The Basic House
The Cat House is one of which can be purchased online. It is a simple design, easy to assemble and does a pretty good job of keeping out the weather. We have purchased two of these, the first being a basic model with no Escape door leaving just the main entry point as its’ only way in and out. It has worked well through the winter.
The second house is a little larger, has two roof tops to open and has an escape door! This will be the new primary house for our visiting felines. Leaving the older house as a back-up and possibly a second location during the winter.
The Design
We have attached a thin layer of insulation under the wood panel floor and have added 6″ to the legs to bring the house off the ground a little higher.
Camera: Inside the house we have installed a motion activated video camera that records and alerts us whenever a guest stops in. We use this video to monitor their activity and to give us some clarity of their well-being. Plus, it gives us joy to see them relaxing and playing with the small plush toys we leave inside for them.
LED Light: We have also added a Solar LED Light to the exterior of the house, to help guide the kitties to the area and entrance. The light usually remains on (low setting of course) at night until about 6am, depending on the amount of sunlight it has during the day to recharge the battery.
During the New England Seasons
For Winter: We use an Outdoor Warming Pad for feral cats. This 20″x 16″ pad uses electricity to help keep the interior warm during the winter months. It is a plush, multi-layer ultra-soft design and is gentle on pets’ skin. As the pad is filled slightly with air, it is soft and cozy. It never gets too hot and its’ thermostat keeps the pads internal temp between 100-104*F. The dark cover is machine washable and our visitors seem to like the soft place to lay and relax. This winter has brought nightly temperatures to about 8*F, for weeks at a time.
For Summer: We unplug the warming pad, let some of the air out and keep it in place so the cats can still have a soft place to lay, without changing the look of the interior too much for our skittish friends. When it gets really hot out, we’ll prop open the roof(s) a bit to allow for better airflow and leave a nice cool bowl of water inside.
