Because of their thick coats, many people believe that as long as feral cats have access to food and water, that they can survive perfectly well in cold weather. This is not true, and in fact without suitable shelter, feral cats face frostbite, hypothermia, and respiratory infections. Imagine surviving outdoors in our western New York weather wearing just a coat! Below are inexpensive methods of providing shelter to several feral cats at a time.

NOTE: All Shelters should be waterproof and insulated. Be sure to secure lids on top of plastic bins, boxes, or styrofoam coolers with duct tape or bungee cords. If the shelter is not made of plastic, wrap a tarp or large plastic bag around all sides of the shelter, and secure it with duct tape. Insulation can be provided by packing the shelter with straw. Straw is better than shredded paper, but blankets, towels, and newspaper should be avoided because they actually draw out body heat. If possible, raise the shelter off the ground on bricks or a pallet. Shelters placed under trees will receive more protection from rain and snow. Cut a hole in one side, near a corner, for a doorway.

	Plastic bin shelter: available from many stores. Two different sized bins packed with straw between their walls make even a better insulated shelter. Styrofoam cooler shelter: available at most grocery stores, or even from restaurants which receive shipments of fish or meat. Trash can shelter: any lidded trash can turned on its side. Access hole should be cut in the base or lid in case the can rolls over. Doghouse shelter: the igloo-style doghouses are waterproof. A blanket secured partially over the doorway cuts down on drafts. Picnic cooler shelter: the large old-style insulated picnic coolers with hinged lids provide ease of access for cleaning.
For exact instructions on building several types of weather-proof, snug and inexpensive feral cat shelters, please visit Spay and Stay. A different type of inexpensive cat shelter with printable plans is provided by Alley Cat Allies.

Chad Luce, a junior at Batavia High School, is helping out SOS while working on his Eagle Scout badge. Chad is making donation doghouses (very small collection boxes) to house cash donations contributed to SOS and VFA. The boxes will reside in various stores and offices around Genesee County. It all started when Chad took a Boy Scout tour of the Genesee County Animal Shelter, where his family had once adopted a dog. When Chad found out that SOS was newly-formed and needed assistance, he thought of a way he could help the community, as well as the animals. After a year of planning, Chad began assembly in August of 2009. His project should be finished in early 2010.

In May of 2009, Scott McAllister began his year-long project to design and build six sturdy cat houses for feral cats in Genesee County. Scott, like Chad above, was also working toward his Eagle Scout badge. Scott found plans for the 2' x 3' insulated weatherproof shelters on the Internet. By adding a shelf inside the cat houses, up to 7 cats can keep warm and dry and live through western New York winters.

By contacting area businesses, all of Scott's materials were donated for this project: bricks, lumber, insulation, hardware, paint, and roofing shingles. Since so many materials were donated, Scott didn't need the $173 in cash donations he also received, so he in turn donated that money to SOS to help pay for the spaying and neutering of feral cats. Almost 20 volunteers helped Scott build the cat houses, giving everyone a sense of pride and accomplishment. Scott's cat shelters were delivered to feral cat colonies in Genesee County and will no doubt be greatly appreciated this winter.

Watch the video below and enjoy some photos of Scott's project taken during construction.