This Years Makeshift Cathouse

[Tambrey]

Well...the cats at least have some shelter for winter....
I spent the last 3 hours outside moving stuff...raking pine needles and setting up shelter for the ferals outside....

This year, since $$$ is tight again and we could not do what we wanted to...I rakes pine needles into a 5-6 in high pile and big enough for a 4x8 sheet of old plywood to set upon...on top of the plywood, I layed a 4x8 sheet of styrofoam insulation board....

I have been bringing home paper boxes from work...the kind that the reams come in....I taped the lids on and cut a hole in the lid big enough for a cat to get into...then tapes styrofoam insulation on 3 sides of the boxes...then put a blanket into each one....
WalMart has the fleece ones 2 for $6 and I cut them in half to fit the box nicely...

I had LOTS of helpers and curious investigators while I was out there.....LOL

After the boxes were done...we took the old truck topper and set that over top of the boxes...I left the end flap up and braced it so it will not fall down if a cat jumps on top of it...

Set another 2x4 piece of plywood at the end..more buckets to hold tarp up....then we covered the whole thing with tarp and boards to hold it down...I have room in there for 2 more boxes and then I will also lay blankets in loose in the aisle between the boxes...they are down both sides and one at the back...and I have seen 2 BIG cats get in one together already...kittens always pile together to sleep...so when I bring home a couple more boxes, I will have 9 in there total...plus room outside of them...

I also want to get some straw bales and stack around the outside edges...or just rake and pile more pine needles....for additional insulation on the outside....

I am hoping between the styrofoam, needles, hay and bodies, they will stay warm enough in there....

We will take the heated water dishes over to the 2x4 piece I set at the end, and the feeding dishes...so they don't have to go far to eat in bad weather either

[momPaws]

Wow! That is so great that you do all that and a lot of thought went into it...pic pls with the kitties, too!! They are luck they wandered on your property. They probably tell each other...go to Tambrey's : )

[Tina B and crew]

That's great of you to do Tambrey...I'm glad there are people looking out for the strays and ferals out there