How to Build a Winter Shelter for Cats

[Jill_P_AKAjillianparis]

made one for my scuzzy neighbour's cats. She leaves them outside with no shelter. They love it and seem much happier now. Why do people get animals if they're not going to look after them? Breaks my heart.

[mysticmeadowshomestead]

Love this video. Just learned about this issue 5 minutes ago. Will have 30 feral cat shelters - just like this - built by my 30 Sunday School children, ages 4-8. I only teach the second Sunday per month. So this will happen next month. I know I'll have to do most of the work beforehand. I happen to have a 5 1/2 inch hole bit for my drill. Then I'll place straw (not hay) in 2-gallon ziplock bags. These children may well grow up building shelters wherever they go in life for the rest of their life. Time to start a Movement!

[betsysingh-anand]

Be sure to change the straw at least annually. It can become moldly/gross if you don't. I like to put in clean straw in the spring and fall. :)

[hectorsmommy]

One thing we do a little different is to use a lightweight planting pot (like the ones you get when you first buy a plant at the nursery). Use the top to mark the circle but cut the circle a little inside your line. Cut the bottom off the planter and insert it into the doorway to make a tunnel into the shelter. Really helps keep wind out and body heat in. We are in Wisconsin so it gets even colder than the DC area.

[kittymervine]

we did this and ended up with a silly raccoon! But it was OK, he needs to live also! But we're going to do this again. We raised it up on a palette as we can get a LOT OF SNOW. and put some old bit of insulation board under. We also got a much bigger difference as we wanted a lot of insulation (which we used, leftover from a built and it is SAFE one. We checked. Maybe cats this year?

[NishaDavdraOfficial]

Thank you for making this tutorial. I have boxes like these and will get right on it

[nikdoesstuff]

Minnesota tip: Styrofoam also works really well as Insulation

[MUGeriatrics]

Thank you for sharing this info—your cat shelter will save kitty lives! TIP: Soften the plastic with a hair dryer, and you’ll be able to cut the plastic easier. Also, place the entrance hole on the long side so the cats have a spot to burrow down without cold air whooshing across them. Great video!

[rockyleo]

Thanks for this great advice!! I actually have a stray cat outside my house. She really lives under my porch but I want her to have a warm shelter. This helps a lot! Thanks!!😃

[suechurch]

Great Tip. Hope to be using this to help the stray cats in Bulwell, Nottingham, England

[cynthiahynes]

Hannah thank you for the time and care you put into helping cats and their kittens. Taking care of any baby is time consuming, can take all your physical and emotional energy and put a strain on your finances. And it is worth every drop of sweat, every waking moment, every dime and bill spent on food, formula, medication, and veterinary bill. It brings you together with likeminded people, caring people, with mother cats that are scared but grow to appreciate your help for her and her babies who show this appreciation by getting close to you. It is worth it for every precious life you change, save, and make better, and for the improved quality of life for the wild cats after the TRAP SPADE RETURN, this is to prevent an explosion of babies and a strain on food resources. I will try to my part by adopting animals, and help shelters where I can. Every little bit helps. You Hannah take the cake girl as you don't try to help the best you can you dive in and GET HER DONE!!!! It would take 10 of me to what you alone do.Keep looking great and healthy, keep saving kitties, and most importantly keep inspiring other people. <3 for you and you team/helpers.Good Night!

[juanitovaldes]

Thank you. I take care of 9 feral cats around my home. I need to make some of these for them. The ones I have now are made from ice coolers but i think the straw is a great idea and will work even better for keeping my friends warm. .

[mariabarreto]

Excellent information! I built something like this for my semi-stray. Now, she's got an upgraded version and loves it when the weather gets bad.

[ivyutube]

Hi kitten lady, great shelter! Love the double plastic tote idea, w insulation in be tween!
For a canopie. I like to cut the bottom of the milk jug, about 3 in from the bottom, than cut in half. Use gorilla tape, and tape top and bottom of canopie to the tote. Keeps the wind from blowing in snow!
I love your channel, you are so rite about the need to spay stray animals! Most towns like mine have a catch, spay, and release program, for free. They provide the cages and the training!

[ainainurdriveway]

I love your channel, and how much you care about cats n kittens <33

[lovelightandpeaceforever]

Bless you for caring for these cats ❤️

[timrolfer]

Just bought the totes and straw. Very easy and helpful. Thank you.

[udavidism]

Cut the entrance hole only slightly wider than your cats head and just a little taller, that will help keep out other animals. Once a cat gets cornered in this box by a possum or a racoon they will never enter it again. The best outdoor cat boxes have two doors, one is an escape door.

[nunosoares]

Hi Hannah. Thanks to your building skills, many kitties will be warm and cozy this coming winter. You're awesome

[Sokkaobsessed]

That first cat is so beautiful! She’s a diluted calico my favorite 🤩
I love calicos especially dilutes and whenever I see a calico my heart freaks ❤️