Right, let’s “cut to the chase”, as “they” say. There’s a stray cat that roams our neighborhood (not Gimpy the stray cat, a different one), and me and Tiff have been feeding him/trying to adopt him for a while. So far he’s not ready to stay in our house, and since the weather is ’bout to start getting chilly, I decided it was high time to build him his very own homemade cat house from reused materials. Luckily I still had a bunch o’ materials left over from our kitchen remodeling, even after making a kitchen cart from reused materials.
First, I cut the floor and walls from some old wood I had from our kitchen remodeling. After some screws n’ glue, this is what I had:
I had some carpet left over from mi casa, so I cut out a lil’ chunk and oh-so-carefully fitted it to Charlie’s cat house.
Here you can see the roof (with insulation reused from Papa Spud’s vegetable box) attached to the back wall wit’ a hinge. This is so I can open up the back wall if I need to.
I had enough of that space-age insulation to insulate the WHOLE back wall, as seen in this candid, no-holds-barred photo.
So’s I popped the roof and back wall onto the rest of the cat building, and voila, a homemade cat house for Charlie stray cat. Also, I reused some old baseboard molding for a stylish yet understated awning to keep the rain out.
Finally, it was time to use some caulk and paint to waterproof this bad boy. Tiff pitched in and used her exceptional artistic skills to paint the cat house (using leftover paint).
Cha-ching, the cat house is complete. Charlie Stray Cat inspected his new home, and cried a single tear of joy. He was now the proud owner of his very own stray cat house, made from reused wood and some leftover paint.
This homemade cat house should keep Charlie warm this winter. And with its reused insulation, wood, and leftover paint, it is “green” as can be. I’ma keep on eye on it during the winter and see how it holds up. Also, I shall build an insulated front wall onto his house, once he gets used to being in it.
September 16th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
kudos on the good job, mang.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Great job and what a good looking kitty.
September 17th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Yeah, he is definitely unique-looking. He better use this house now… or else
September 17th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
you should have 4 walls w/ no door and kitty will be vurry warm
hURRHURR
nah but for real dude, nice one *tinks*
September 17th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Maybe if I put a fire under it he will stay warm?
September 17th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Re-used stuff + helped a lonely animal = Super karma points! Well done!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Thanks for sharing your idea…Nice work! I’m building several shelters for customers of mine… which got me into the idea… There are many people in the same situation (with stray cats) who can’t do what you’ve done for themselves. I’d like to come up with a design that’s cheap and green so I could help others in our area. I’ll try to let you know what I come up with… Think global and act local… JB
November 23rd, 2008 at 2:02 am
Stop the chainsaws indeed. Luckily, we have a bunch o' trees and bushes behind our house, so they're okay for now.
November 23rd, 2008 at 4:38 am
Very nice job. Don't forget, that other wildlife also needs homes, birds, possums, squirrels, etc. Depending on where you live. Make lots of homes for all sorts of different animals and put them into the trees, about 4 meters off the ground. Size of entry hole will determen which animal will live in it. There is not enough shelter for animals, because all the trees and bushes are gone!
STOP THE CHAINSAWS!l!!!!!!!!
January 16th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Hey can you send me about three? I am disabled and I am unable to build things. There are some Ferral cats that would really benefit from it.
I see there are posts that say chain saw was used. I think they should read the article. These materials are not new.
January 16th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Where do you live? I don't really make these for a living, but if you pay me some money I can make and send some. Is there a no-euthanize animal shelter near you that can accept the feral cats?
January 17th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
I do not wish to give my address on here.
Yes, there is an animal shelter here. I am calling the animal rescue team for the cats.
January 25th, 2009 at 3:59 am
I just wanted to let people know there are organizations that actually will spay & neuter feral cats for free. I have used one and has fixed several feral cats (one or two could have been someone's pet) but I did'n't care, the cats didn't have chips, so they fixed them and then I released them back to where I trapped them. Most of them never returned (for many reasons as they had a home or they weren't going to get caught again-LOL). Search online for organizations that will lend you traps, you bring them in, then return them.
I made friends with a feral (still can not carry or pick him up) but now I am leaving the area and have to find a shelter for him with walls, roof and 2 exits. This keeps him from being trapped inside if a pretitor approaches. Plus keep him warm during the raining and winter days.
Anyway, great job
February 5th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
It's a great idea , but please consider adding a fourth wall to keep the cat warm and protected. The entrance should be no larger than 6" x 6", and should be about 5 to 6" above ground. The shelter should also face a wall, to avoid the wind.
Also, when carpet gets wet, it's almost impossible for it to dry in the winter, and it will freeze. The best thing to use is straw, hay, or "Pur Pads" from Petsmart, Petco. They retain the body heat.
Thanks!
February 5th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
I've added a temporary fourth wall made out of a stiff pillow. If it rains or snows, I take the carpet out (it's not glued down) and let it dry. Also, sometimes I put a little cat bed in it.
Lately, though, we've finally got him and our two cats getting along well enough so he just comes inside if it's very cold out
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
ya ok
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
that sucks i can bild better
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm
I challenge you to a build-off, or "bild-off", as it were.
September 26th, 2009 at 11:07 am
good idea, I might scale a bigger version. Have 14 strays and 5 new borns (all feral) so made a home out of laundry tub. Cut hole in front, lid is roof and through some throw blankets for warmth….. They seem to like it b/c i have the side all covered except entrance area.. they thnk they are hiding.