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Community cats prefer living outside and, with proper care, typically thrive in their outdoor homes. During the winter months, outdoor shelters provide safe places where the cats can rest, warm up, and stay dry. Most cats use their outdoor shelters year round.
Building an outdoor shelter yourself is inexpensive and easy. Here are some ideas:
Bideawee's Winter Shelters for Community Cats
Shelters Available Locally
Shelters Available Locally
Our shelters are made from a large Styrofoam box that is wrapped in heavy plastic and secured with heat-welded straps, and filled with straw bedding. The approximate dimensions are:
31 inches long
19 inches high
15.5 inches wide
The suggested donation for each shelter is $30 (tax deductible).
Extra straw is available upon request, free of charge.
Pickup is in Ossining. Delivery may be arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Contact us to order: info@catprotectioncouncil.org; (914) 222-3705 (call or text)
Elevate Shelters Off the Ground
Elevate Shelters Off the Ground
Elevate shelters using a wooden pallet, bricks, or blocks of wood. Also weigh down the shelters with bricks or other heavy items. Make sure the shelter is level and doesn't wobble.
Use Appropriate Bedding
Use Appropriate Bedding
Rough-cut, long straw that comes in large bales is the best bedding as it does not hold moisture, and it allows the cats to burrow.
Do not use hay, shredded straw that comes in plastic bags, or compressed "craft" straw that comes in bales.
Never use towels, blankets, cat beds, or carpet, as these materials retain moisture and will make the cats feel cold, and they can also get moldy.
If you are unable to get rough cut, long straw, shredded newspaper is the next best choice. Check shredded newspaper bedding frequently to make sure it's dry and not matted down. Replace it as needed.
Baled Straw Resources
Baled Straw Resources
Here are some local resources for large bales of rough-cut, long straw:
Hilltop Nursery and Garden Center
Hilltop Nursery and Garden Center
2028 Albany Post Road, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Phone: (914) 468-6633
Agriventures Agway (Danbury)
Agriventures Agway (Danbury)
92 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811
Phone: (203) 743-7500
Website: https://agwayct.com
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