Creating A Cozy DIY Cold Weather Shelter For Outdoor Cats

Snow is fun, but a cold weather cat shelter could save your feline friend's life.
DIY cat shelters are east to make and will provide much-needed protection for your outdoor cat when the weather is cold.

While some cats love to play in the snow, very cold weather can also be treacherous for cats. Like humans, they can suffer from frostbite, and they can die from hypothermia when their fur gets wet and doesn't provide as much insulation as usual.

One of the most important things you can do for your outdoor cats is give them a cold weather shelter. In fact, in very bad weather, that shelter can be even more important than food.

Turn A Storage Tub Into A Cozy DIY Cat Shelter

A Rubbermaid storage tub makes a great cat shelter.
A 19-gallon Rubbermaid storage tub makes a great cold weather cat shelter. You can also add insulation to a small doghouse and use it as a cat shelter or make a shelter from a Styrofoam cooler. Just be sure the cooler is weighted down so it doesn't blow away.

To make your shelter, cut six-inch by six-inch doorways in the long sides of the container. The extra doorway will provide an escape route if another animal wanders into the shelter. The bottoms of the doorways should be several inches above ground to prevent flooding.

To insulate the shelter, line the walls and top with pieces of Styrofoam, and cover them with a Mylar reflective blanket.

To make a Styrofoam cat shelter, use a sheet of hard Styrofoam that’s eight feet long by two feet wide and two inches thick.

Cut the Styrofoam into two 24-inch by 24-inch pieces for the floor and roof of the shelter. For the sides, cut two 12- by 24-inch pieces and two 12- by 20-inch pieces.

Cut six-inch by six-inch doorways in the longest sides. Then glue all the pieces together with silicone sealant, and paint the shelter with dark green or brown latex deck paint.

Inexpensive Wood Cat Shelter

A wood cat shelter is easy to build.
To build an inexpensive wood cat shelter, use exterior grade plywood or wafer board.

​The roof should be slanted to drain off rain and snow. Use hinges to attach the roof to the shelter so you’ll have easy access when it's time to replace the cats' bedding. 

Remember to cut holes in two sides so the cat will have an escape route, and place the entrances several inches above the ground to prevent flooding.

Locating Your Cat Shelter

If your outdoor cats live in an office park or other exposed area, set your shelter up in a stand of trees, under a row of bushes or in another place where it won’t be noticed by people passing by.

​Wherever the shelter is located, put some bricks under it. It will be warmer if it’s off the ground. And orient it away from direct wind, rain and snow.​

Keeping Your Outdoor Cats Cozy And Warm

White and black cat walking in the snow
  • Here are some tips for keeping your outdoor cats cozy and warm all winter.
  • -- Use straw, wood chips or shredded newspaper as bedding in your cat shelter. The cats will burrow in the straw or newspaper and will stay cozy and warm. Never use blankets, quilts or towels as bedding for outside cats. They retain moisture, and sleeping on wet bedding can make cats sick.
  • -- Remember to put some bricks under the shelter. It will be warmer if it's off the ground.
  • -- Put a stack of bricks about 12 inches from the entrance to the shelter to block wind and blowing snow.
  • -- Also surround the shelter with bails of straw to protect it from wind and drifting snow.
-- Wrap a SnuggleSafe disc in a cloth and put it inside the shelter. When heated in a microwave oven for a few minutes, the disc will stay warm for several hours.

While making a DIY cat shelter may seem like too much of a project, it's important for your outdoor cat's health and safety and could save his life.

A Purchased Shelter I Recommend

If you'd rather buy a cat shelter than make one, this is one I recommend. It's roomy but cozy and very warm. My feral cat loves his. 

Cold Weather Essentials For Outdoor Cats

Snuggle Safe Disk
Heat the Snuggle Safe Disc in the microwave, wrap it in a cloth and put it in your cats' shelter to keep them warm for hours.
heated water bowl
This heated bowl gets great reviews on Amazon. It will keep your cats' wet food and water from freezing.
Kitty Tube cat shelter
The Kitty Tube shelter is heavily insulated and also gets rave reviews on Amazon.