How to Make a Cheap Shelter for Your Outdoor Cat: Step-by-Step Guide

While cats are independent beings capable of taking care of themselves without humans, as a pet owner, it's your responsibility to provide a peaceful, covered, warm corner for your companion to retreat to when needed. If you want to support stray or community cats in your area (those fed by multiple people but without a permanent home), you can use the following tips.

; iCreating a shelter for outdoor cats is not a difficult or costly task, but there are some rules to follow to ensure the structure is safe.

You can purchase a ready-made shelter for cats

Before starting a DIY project, you might consider buying a pre-made cat house. It doesn’t cost that much, and for the price you get an excellent outdoor wooden cat houses that are also insulated. However, we understand that not everyone can afford it – that doesn’t make you a bad pet owner! Still, be mindful if you choose this option: even with a pre-made house, only use straw for lining, as we’ll explain a bit later.

If you decide to make it yourself, here’s what you’ll need

The basis should be two large plastic boxes with a lockable lid. This will be easy to keep clean. You can get this in home improvement stores. In the Swedish store famous for its meatballs and furniture that can be assembled at home, for example, we know for sure that you can get something like this in several sizes.

Use only straw for bedding, even if it looks medieval. The straw does not mold or freeze, as, say, a towel or blanket would, and thus does not endanger the integrity and health of the kitty.

You will need these:

• 2 large plastic boxes with lockable lids (one larger and one smaller, approximately 110 and 70 liters, respectively; the key is to place the smaller one inside the larger one so that the space between them can be lined with the chosen insulation material).
• 1 larger diameter plastic flower pot (choose one that doesn’t narrow too much towards the end; this will be the entrance).
• Straw
• Styrofoam (for insulation)
• Box cutter
• Permanent marker
• Hairdryer

Step by step: how to make your shelter

The most important thing is to be very careful! It’s best to wear thick protective gloves to avoid cutting your hands.

1. Take the larger box and trace the bottom of the flower pot on it where you want the entrance. Once done, heat the area with a hairdryer to make it easier to cut with the box cutter.
2. Cut the Styrofoam to fit the bottom of the large box and place it there. Then, add the smaller box. This way, you can trace where the hole in the smaller box should be based on the larger one. Draw around it, heat it up, and cut it out.
3. Cut the bottom of the flower pot with scissors and place it in the hole.
4. Fill the gaps between the two boxes with straw or line them with Styrofoam. Line the inside of the boxes with straw thoroughly. Add the lid, and you’re done!

If possible, it’s a good idea to place the shelter in a covered area; if it’s not intended for your own cat but for strays or community cats, make sure to place it in an area that isn’t too busy.

If you prefer visual instructions, this short video might be helpful: