Can I buy a box for a feral cat?

Building a winter shelter for your outdoor cats can be both simple and inexpensive. Two of the more popular styles are: Styrofoam bins, such as used to ship perishable food and medical supplies. Plastic storage bins with removable lids, such as Rubbermaid™ bins.

How do you keep a feral cat warm in the winter?

Insulate the shelter with straw, not hay. Mylar blankets cut to size can also help cats retain warmth. Avoid using conventional fabric blankets or towels, which absorb moisture and can make the interior cold. Placing the shelter on a pallet or other surface to raise it off the ground can also help to insulate it.

How big should a feral cat house be?

A good size shelter should be 2 feet by 3 feet and at least 18 inches high. Larger isn’t always better, because the heat will disperse quickly, and the cats will need a warm shelter during the winter. A space large enough for three to five cats to huddle is perfect.

How do you make a warm shelter for stray cats?

Putting a cover, or flap, over the doorway of your shelter will help keep cold air out and warm air in. A piece of heavy vinyl or rubber, like a car’s floor mat, will work. The material has to be thick enough to provide some insulation but light enough for the cats to easily pull or push it open.

How cold is too cold for a feral cat?

Cats, even if acclimated to outdoor temperatures should always have access to warm shelters. Kittens, cats advanced in age, or sick should never be kept outdoors when the temperature is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit.”

What is too cold for feral cats?

As a general rule, vets advise against allowing your cat to stay outdoors without a warm place to retreat when the average daily temperature is lower than 45°F. That’s average, not one-time. If it’s been 55°F all day but dips to 44°F during the night? That’s probably okay.

Do cat shelters need two exits?

Some cats will resist entering a shelter with only one exit as it puts them in a vulnerable position. You may need to include two entrances in your cat shelter so that predators and bully cats can’t easily trap them in their homes.

What do you put in a feral cat shelter?

Straw—Not Hay—for Outdoor Cat Shelters

1. Hay is typically used to feed animals, like horses.
2. Straw, the dry leftover stalks from harvested crops, repels moisture, making it the best bedding for outdoor cat shelters.
3. Caregivers’ tip: Straw usually comes in bales but you only need a fraction of that to line a cat house.

Should feral cats be left alone?

When it comes to stray cats, it’s better to leave them be, experts say. “Most have homes and should be left alone, and most healthy unowned cats can thrive on their own,” Berry said. An ill cat is easily identifiable, she said, and can be brought to the shelter during normal business hours, as long as it is contained.