How To Turn A Storage Container Into a Cozy Outdoor Cat Shelter

Here's how we made a DIY outdoor cat shelter out of a storage container for the outdoor cats. The lid of the old shelter leaked too many times, so we made a new shelter.
There are many ways to make warm shelters for cats. For more ideas, check out the list from Alley Cat Allies: www.alleycat.o...
We also have a cat shed set up for the cats: • Tour of my cat shed (s...
0:07 Problem With the old shelter
0:33 Reusing Parts from the old shelter
0:40 See the water in the old shelter
0:55 Deciding entrance location, and one or two entrances
1:14 How we choose the container
1:44 Creating the entrance
2:42 Adding Styrofoam Insulation Sheets
3:10 Adding Reflectix
3:35 Adding Straw
4:06 All Done!
The total time to make the shelter was about one and a half hours. However, this was mostly me watching my husband do the work. He has much more experience with the tools. It would have taken me two to three hours to complete by myself.
𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭
Note: links to Amazon are affiliate links.
• 𝟑𝟎-𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫 (slightly smaller will work too)
• 𝐁𝐨𝐱 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫/𝐔𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐟𝐞
• 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫
• 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬
• 𝐉𝐢𝐠 𝐒𝐚𝐰 (or use a hair dryer to make the plastic easier to cut with a utility knife)
• 𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐞 - We used Gorilla Waterproof Tape: amzn.to/3Gf8D4i
• 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 - We used PVC pipe. You could also use corrugate tubing or plastic flowerpots. The opening should be about 6 inches wide. You'll want a section on the inside and outside of the container to reduce the amount of snow or rain that gets inside the shelter.
• 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐨𝐚𝐦 - If you buy a large sheet, you may need to have the store cut so that it will fit in your car.
• 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐱 -This is sold in rolls of various sizes and is easy to cut with scissors. amzn.to/3N0Qn2C
• 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐰 - Never use hay or blankets.
🐈 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐟𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞:
www.amazon.com...
🐈 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐬:
thejoyofcats.c...
🐈 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐢'𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞:
www.redbubble....
𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐝𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐬
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤: / thejoyofcats
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦: www.instagram....
𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: / thejoyofcats

[@jmuhjacat7559]

Excellent video! Thanks for sharing this!

[@rebeccamay6735]

Thank you for posting this and looking after the fur babies ❤❤❤

[@Thejoyofcats]

@@rebeccamay6735 thank you for watching

[@sunset6010]

Something to consider ... By placing the hole where you did, the cold air blows right in. If the hole is placed at the side END of the LONG side, 75% of the box will be warm. The way you did it, there is no escape from cold & wind. Thank you for caring though ❤❤

[@Thejoyofcats]

We placed the shelter where the bushes block most of the wind. We have another shelter (made by the TNR clinic) that has it on the end. We placed that one in the direction where the wind usually doesn't blow. I get what you are saying, though, and it's an important point to consider. The one we replaced had it on the side, and the cats rarely used that one (The possums liked it though). It's like they wanted to be able to see out while in it.

[@WomenBlazingTrails]

Awe this is great! So do the stray cats use them??

[@Thejoyofcats]

Yes, they could, if any new strays came by. We currently have two outdoor cats, and they usually use the cat shed. I like to have extra cat shelters for when a new cat shows up.

[@suzannetaichert8872]

Cool. Recommendation for type of tape? Duct/duck tapes don't stand up to winter temps? Gorilla tape? Not impressed with that stuff, so far. *How do you secure the lid to the bin?

[@Thejoyofcats]

The Gorilla tape we used amzn.to/3Gf8D4i is working out so far. It was expensive (for tape) but it was very sticky. The lid snaps into place. We didn't put anything on top of it. You could use a heavy rock or something else heavy to hold it in place.

[@mist4926]

Should the door tube be slanted slightly down so water will drain out not in.

[@Thejoyofcats]

Ideally it would be slanted down slightly to help prevent water from getting in