Plastic Totes

Homemade shelters from plastic totes make great homes for stray cats. You may already have some totes laying around, or cheap ones can be found at goodwill stores. They are waterproof and durable enough to last many seasons.

Start by drilling a few small holes on the bottom of the tote for drainage holes should water enter or condensation form. Then cut a hole for the door about 5 1/2" to 6" diameter and stuff some straw into it. For added insulation, you can use styrofoam boards or panels for the floor and walls before you fill it with straw, and then a piece for the ceiling. Recycled shipping styrofoam works fine, but DOW board from home improvement stores has a better R-value and cuts cleaner.

When setting up the shelter, it is best to elevate it off the ground by using bricks or blocks. Pressure treated landscape ties work great and are affordable. Also be sure to weigh the tote down for severe weather. Bricks or rocks work, or a cut piece of plywood over the roof adds more protection.