Winter is a harsh and unforgiving time of year when both animals and humans can suffer from hypothermia, frostbite, or worse. However, sometimes it’s a necessary evil to banish our furry friends outdoors during the cold months (although not an easy choice, to be sure). If your own pet is left outside or there are wild animals in your area that you would like to help, there are certain things you can do to improve a cat’s well-being and longevity during the bitter winter months, starting with a house to outdoor cats.
The outdoor cat house is feline’s answer to the classic dog house, a simple but effective shelter that keeps cats warmer in winter and cooler in summer. There are many models available to buy, some relatively inexpensive, others more elaborate. They are generally made of weather-resistant woods or reinforced polyplastics and are waterproof, insulated and ventilated.
If you can’t get hold of an outdoor cathouse when you need it, or if you want to take care of stray dogs but can’t validate spending a few hundred on a cathouse that isn’t even yours, it’s easy to build your own. isolated version of a cat house. Crafty guys can work wonders with wood, but for the rest of us, what you’ll need is two Rubbermaid containers, one that fits neatly inside the other. To start, cut circular holes of the same size in one side of each container. It should be big enough for a cat to lie down comfortably and turn around in, but not so big that valuable heat is lost. Place foam or Styrofoam around the inside edges of the larger container to act as insulation. Next, place the smaller container inside the larger one so that the insulation layer separates the two containers.
On the floor of the smaller container, spread straw or cedar shavings. Unlike towels, blankets, and paper towels that become stiff and trap cold, straw is an ideal natural insulator. And cedar contains tannins that repel insects like fleas. These materials must be changed regularly for sanitary and health reasons.
Another thing you can do with an outdoor homemade cat house is cover the outside with a solar pool cover. These are made to keep pools warm by retaining heat from the sun, but they’ll work just as well in a cat house. Just make sure you go this route of keeping the cathouse outdoors so it’s actually exposed to enough sunlight.
To retain heat, it’s also easy to fit a basic swing door, usually made of vinyl, at the front entrance. This will also prevent too much wind from entering. For feral cats, you may need to install two entrances at each end of the house, because feral cats may be wary of staying in a structure with only one exit if they fear predators.
Although it’s a bit risky, especially when combined with dry, flammable straw, a heat lamp may or may not be right for you. If your outdoor cathouse is not hardwired, you’ll need a lamp powered by an alternate source of power, such as solar power or batteries. Just make sure that regardless of the power you use, you use low wattage bulbs to reduce overheating. If that’s not an option, a window on the side of your shed lets in natural light and warmth. The larger the window, the more heat will be lost through the uninsulated area, so keep it small.
The following feature is more useful to the owner than to the cat. A removable or hinged roof makes accessing the interior of the outer shed much more convenient. This way, you can get animals that need help out and clean the interior more easily.
In addition to housing, you will need to monitor your eating habits. Feeding cats fish oil and protein will give them a stronger coat. To maintain normal energy levels, many cats will need more food in the colder months. If you keep your water dish in your cat house outdoors or outside, check frequently to make sure the water isn’t freezing. If the water is frozen, the cat will seek to drink elsewhere, even in dirty and potentially chemically contaminated puddles. Also, never use a metal water dish; a cat’s tongue can stick to it. The best course of action is to purchase a hot water dish.
They are easy to find and don’t cost that much. Just like water, wet food will also freeze, so stick to dry food when it’s cold.