Here's my prototype - 3 season shelter for ferals. It's a work in process.

[Siwsan]

It's a pet play pen covered with an old plastic table cloth that's held down with binder clips. I put a saucer bed and an old garden kneeling pad that was in the temporary shelter on the deck. Since today's forecast is for rain, it gets a trial run today.

Fingers crossed they use it.

[Walleye]

1. It will make a really cool fort for the kits

[femmedem]

2. Looks like it's already a success!

My only suggestion might be to weigh it down with something--bricks or old books?--so the wind won't carry it away. Or it it heavier than it looks?

[Siwsan]

3. I had the same thought

It's not supposed to be windy, today, but I have a couple of pavers I can use. My plan is to replace the table cloth with a tarp that I can peg down into the earth.

[MiHale]

4. Great start, looks good...

If you’re thinking about the tarp these stakes are wonderful. They screw into the ground and have hooks on the top for attachment to the tarp. Effective and rather inexpensive. I’m using them for additional tie downs on the greenhouse.

https://www.amazon.com/Canopy-Stakes-Anchors-Beach-Heavy/dp/B07MQ4WGH3/ref=pd_lpo_sccl_3/140-2959548-4686838?pd_rd_w=MB3G2&content-id=amzn1.sym.116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_p=116f529c-aa4d-4763-b2b6-4d614ec7dc00&pf_rd_r=G7KJ8KQHX9B867S9G65C&pd_rd_wg=dzoXO&pd_rd_r=aca0f0f9-a366-4813-b383-1890bb12a7d4&pd_rd_i=B07MQ4WGH3&th=1

[Aussie105]

5. Converted a guinea pig hutch for our feral.

Has a fully enclosed part with a cat sized opening, timber floor with carpet.
Wire enclosed area with his food dish.
Another mat outside.

So he has a sheltered bedroom, living room with kitchen, and an outdoor patio.

He loves it.

Not so much feral, just prefers his own company.

Yours looks good. But if it is windy, any flapping cover may frighten them.

[Trueblue Texan]

6. plenty of cardboard on the bottom and walls will help insulate for winter. nt

[2naSalit]

14. +1

[Tarzanrock]

7. Used Dog House

There are plenty of used dog houses around which show up at flea markets, yard sales, moving sales, newspapers advertisements, etc. A lot of people have them in their yards; they no longer need them; and, they practically give them away just to get them off the property. I'd look for a large wooden one and then I would "trick" it out with a pet door of some sort and some kind of a heater for the Winter. Winter is coming and it gets cold where you are living.

[SpamWyzer]

8. 2 suggestions

... that you tilt the roof slightly so rain won't puddle and collapse the roof. Perhaps a couple of cross slats to support the central part of the roof? Good prototype, looks comfy.

[thatcrowwoman]

9. The fearless leader seems to like his fort just fine. 😍

The rain may reveal some things that can be tweaked to make the ultimate shelter even better as you refine your design. You and I are alike in that we start with what we’ve got to make a project work, then improve it as we are able.

Have a lovely rainy day!
🕊thatcrowwoman

[UrbanProspector]

10. Here is my setup for 8 feral kitties that I care for.

[link:[url=https://postimages.org/][img][/img][/url]|

I work with a local cat rescue "Together We Save" who does TNR (Trap, neuter, release) so as to help curb the feral population. Around here (southeast Michigan) there are many homeless babies that deserve love and a place to go to escape danger and get something to eat. After they are "tipped" they get released back in the same place they were trapped. So I ended up having a giant rescue operation with ever-evolving supply, maintenance and operations issues, but it's all good they deserve to have a good life too. I do this because i care for animals and the planet they live on despite the cost and personal time involved. Make all lives a little better!

[niyad]

11. And it looks like they enjoy it.

[Siwsan]

21. That is great!

I'm looking at some shelter kits. My nephew wants to help me build some from 'scratch', too, but it's all of question of when he has the time.

I can't find any organizations near me that does TNR. There is one organization that doesn't do the trapping or releasing but does the surgeries at a lower cost than a vet clinic.

My attitude is the same as yours. I don't mind the expense or time I devote to these ferals. Even the ones who don't actually become 'friendly' are a joy to watch and care for and it such an amazing feeling when they allow me even the briefest contact.

I've found homes for 12, so far. Four (Madoc, Arthur, Carys and Sian) are now inside with me.

[niyad]

12. awwwwww, somebody likes it already!

[Marthe48]

13. You might get some more ideas from this shelter

If you have access to recycled styrofoam, it'd probably help with insulation, if you are thinking of materials.

[Siwsan]

16. My nephew made one out of an old cooler chest

So far they have investigated it but none are using it. It might be the location so I'm going to move it.

[Marthe48]

24. My daughter made a shelter and put it under their house

Thay have a bit of open crawlspace. The feral she is feeding likes to be under the house, but won't use the shelter. Some of the kitties are leery of anything that looks like a trap. And I bet every cat does it the way they want! lol

You are so kind to try.

[2naSalit]

15. Rain will pool in the center of that...

Depending on how much rain you get, it could collapse from the weight.

Maybe something sturdy in the center tall enough to be higher than the edges so rain can run off. Maybe a length of tree branch or something that won't fall over in there.

[Siwsan]

17. Great point!

Once I get a bigger tarp I can find something to make a peak.

It would need some major reinforcements to be used during the Winter.

[2naSalit]

19. So...

At this point, just saying this-I don't expect you to go this route, I would take out my $5 yardsale 2 person tent and put it up with straw or a piece of carpet and set the stuff in there with the door open for now and find a way to winterize it in coming weeks. That may not be the best suggestion but... something that came to mind.

[avebury]

18. Would it be possible to add a heater

In it in the winter. I am thinking about one that can be left turned on. You could plug it into an extension cord plugged into a high grade power strip. That way you could use the powers strip to turn it on when it gets really cold.

I have a set up like that in my crawl space by my kitchen plumbing on the north side. I think that a couple of my outdoor kitties go under the house to take advantage of it.

[2naSalit]

20. Okay, wait...

Do you have or know where you can get arching ten rods?

The rods that you put together that hold up a tent, you might use something like that to create a peak situation, once you get a tarp, the ends of these semi-hoop-like assemblage ends will fit into the grommets at the ground.



ETA: You could still use the binder clips to affix the tablecloth to the rods.

[Siwsan]

22. Now I'm making LOTS of notes from these suggestions!

Thanks!

[2naSalit]

23. I spent all day yesterday...

At a private campground and saw all kinds of shelters and, now that my coffee is kicking in, that idea came to mind as soon as I edited my last post!

[femmedem]

25. I've always used straw for my feral cat shelters.

It repels moisture. Not hay, though. It has to be straw. https://www.alleycat.org/community-cat-care/straw-not-hay-for-outdoor-cat-shelters/

Not that you need it now, but straw could turn your three-season shelter into a four-season shelter if you can't make or buy one from a big cooler.

[Siwsan]

26. I've got lots of straw

I've put it in the other shelters, two of which are being used.