Sadly, feral colonies of cats or strays that have been abandoned by their owners do not have a place to stay warm. While they may make burrows against homes or in shrubs, the cats are not protected from these cold temperatures.

I take care of several neighborhood feral cats. Our winters are very short, so the feral cats and strays don't have much of a winter coat. It was important to me to provide them with some type of shelter that would protect them from the elements and, more importantly, help to keep them warm.

This solution would not be adequate for extreme cold conditions, but for our southern climates, it works well.

Supplies

For this project, you will need the following for each shelter you make:

• 18-gallon storage bin with a lock-on top
• Straw (not hay)
• Double-sided tape
• Mylar emergency blanket

Why Straw and Not Hay?

It's sometimes difficult to tell the difference between straw and hay, but for a shelter, there is a big difference.

• Straw repels moisture. It is what's left over from harvested hay crops and is more golden or yellow in color.
• Hay is used for animal feed. Hay retains moisture, so it does not make for suitable bedding for a shelter made for warmth.

If you're not sure which is which, just ask someone where you're considering purchasing the straw from.

1. On one end of the 18-gallon storage bin, cut a rectangular opening from approximately 5 inches from the bottom to about 4–5 inches from the top. The width should be approximately 5–6 inches. This should fit most cats. If the cats you have are smaller, you may choose a slightly smaller hole.
2. With the hole cut out, open an emergency Mylar blanket. Measure the height of the inside of the bin and add 2 inches (that would go over the top lip), and then cut the length of the blanket so that it will fully cover the sides. Do not cover the bottom of the bin with the Mylar.
3. Using double-stick tape, place a strip of tape from top to bottom about every 6 inches apart, starting along one side of the cut opening. Press the blanket to the tape, continuing all around the inside of the bin and stopping just before the opposite side of the opening.
4. Fold the top 2 inches of the blanket over the top lip of the bin and secure it with the double stick tape in a few places.
5. Fill the bottom of the bin with straw, about 4 to 5 inches deep, and overlap where the bottom edge of the Mylar is.
6. Finally, snap the lid on and place it near the area that they will feel safe accessing it from. Since the cats in my neighborhood sleep in my shrubs, I place mine near the shrubs about 8 inches from the house, with the opening facing the house to limit any wind. I also place straw under and around the sides of the shelter for a little extra insulation.

The bedding of straw will give them something to burrow into and help them to stay warm, and the reflective emergency blanket will reflect their own body heat back onto them.

When I made these, had I had a sheet of Styrofoam insulation, I would have cut it and placed it in the bin before attaching the Mylar blanket. This is something you'd want to add, especially in colder climates.