Ideas for a warm house for outside cat?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Ideas for a warm house for outside cat?
10
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:22pm
It is starting to get cold during the nights here in NM. I am worrying about the outside cat, Rambo, even though he isn't mine to worry about. His family doesn't let him in the house at all. I don't know if they have supplied him with a warm place too take shelter in during the nights. And....he meows at my doors when he wants to eat!!! Is he my cat, then? That is another thread topic.

Anyways, do you have any ideas for a cheap but warm and dry shelter that I could make for him? Worst case scenario is he comes in the house and stays in the extra bathroom during the night. Any other ideas?

Thanks a bunch!!

Ps... I see that my Ivillage perks have disappears. I need to rejoin!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:27pm
Just in case you were thinking I should bring him in the house full time...Badness has threatened to change the door locks on me if I bring another animal home. ;)
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:55pm
How many animals do you have? Are you in a house with a carport or apartment? I bought a wooden shingled doghouse at a junk shop cheap and my husband built me a small doghouse from scraps of plywood and wood we had here. One is on each porch with hay or a blanket inside. Have a piece of plywood leaning over the opening of one to keep the wind and rain out. Its great you are caring for the cat. donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 4:59pm
I have 3 cats in my two bedroom condo. One too many for Badness.

I was thinking of a small doghouse....

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 5:02pm

Hi Bridgett. I didn't recognize you without your siggy. lol


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 5:11pm
I have a inside-only cat like Badness. He is jealous of my husband sitting by me, will only let female cats and kittens inside and one male cat he was raised with, the other male cats will get harassed if they come inside. I bought one of the fiberglass or heavy plastic dog houses one time, for some reason rain would get in it every time. A box will work only if it stays in a dry place. I have a doublewide, the cats can get under it, have a kids small pool under there with hay in it. donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 5:20pm
I didn't recognize me either!!

Rambo is eating good catfood too. I switched my furkids over to Breeder's Choice Avoderm. Rambo eats the same thing. I just feel bad for the little guy. He wants in so bad.

I look at yard sales this weekend and see what I can find.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-10-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 5:32pm
It took Badness awhile to get used to Rambo. She is fairly tolerant now but he hasn't come in the house. The story may change if he does. I also have a 6 mo. old kitten, Tucker. Ooooo he drives Badness up the wall. His mere presence is an insult. One instant she can be licking Scrappy on the head and the next swatting Tucker on his head!

My parents live in a trailer. Its like an open invitation for every feral cat in the neightborhood to move in and start having kittens!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Fri, 10-08-2004 - 8:42pm
Re join!!! Also if the neighbor is not taking care of him maybe you should take him in! I hate to see any cat on his own outside!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-10-2003
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 2:12am
Here's a way to make a simple outdoor shelter. I read this on another site as advice for people caring for feral cats.

step 1: take two cardboard boxes the same size and put one inside the other, so that the second box "closes" the open side of the first.

step 2: take a heavy duty trash bag and use it as you would wrapping paper to cover this box on all sides; you can use duct tape to tape down the edges.

step 3:cut a hole in the side of this box, somewhere in the middle of one side, large enough for a cat to get into, but not too large so as not to allow rain and wind in. Also, having the hole several inches from the ground will offer protection from snow, etc. on the ground.

Cynthia

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Sat, 10-09-2004 - 11:35am
Great and cheap idea! I love bringing boxes home for the outside cats, then it rains! Mine like the boxes better than their cat houses for some reason. donna