Help Save a Life This Winter: Build a Simple, Life-Saving Shelter for Stray and Feral Cats

When winter settles in, outdoor cats face dangers most of us never see — bitter winds, freezing rain, deep snow, and life-threatening cold. Yet the solution is surprisingly simple. Building one or two of the pictured winter shelters is not costly, and with straw (never hay) used for insulation, they can provide critically needed warmth and protection. A bit of effort and compassion can truly mean the difference between survival and tragedy.

If you know of a stray cat and cannot bring them into your home, you can still protect them from the worst of winter’s cruelty. Please — build a basic winter shelter and toss in a handful of fresh catnip to encourage its use by the cat. Daily food and water is a must.

This small, humane action provides warmth, safety, and stability until a more permanent safe arrangement can be made for the animal.

Outdoor cats depend on kind people to make it through the coldest months. Let us show you how easy it is to build a secure, insulated shelter that can save a life — or several — this winter.

Get Step-by-Step Instructions on Building a Feral/Stray Cat Winter Shelter Using a Plastic Tote and Straw