered feral cats in my back yard this summer and i feed them when they ask..i wanna offer a warm dry extra abode :)
@@toad4ever103 Update winter early 2020 was rough here NYC....the cats kinda disappeared all but one...now she's an indoor kitty,still shy but know how use that litter box!!!🤣🤣🤣 more later if you'd like
@@auntie9077 Yes, please keep updates coming when you can. I like you got one in. My ferals still won't stay in. They run into the patio door if I shut it.
Use straw og hay instead of plush :) when its wet and cold outside, the plush, and blankets will suck up moist from the air, and then freeze when its cold :) Straws will keep it warm and cozzy!
So, I was told by an S. P. C. A. Spokesperson, that you should never put material of any kind in these cat beds. Material absorbs moisture and tends to mold. Then if the cats breathe in the mold spores they can possibly become very sick with a variety of respiratory illnesses and or diseases. I made a very nice bed for an out door cat. I used cedar shavings for the bedding. I also insolated the tote with slabs of Styrofoam. And cardboard. However, since then, I learned that cardboard can also absorb moisture, causing the same results. So now I have to reline the new tote with all styrofoam or possibly mylar, or something like that. But, you learn as you go, I guess. I consider it an adventure!😎😎😎
i’ve never had mold develop on any material that has ever been in an outside cat house. I have had mold developed in the straw that I had in an outside cat house. I like to use self heating pet mats and also heated pet mats. I have been using them for years and have never had any issues with them.
@@LuckyFerals I think it all depends on where you live. I live in North Western Oregon. Everything molds here. I live in a rain forest. That's what they say. It's because of the amount of rain we get a year. They call us webbed feet, up here. But seriously, I had a wooden house set up for the outside cats. I made them a nice soft bed and it molded, the walls of the house molded. They wouldn't go in it anymore. Then, I saw these videos, and decided to try making my own. They are much warmer, and so far no mold. But time will tell. If nothing else, I'll just rotate them out, and make new ones ever so often. They really don't cost much to make. It's fun doing it too! 😎😎😎
Thanks for being kind to feral kitties. One thing that should be emphasized is the difference bet straw and hay. Straw is hollow, therefore makes for good insulation to keep kitties warmer. Hay, not so much.
Clear plastic flaps were eventually added to each door. It is VERY important to have two doors on a feral cat shelter. They need to have an escape route if/when a predator approaches the shelter. I have seen it happen and thankfully the cats were able to escape.
Sharon Carlson Not sure what blanket you're your talking about, think it's a safe outdoor Cats heating pad-blanket.. I've had one for many yrs and it still works great. also consider an outside warming dish that keeps the water bowl from freezing.. very cold in Michigan USA.. wish me luck, and thanks, would love to find out what blanket you're talking about..
Sharon Carlson Not sure what blanket you're your talking about, think it's a safe outdoor Cats heating pad-blanket.. I've had one for many yrs and it still works great. also consider an outside warming dish that keeps the water bowl from freezing.. very cold in Michigan USA.. wish me luck, and thanks, would love to find out what blanket you're talking about..
Thanks for the ideas. Ordered a heating pad from ebay Australia.. FREE SHIPPING. Have a feral cat that lives outdoors. Will look into the plastic container too. 🐱
Oh the heating pad I need to get them...I"m using coolers though. For better insulation (you're lucky having a bit under your house, I have to be careful as not all my neighbours like cats so camouflage id necessary but there's a lot of bits behind climbing plants and stuff like the benches that have plants all around them where a dark coloured box wouldn't be noticed.
I just bought a similar sized clear plastic locking top container,... BUT only put ONE round hole in the side nearer one end. (up about 3" UP from the bottom to similarly keep out rain puddles). This way the wind in "blocked" from direct flow to the other end, where my feral cat "neighbors" are meant to reside. I chose clear plastic to get benefit during the day of sunshine warming the inside a bit more than a solid colored one. I will line it with some wool blankets and flannel items to give my "pet" some tunneling possibilities, although will soon change over to straw as it's often said to be the best bedding for outdoor cats. For now the wool is warm even if any dampness creeps in. Tonight is going down to 15-20 degrees F but the cat has already holed up for the night as it's been really windy to boot, But I put it out anyway just in case he comes around earlier than usual like he did yesterday. I faced the shelter opening toward my house back door entrance, to keep any blowing wing subdued, Yesterday he/she ate several ounces of warmed up rotisserie chicken, 2 slices of real american cheese, about 5 ounces of whole milk with added heavy cream warmed in the microwave, and some Iams dry cat food! He/she (can't tell yet :-) is eating like Royalty,...especially by Feral Cat standards! Been feeding the cat like this for about 3 weeks,....and he's plumped and perked up nicely now,...looking mighty fine! Milk seems to be a real favorite, although I will be cutting him back soon. No ill affects shown, and in the cold I think the "warm" milk & cream helps brink up the core temperature. The cat is trusting me more,.....and will tolerate me sitting 8-10 feet away while eating, and sometimes 4-5 feet for short periods!. He spent a few hours sleeping on my concrete steps under sunshine a few days ago, in 50 degree weather with little wind. Since I lost my 12-1/2 year old Pug a month ago to the evil of DM, I'm hoping to eventually get him indoors over the winter in upstate New York. I think I'll grow on him over the winter,...we'll see! :-)
You should be putting styrofoam insulation(I use styrofoam coolers) inside with straw all around it, including on top and underneath the cooler. I always take one more step with wrapping an extra large lawn/leaf bag(or any heavy duty plastic I can get) around the bin & tape it up. I'm so happy you do this for the kittykats🐾🐱... and that self heating pad is a fabulous idea.
Thank you Soooo much ! This was perfect! I have four dear feral kittens at my home abandoned by their Mom and wanted to provide safe and Warm shelter for them. I just went to Wal-Mart and brought a blue tote just like the one in this video but was unsure how to set it up. Thank you so much for sharing this valuable video!!!!🙌💕
I'm glad it could be helpful. If you would like to check out my full playlist of Feral Cat Shelter videos, here is the link - ua-cam.com/play/PLMzWJWkbHQbSzGW5OTNV_EjR7Akw6dH4O.html
We have a couple of stray kitties that come to our house to eat. We inherited a few strays when people started moving out of our neighborhood. We have been putting out dry food for them. My wife started doing this when a rough-looking, black and white, tomcat started coming around and laying under our oak tree. We think we should build a couple of shelters for the winter for our strays. Especially for "Rocky", our above stated tomcat.
I want to make some for my neighborhood stray cats. There is a pregnant cat that looks like she is about to give birth any day now. Would I make the entry hole higher so that the kittens wouldn't roll out? Or would it be too hard for her to get inside of if it's a bit higher?
What about wind blowing thru? Could you attach a piece of plastic or cloth to act like a cat door? This is good idea. I've seen the heating/cooling pads on Drs Foster and Smith that don't need a covering, still works off their body heat. Just need to be careful of other critters and getting in. Thanks for taking care of the kitty families whether related or not. 😺😻👍😽
Please add a flap cover and never cut doors across from the other it forms a draft and use straws not cloth ever it freezers and keeps the cats cold, the entrance should always face the house wall with enough room for the at to get in too.. And raise it off the ground if you can And thank you for looking out for them🙏🙏🙏♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🙏
Nice you are thinking about the outdoor cats. I question why you put a hole/entrance at both ends..why? This prevents the shelter from keeping in the heat! I would suggest that you now add a clear plastic flap door on at least one of the holes if not both to help keep in the heat and prevent the wind from blowing straight through when it's extremely cold out.
The cats will not use a shelter with only one hole/entrance because they need to have an escape route in case a predator approaches the entrance. They are smart enough not to trap themselves in a small area that they cannot escape from. There are several other videos of this shelter where you can see that clear plastic flap doors were added.
That wouldn't work in colder climates. Two openings allow cold air to blow through the shelter. You also need to add styrofoam for insolation. The material cushion can get wet, then freeze and stick the cat to the bottom.
Hello. A shelter with two opposing holes does not heat well. Just one for the entrance. It gets more protected for cats. And I am a bit worried about the thick straw that goes up on the quilt, if it will not sting the eyes of them, when they do not see it. Thank you for your love and care for them.
Thanks for watching. The cats will not enter a shelter that only has one entrance. They need an exit so they can escape if someone/something approaches from one side.
Oh really? I did'nt know about this possibility in other videos about feral shelters that I've seen... Thank you for your clarification and care to them. God bless you.
Is this a special mat for feral cats? As I understand it, it is generally best to use straw (not hay), because blankets and other such materials will also keep moisture in wet weather (or if cat is wet)- as such, the cat is at risk of pneumonia, etc. Straw will whisk away moisture and dry quickly. It also helps insulate (though we put a sheet of insulation inside too) and is easier to replace. It sounded like a specialty mat though- is it for these types of shelters?
The shelter in this video is kept in an alcove under the house which stays dry. There has never been an issue with moisture inside the shelter. Some of the shelters in the yard have straw inside of them as well as self heating thermal pet mats. amzn.to/2SHUAti One even has a heated pet mat: amzn.to/2EsSZEy
Yeah you're like me, two entrances because most of them won't use a single entry shelter...I saw a nice little feeding box on cats n pats which would work but would need a dispenser for biscuits and I would have to replace the wet food a lot because of the tom...who will take over everything. ..maybe a biscuit dispenser with water in one because I noticed that the smaller of the two does like biscuits and the other with both would maybe ensure both get enough. ..maybe just two with both and water ...I wish they got along like your cats...even my own two have to be watched because the older, bigger cat will eat the others food!
Always be careful using any kind of blanket or bedding in outdoor shelters, especially in cold and/or wet climes. Anything that can absorb moisture and then freezes becomes totally counterproductive to insulating body heat. That's generally why straw is so good. Of course if its something you regularly maintain around your house it's less of an issue.
Thank you for the Idea.. I have a stray that even chills in the house with me. I ve been really worried and wanted to give my little friend a place out side. my wife allergic so we have a hybrid agreement(sometimes inside and out) . we have a house but Now I have an Idea to give her a place to sleep more securely . thank you again
I copied your design then built a box of Styrofoam slabs around it, wrapped in tin foil (for additional insulation), garbage bags and duct tape. I also built a Styrofoam corridor on each end with doors (equipped with rubberized canvas flaps) off-centred from the inner doors to prevent drafts.
the two exist thing is great, but dont u lose more heat? I made one for our cold canadian winter where it can get down to -20 c...it has a cooler insulation with steaw bedding. some kind of extention to keep the snow out but one entrance.
It might lose more heat, but I now have transparent door flaps on it so that helps hold in the heat. I know for a fact that these cats don't trust something with only one exit. If they're in one of the shelters and something approaches it, they always run out the opposite exit.
I love this idea, there is a mama cat with two young kittens hiding in weeds out in the open no shelter. And then across the street at my work there is a mama and her kitten , he's older couple months. I was gonna ask with this idea what about the reflective blankets can you tape to the lid and maybe the sides? I know straw at bottom. I know at sometime of the day might be in direct sunlight. Would that be safe to do? eneral Medi Emergency Blanket (12-Pack),Emergency Silver Foil Blanket . I bought for them. Any thoughts ?
Yes, you can try the reflective blankets. Sounds like a good idea. Those could provide some nice additional warmth. If it ever gets too warm in a shelter, a cat will just sit outside for awhile. I have used self-warming pads and also electric pet pads. Here is a link to all of our feral cat shelter videos - ua-cam.com/video/2Z9Xx-3WTKQ/v-deo.html
It does not matter if water will go in or not... If the box is outside condensed water will get sucked into the fabric. And when it's minus degrees outside it will freeze.
I have a feral that I caught her and her babies and they all went to shelter but they released momma back into the yard behind me where she came from. :( I been feeding her but she goes under the pool deck in the yard next door to me and stays there for day when rain or snow. Do you think that is enough. She has survived 22 inches of snow and below zero temps. I feed her daily but when we get a snow storm or heavy rain she doesn't come out for days. That is not my yard I cannot go over there. She comes to my side to eat. Should I try to make a shelter or let her just keep going under his deck to keep warm. Not sure how warm they are under a deck. Her and daddy cat are still surviving. she been fixed but he hasn't. He goes somewhere else but comes every nite for food.
You could put zioties on the lid handles then you know nothing could open it and you could cut one side if you needed to change out the straw or something
That's a nice cat shelter. It looks like the one my mom made for our outdoor cat 'Luna' and I hope the temperature is warmer in there at night. It gets to be in the 30's Fahrenheit here ,so I feel bad for the cat. Any clue how warm it would be in there during freezing temperatures of say 32?
That's a great setup. I think I heard someone in California or so has plans to chain some outdoor pet bed to a stairwell, or something. That must be frustrating.
The problem I'm having is it took me months to befriend a feral cat, (I can feed & pet her, but she won't allow me to pick her up.) The issue is she will NOT sleep on blankets. I've tried everything I can think of even after rescuing animals most of my life she is truly stubborn. I've tried cardboard, just an open box bed, (with blankets/on our covered porch,) she won't take to anything. We had a horrible storm a few nights ago & she left the safety of our porch & ran out into the storm. I've even tried the cat cubes that are warm inside. We do have a barn she likes to climb under which sits on a concrete slab, that will become frigid throughout the next 2 months & I can't reach where she hangs out. I'm all out of ideas here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (I guess I'll try straw next, it said hay holds moisture & can cause respiratory issues.) Wish me luck! 🤞
Have you tried catnip? That’s been very helpful with getting cats to use shelters. Sprinkle some inside and then make a trail of it leading up to the shelter.
Thank you for your kindness to the kitties. I once brought in an old feral cat when the cold weather came. She was scared at first but eventually learn to use the litterbox and enjoyed her retirement.
How did you get her to learn how to use the litterbox?
Lucky Ferals ..Watched your video again.. Great job and You've got a Heart of gold. Love your set up and the wood home you already had is wonderful. I already had one of those pads you mentioned & showed, good pad-blanket. Can you leave any kind of food out with the raccoons? I can't or they'd be here all the time. I used the straw under, above and on both sides to protect from the wind and real cold weather. I used the foam insulation boards I could cut and put them around the inside. I wish my outside farel would get as close as yours did. She's really really farel, no chance I could get my hands on her. Oh, just looking at your comments with the gal-guy? about litter training.. I've trapped & homed at least 30+ farel Cats of all ages. That's the easier thing you can do. Even a grown 2-5 yr farel Cat will immediately use a litter box, kittens too. I've got 4 inside right now, 2- 15yr olds and 2 I just had show up this last year. They have always gone straight to the litter box. when having to trap the Mama that's outside right now from spring 2015 and her kittens, they all used the box right of the bat.. Again, I'd like to subscribed, you have a good head and a great heart.. Thanks so much.. God bless💖
That's good to know. I've had two of the cats inside so far and neither has used the litter box. I have two different types of litter boxes with two different types of litter. Stella even had an accident on the floor instead of using the litter box. What type do you use for them? I have an automatic cat food feeder set up outside. It's raccoon proof. Here is the video for it - ua-cam.com/video/zYV0CWNTXok/v-deo.html Thanks for watching. :)
Lucky Ferals we used Litter Free and then later Johnny Cat. Don't used anything scented, cats are very sensitive to scents. If possible, let them see another cat using it. Don't give up, if a kitten can learn, so can a cat.
The litter was called Litter Green, it was green pellets. I don't know if they make it anymore. Keep the box clean, cats won't use a smelly litter box - that includes urine.
I splurged and bought an insulated wooden cathouse from a company called The Ark Workshop, been out there for over 10 cold winters now and still looks and functions great. The cats love it, worth every penny!
Appreciate you taking care of the furr babies…
My husband and I make cat dens for our community cats, too… we put the entrances on the long side of container, 4 inches from bottom and on one end, so the cold air doesn’t blow directly on furr babies, then fill to bottom of holes with straw… we have damp air in winter, so we don’t use any bedding that might hold moisture…
Thx again for helping the furr babies in your area. ❤
Thank you so much for what you are doing for these lovely helpless animals thank you . I have 4 feral cats now and they are all warm and not hungry and beautiful and most important they are happy ... west of Ireland
Thanks for watching. :)
I have a stray black cat that keeps coming to my house and my mom said I could keep him only as an outdoor cat so I'm trying to build a house for it when it rains and storms
Nice...
Old Turtle75 same my mom will not let me have a cat but there's a stray one I feed everyday and she's an outdoor cat
@@rm-qf4ci what kind of knife cutter did you use to cut the box? I have to create one. Let me know plz.
You're a good person!
Same here
I saw a diy on this almost the same, with the tote, and they took a styrofoam cooler and put inside the tote, cutting a matching hole in both, then put the stuff inside to pad it for the kitty, like your soft bedding. It helps to keep the tote insulated with the foam cooler too. That's a neat idea about the self heating pad though. Thanks for helping the feral kitties. They are no less deserving of love, and all of my kitties have been rescued from around my home. I always try to help an animal in need. You are a wonderful person!
You can make those mats for practically nothing. It is called Reflectix. (bubble wrap sandwiched between sheets of silver reflective material) I buy rolls of it online at Home Depot to line the cat houses with. When you line the floor with reflectix then add straw the cats will burrow down and make a nest on top of it to keep warm. I put the houses against buildings and on concrete blocks to keep off the cold ground and also keep from flooding when it rains. I've made an entrance tube from a roll of cheap black plastic lawn edging. Measure 6" circle on house, cut the edging to fit, attach inside the hole on house with gorilla tape. It's been on some of mine for years. The cats can get in but larger animals can't.
For indoor cats I buy old baby blankets at the Sally Armani resale. I sew three sides and insert a piece of reflectix then sew velcro on the open end for easy washing. The ones sold on Amazon use the mylar blanket material you can but for $2 at walmart in the camping dept. Not the best for free standing outside houses.
www.homedepot.com/s/reflectix?NCNI-5
NorthShoreMoana thanks for the detailed info! Very helpful!☺
I am a stray cat Momma too! They are so grateful for their warm cozy shelter box, I purchased the exact same self warming pads as you! I keep their bellies full, and give them lots of cuddles!!
It's so nice of you to help the cats! :)
They are lucky to have a lovely person like you caring for these sweet babies! 💗💗💗 thank you for your help!!
I've been looking for a simple, non-insulated design for stray cats and this is it! I live in humid, tropical climate and need something with not just ventilation, but a setup that provides ample cooling. Thank you!
Thank you so much for uploading this! There’s a cat in my neighborhood that comes to me before it storms and meows (not from hunger, I feed him daily) and acts cute, probably hoping I’ll take him inside before it rains. Will make one of these for him!
I’m happy to see these being made by others! I have been making ,using and giving out these style of shelters for years now. We need to take care of our little friends:)!
**PLEASE REMEMBER- USE STRAW ONLY!! DO NOT USE HAY (as it traps moisture).
And always be sure to have 2 entrances/exits so they can escapees needed.
Just some ideas: If anyone had to put one of these exposed to open sky, you can cover in Tyvek cloth to make waterproof and still breathable. You can overlap Tyvek over entrances to make a rain awning. Some drain and ventilation holes on the bottom and top to avoid clammy moisture. Elevate on something to avoid ground water,
I've been feeding a mama and her 6 month old babies. Now that its getting colder I appreciate this a ton. I will be going this weekend to make this. Thank you again for caring
Thank you for sharing. I came to you tube for a feral cat that sleeps on a chair on my front porch. It’s getting cold and I needed to get some ideas for the winter .
This is super awesome, and I'm glad to see people taking care of feral and stray kitties out there! One tip, you may want to change the blanket at the bottom to straw to make sure that any water or snow they track inside doesn't soak the fabric. Much love!
Now if everyone would stop letting their pet cats outside, the problem would be solved, but it never will be.
@Dr. Bee How did you read my comment and think I was saying cats don't need love dude what are you talking about.
Thank you for helping feral cats. You are exceptional.
Great job.. I already had a outside warming pad and a water bowl that doesn't let their water freeze. Very cold the winter months in Michigan and she's a fixed vaccinated farel But very familiar with her home here. she showed up spring 2015 with her boyfriend and 4 kittens. all rescued, fixed and rehomed But scared to move her anywhere else. She knows this is her land. I'm following your advice and a few others. Two heads are always better than one.. lol Great job, great advice. wish me luck, I also had to make 2 doors, she wouldn't use with no way to escape.. Much appreciated
Good luck with your shelter. I hope she enjoys it.
Lucky Ferals Thanks, I hope so too. I might need to downgrade the size, the straw ect around it until She's use to it. I don't have any kind of over hang or porch that's got anywhere under it to keep the rain & snow off of it. I would've made one like yours. Looks perfect. Couldn't find as tall of a container as yours either. I found one that just fit inside the other. Had to insulated the lid so all fit tightly together.. Was quite a project for myself, couldn't feel my arms or body all night and morn. Old gal.. Really Old😂
Sherry: God love ya for your great love of kitties. Where did you find the water bowl?
Quilt batting sealed with trash bags works and use 2sided tape to stick to sides. Great house!
excellent!.only thing I would change is , if you are in a snowy area like I am in Canada , use only straw over waterproof reflective material because when fabric gets wet, blankets or cat beds, the fabric bedding actually will pull heat from the cat and make them colder whereas straight up straw wont. I put straw over some reflective bubble wrap.
The problem that I've had with straw is that it always gets moldy and mildewy and bugs make nests in it. And that's when using straw, not hay. I'm sure it depends on your area and the weather conditions and moisture conditions. I've also found that when given the option, cats always prefer the self-heated pet mats and the electric pet mats versus straw. We've been using them for 7 years now without issues.
Thank you for helping them! This is amazing and makes me happy :).
God Bless You For Helping Homeless babies ( kitties) ,cute simba and splash ,soon cute
Nice for summer. I saw another using a large Coleman cooler. Same concept, but they are amazingly insulated. Cut out only 1 hole, it keeps the winter wind from blasting through. 💖Cozy!💖
Yes. Although one hole is warmer, please keep in mind that many cats don't feel safe staying in a shelter with only one hole. They need an escape exit in case of a predator at the door.
This helps so much, I have a cat that comes around the house that I named Ace and since it’s fall already, I want him to be safe and warm when winter comes☺️✨
That's a neat little nook you have there. Never fails...cut a hole in something and a cat will go in. They can't help themselves haha. Use some bails of straw to wind block the outside in Winter. Made some flip doors from clear rubber mats and attached them with plastic rivets. I also have some mylar sheets cut up and gorilla taped to the inside walls and lid of my totes.
Great idea but you should only make one side open when the freezing winter comes its just going to blow right through if it's closed it will keep more body heat in..I have four ferrel cats I opened my garage enough on the bottom so they can get in and put foam on the rest of the length and made them a warm foam bed in a large cage and covered it with a blanket and put a tiny heater in front of it...
This video was posted 4 years ago and has housed cats without any issues. All shelters should have two entrances to provide an escape route for the cat inside when a predator approaches. Only one door is not safe.
Thanks for this, a neighborhood kitty adopted me and I worry about the rains, but in So Cal it’s not often but this will be great, thanks so much!
I tried making one of these for my indoor cat and she moved into it right away (I only put a blanket in there for now), thanks for the great idea!
Thank you for your kindness to the kitties....I've Seen 4 altered feral cats in my back yard this summer and i feed them when they ask..i wanna offer a warm dry extra abode :)
You're a good person, auntie.
@@toad4ever103 Update winter early 2020 was rough here NYC....the cats kinda disappeared all but one...now she's an indoor kitty,still shy but know how use that litter box!!!🤣🤣🤣 more later if you'd like
@@auntie9077 Yes, please keep updates coming when you can. I like you got one in. My ferals still won't stay in. They run into the patio door if I shut it.
Thanks for the link for the blanket. I am ordering one for my older indoor kitty.
sheryl napier hi Sheryl i looked for the link for the blanket. could you send it to me please?
www.amazon.com/Meow-Town-Thermal-Cat-Mat/dp/B000ERNO0M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1477235564&sr=8-5&keywords=thermal+cat+mat&linkCode=sl1&tag=ferals-20&linkId=adf15bc0a9393e811b36268ca92d30f6
Use straw og hay instead of plush :) when its wet and cold outside, the plush, and blankets will suck up moist from the air, and then freeze when its cold :) Straws will keep it warm and cozzy!
two exits across from each other cause a draft
Straw can choke the cats
Hay is for eating, straw is for bedding
@@mairwaugus5203 straw is for decorating hay is for horses and cows and guinea pigs
@@toasted_butter1882 oddly enough i knew that
Thank you for giving shelter to the outdoor cats.💓
So, I was told by an S. P. C. A. Spokesperson, that you should never put material of any kind in these cat beds. Material absorbs moisture and tends to mold. Then if the cats breathe in the mold spores they can possibly become very sick with a variety of respiratory illnesses and or diseases.
I made a very nice bed for an out door cat. I used cedar shavings for the bedding. I also insolated the tote with slabs of Styrofoam. And cardboard. However, since then, I learned that cardboard can also absorb moisture, causing the same results. So now I have to reline the new tote with all styrofoam or possibly mylar, or something like that. But, you learn as you go, I guess. I consider it an adventure!😎😎😎
i’ve never had mold develop on any material that has ever been in an outside cat house. I have had mold developed in the straw that I had in an outside cat house. I like to use self heating pet mats and also heated pet mats. I have been using them for years and have never had any issues with them.
@@LuckyFerals I think it all depends on where you live. I live in North Western Oregon. Everything molds here. I live in a rain forest. That's what they say. It's because of the amount of rain we get a year. They call us webbed feet, up here. But seriously, I had a wooden house set up for the outside cats. I made them a nice soft bed and it molded, the walls of the house molded. They wouldn't go in it anymore. Then, I saw these videos, and decided to try making my own. They are much warmer, and so far no mold. But time will tell. If nothing else, I'll just rotate them out, and make new ones ever so often. They really don't cost much to make. It's fun doing it too!
😎😎😎
Very cool and great job. Your cats are very blessed to have someone like you in their lives. God bless!
Cat mama...
Thank you for just being you....
God bless your kind ❤.
Very thoughtful and kind. My thanks to you and anyone watching who also wants to help. Does my heart good to come across such lovely people ❤
Great job, I also added insulation (styrofoam and reflective insulation) as I have a infrared light inside for super cold days.
Thanks for being kind to feral kitties. One thing that should be emphasized is the difference bet straw and hay. Straw is hollow, therefore makes for good insulation to keep kitties warmer. Hay, not so much.
Straw is for decor
Thanks for your kindness and efforts
Aww,,,that is so sweet of you to do that!!! God Bless you 😇🙏❤️😃😺😸👍💯 If I had a home I would do the same! They need a safe and warm place to stay!
lovely thing to do. they will love it.
Would a flap be better than 2 big holes? Thanks for the video!
Clear plastic flaps were eventually added to each door. It is VERY important to have two doors on a feral cat shelter. They need to have an escape route if/when a predator approaches the shelter. I have seen it happen and thankfully the cats were able to escape.
I'll have to check out that kind of blanket for my feral colony totes.
Sharon Carlson Not sure what blanket you're your talking about, think it's a safe outdoor Cats heating pad-blanket.. I've had one for many yrs and it still works great. also consider an outside warming dish that keeps the water bowl from freezing.. very cold in Michigan USA.. wish me luck, and thanks, would love to find out what blanket you're talking about..
Sharon Carlson Not sure what blanket you're your talking about, think it's a safe outdoor Cats heating pad-blanket.. I've had one for many yrs and it still works great. also consider an outside warming dish that keeps the water bowl from freezing.. very cold in Michigan USA.. wish me luck, and thanks, would love to find out what blanket you're talking about..
Thanks for the ideas. Ordered a heating pad from ebay Australia.. FREE SHIPPING. Have a feral cat that lives outdoors. Will look into the plastic container too. 🐱
I've recycled igloo ice chest. Also if you hang some old towels over doors.
dig your name....zappa reference, perchance?
Oh the heating pad I need to get them...I"m using coolers though. For better insulation (you're lucky having a bit under your house, I have to be careful as not all my neighbours like cats so camouflage id necessary but there's a lot of bits behind climbing plants and stuff like the benches that have plants all around them where a dark coloured box wouldn't be noticed.
I just bought a similar sized clear plastic locking top container,... BUT only put ONE round hole in the side nearer one end. (up about 3" UP from the bottom to similarly keep out rain puddles). This way the wind in "blocked" from direct flow to the other end, where my feral cat "neighbors" are meant to reside. I chose clear plastic to get benefit during the day of sunshine warming the inside a bit more than a solid colored one. I will line it with some wool blankets and flannel items to give my "pet" some tunneling possibilities, although will soon change over to straw as it's often said to be the best bedding for outdoor cats. For now the wool is warm even if any dampness creeps in. Tonight is going down to 15-20 degrees F but the cat has already holed up for the night as it's been really windy to boot, But I put it out anyway just in case he comes around earlier than usual like he did yesterday. I faced the shelter opening toward my house back door entrance, to keep any blowing wing subdued, Yesterday he/she ate several ounces of warmed up rotisserie chicken, 2 slices of real american cheese, about 5 ounces of whole milk with added heavy cream warmed in the microwave, and some Iams dry cat food! He/she (can't tell yet :-) is eating like Royalty,...especially by Feral Cat standards! Been feeding the cat like this for about 3 weeks,....and he's plumped and perked up nicely now,...looking mighty fine! Milk seems to be a real favorite, although I will be cutting him back soon. No ill affects shown, and in the cold I think the "warm" milk & cream helps brink up the core temperature. The cat is trusting me more,.....and will tolerate me sitting 8-10 feet away while eating, and sometimes 4-5 feet for short periods!. He spent a few hours sleeping on my concrete steps under sunshine a few days ago, in 50 degree weather with little wind. Since I lost my 12-1/2 year old Pug a month ago to the evil of DM, I'm hoping to eventually get him indoors over the winter in upstate New York. I think I'll grow on him over the winter,...we'll see! :-)
That sounds great! Thank you for taking care of the cat! Sounds like you're doing a great job.
Did you ever get that feral cat inside? I hope so 🙏 did it at least use the shelter you made for it.? Good luck
You should be putting styrofoam insulation(I use styrofoam coolers) inside with straw all around it, including on top and underneath the cooler. I always take one more step with wrapping an extra large lawn/leaf bag(or any heavy duty plastic I can get) around the bin & tape it up. I'm so happy you do this for the kittykats🐾🐱... and that self heating pad is a fabulous idea.
I don't like to use styrofoam. Please check out the other videos I've posted about insulating feral cat shelters. Thanks!
Thank you Soooo much ! This was perfect! I have four dear feral kittens at my home abandoned by their Mom and wanted to provide safe and Warm shelter for them. I just went to Wal-Mart and brought a blue tote just like the one in this video but was unsure how to set it up. Thank you
so much for sharing this valuable video!!!!🙌💕
I'm glad it could be helpful. If you would like to check out my full playlist of Feral Cat Shelter videos, here is the link - ua-cam.com/play/PLMzWJWkbHQbSzGW5OTNV_EjR7Akw6dH4O.html
You are an amazing and talented person
I was looking to purchase a doghouse aka Stray Cat Home and came upon this amazing video! Thank You for shaving me 50-100 dollars!
We have a couple of stray kitties that come to our house to eat. We inherited a few strays when people started moving out of our neighborhood. We have been putting out dry food for them. My wife started doing this when a rough-looking, black and white, tomcat started coming around and laying under our oak tree. We think we should build a couple of shelters for the winter for our strays. Especially for "Rocky", our above stated tomcat.
Yes. If winters get very cold where you are, cats love a nice warm shelter.
Lucky Ferals, you answered my question about having two exits. :) Thank You!
This is fantastic, I am helping some folks get some feeding stations set up and soon they will need some shelters for the cats in winter!
Thanks for making this video we currently have a stray and have noticed she seems to be cold. Will get this sorted for her tomorrow!
Someone said that outdoor cat shelters stay 20 degrees warmer than the outside temperatures during freezing temps. 😀 HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Thank you for your love
What a beautiful person!
Thank you for sharing this video. The self-heating mat was a great info & idea. Something I'm now going to buy for my furry kids!!❤🥰
I want to make some for my neighborhood stray cats. There is a pregnant cat that looks like she is about to give birth any day now. Would I make the entry hole higher so that the kittens wouldn't roll out? Or would it be too hard for her to get inside of if it's a bit higher?
That is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen😍😘😗😙😚
What about wind blowing thru? Could you attach a piece of plastic or cloth to act like a cat door? This is good idea. I've seen the heating/cooling pads on Drs Foster and Smith that don't need a covering, still works off their body heat. Just need to be careful of other critters and getting in. Thanks for taking care of the kitty families whether related or not. 😺😻👍😽
great idea. I will do that, too!
Please add a flap cover and never cut doors across from the other it forms a draft and use straws not cloth ever it freezers and keeps the cats cold, the entrance should always face the house wall with enough room for the at to get in too.. And raise it off the ground if you can And thank you for looking out for them🙏🙏🙏♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️🙏🙏🙏
How did you cut the hole through the thick plastic? Great idea.
+Donna Doram Box cutter.
Nice you are thinking about the outdoor cats. I question why you put a hole/entrance at both ends..why? This prevents the shelter from keeping in the heat! I would suggest that you now add a clear plastic flap door on at least one of the holes if not both to help keep in the heat and prevent the wind from blowing straight through when it's extremely cold out.
The cats will not use a shelter with only one hole/entrance because they need to have an escape route in case a predator approaches the entrance. They are smart enough not to trap themselves in a small area that they cannot escape from. There are several other videos of this shelter where you can see that clear plastic flap doors were added.
That wouldn't work in colder climates. Two openings allow cold air to blow through the shelter. You also need to add styrofoam for insolation. The material cushion can get wet, then freeze and stick the cat to the bottom.
Hello. A shelter with two opposing holes does not heat well. Just one for the entrance. It gets more protected for cats. And I am a bit worried about the thick straw that goes up on the quilt, if it will not sting the eyes of them, when they do not see it. Thank you for your love and care for them.
Thanks for watching. The cats will not enter a shelter that only has one entrance. They need an exit so they can escape if someone/something approaches from one side.
Oh really? I did'nt know about this possibility in other videos about feral shelters that I've seen... Thank you for your clarification and care to them. God bless you.
@@LuckyFerals There are only one door cat shelters in the colony of kitties I help feed. At least two kitties in each shlter.
I'm deciding to get and out door Cat in a few years so this is a good shelter for it on the winter because I have a dog
Is this a special mat for feral cats? As I understand it, it is generally best to use straw (not hay), because blankets and other such materials will also keep moisture in wet weather (or if cat is wet)- as such, the cat is at risk of pneumonia, etc. Straw will whisk away moisture and dry quickly. It also helps insulate (though we put a sheet of insulation inside too) and is easier to replace. It sounded like a specialty mat though- is it for these types of shelters?
The shelter in this video is kept in an alcove under the house which stays dry. There has never been an issue with moisture inside the shelter. Some of the shelters in the yard have straw inside of them as well as self heating thermal pet mats. amzn.to/2SHUAti One even has a heated pet mat: amzn.to/2EsSZEy
Yeah you're like me, two entrances because most of them won't use a single entry shelter...I saw a nice little feeding box on cats n pats which would work but would need a dispenser for biscuits and I would have to replace the wet food a lot because of the tom...who will take over everything. ..maybe a biscuit dispenser with water in one because I noticed that the smaller of the two does like biscuits and the other with both would maybe ensure both get enough. ..maybe just two with both and water ...I wish they got along like your cats...even my own two have to be watched because the older, bigger cat will eat the others food!
Always be careful using any kind of blanket or bedding in outdoor shelters, especially in cold and/or wet climes. Anything that can absorb moisture and then freezes becomes totally counterproductive to insulating body heat. That's generally why straw is so good. Of course if its something you regularly maintain around your house it's less of an issue.
This is very kind I bet the cats love it in ways they know your cat crazy🐈🐈🐱🐱🐱😍😎😀
Thank you for the Idea.. I have a stray that even chills in the house with me. I ve been really worried and wanted to give my little friend a place out side. my wife allergic so we have a hybrid agreement(sometimes inside and out) . we have a house but Now I have an Idea to give her a place to sleep more securely . thank you again
U are an angel!!😇😇😇
You are so kind👍
What a clever idea.
I copied your design then built a box of Styrofoam slabs around it, wrapped in tin foil (for additional insulation), garbage bags and duct tape. I also built a Styrofoam corridor on each end with doors (equipped with rubberized canvas flaps) off-centred from the inner doors to prevent drafts.
Needs to be straw and not a bed or blankets. As in the colder months, a wet cat will come in, and the bed will soak up the moisture.
the two exist thing is great, but dont u lose more heat? I made one for our cold canadian winter where it can get down to -20 c...it has a cooler insulation with steaw bedding. some kind of extention to keep the snow out but one entrance.
It might lose more heat, but I now have transparent door flaps on it so that helps hold in the heat. I know for a fact that these cats don't trust something with only one exit. If they're in one of the shelters and something approaches it, they always run out the opposite exit.
Wonderful for what you are doing to help keep them warm. Maybe also a piece of plastic for a door flap. May help keep it a little warmer.
yes, clear door flaps were later added
will this work for stray dogs as well?
I love this idea, there is a mama cat with two young kittens hiding in weeds out in the open no shelter. And then across the street at my work there is a mama and her kitten , he's older couple months. I was gonna ask with this idea what about the reflective blankets can you tape to the lid and maybe the sides? I know straw at bottom. I know at sometime of the day might be in direct sunlight. Would that be safe to do? eneral Medi Emergency Blanket (12-Pack),Emergency Silver Foil Blanket . I bought for them. Any thoughts ?
Yes, you can try the reflective blankets. Sounds like a good idea. Those could provide some nice additional warmth. If it ever gets too warm in a shelter, a cat will just sit outside for awhile. I have used self-warming pads and also electric pet pads. Here is a link to all of our feral cat shelter videos - ua-cam.com/video/2Z9Xx-3WTKQ/v-deo.html
It does not matter if water will go in or not... If the box is outside condensed water will get sucked into the fabric. And when it's minus degrees outside it will freeze.
Hasn't happened.
I have a feral that I caught her and her babies and they all went to shelter but they released momma back into the yard behind me where she came from. :( I been feeding her but she goes under the pool deck in the yard next door to me and stays there for day when rain or snow. Do you think that is enough. She has survived 22 inches of snow and below zero temps. I feed her daily but when we get a snow storm or heavy rain she doesn't come out for days. That is not my yard I cannot go over there. She comes to my side to eat. Should I try to make a shelter or let her just keep going under his deck to keep warm. Not sure how warm they are under a deck. Her and daddy cat are still surviving. she been fixed but he hasn't. He goes somewhere else but comes every nite for food.
This is a great cat birth place!!
Would you say this fits 3 cats?
You could put zioties on the lid handles then you know nothing could open it and you could cut one side if you needed to change out the straw or something
That's a nice cat shelter. It looks like the one my mom made for our outdoor cat 'Luna' and I hope the temperature is warmer in there at night. It gets to be in the 30's Fahrenheit here ,so I feel bad for the cat. Any clue how warm it would be in there during freezing temperatures of say 32?
Should be around 50
I trying this today. Winter must seriously suck for animals
I would love to buy this made already, any recommendations
would an old large cooler work the same but be more insulating?
Sure, if you can put two doors in it.
Do you give them any cat toys to play with?
COOL I'm going to try to make that for my cats because they keep on going into the dog house so I'm going to make that
Awesome video :)
You put plug in heat pad for them or just lay the blanket in there. I want to make for feral cats around my house but winter come very cold.
That's a great setup. I think I heard someone in California or so has plans to chain some outdoor pet bed to a stairwell, or something. That must be frustrating.
Amazinh! What did you cut the hole with? That's strong enough to cut through.
I used a box cutter. This container was easy through. Some are softer than others.
Thankful for the information.
I just moved to Florida, the weather is always very hot, whick material can I use to build outside shelter for streets cats?
Thanks 😊
The problem I'm having is it took me months to befriend a feral cat, (I can feed & pet her, but she won't allow me to pick her up.) The issue is she will NOT sleep on blankets. I've tried everything I can think of even after rescuing animals most of my life she is truly stubborn. I've tried cardboard, just an open box bed, (with blankets/on our covered porch,) she won't take to anything. We had a horrible storm a few nights ago & she left the safety of our porch & ran out into the storm. I've even tried the cat cubes that are warm inside. We do have a barn she likes to climb under which sits on a concrete slab, that will become frigid throughout the next 2 months & I can't reach where she hangs out. I'm all out of ideas here. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. (I guess I'll try straw next, it said hay holds moisture & can cause respiratory issues.) Wish me luck! 🤞
Have you tried catnip? That’s been very helpful with getting cats to use shelters. Sprinkle some inside and then make a trail of it leading up to the shelter.
Straw is the best in a covered area… wood, plastic container… fabric, cardboard, blankets get wet and make them cold… thx for trying ❤