Cat Shelters to Help Them Survive the Cold, Wet Winter of Fukui

For the cats around the College of Education No. 1 Building, I have constructed 'cat shelters'--nekogoya in Japanese (cat huts?). The first ones I made for winter a year ago, I made from styrofoam boxes and duct tape. By adding roofs, which were extra pieces of styrofoam made from the lids of styrofoam boxes, I was able to make these fairly weathertight. But only if the shelter was well 'sheltered' itself, such as on the leeward side of a building (such as the east side) or up next to a wall. Also, last year in December one of these got crushed when someone plowing snow dumped a ton of snow on it--thankfully no cats were in it at the time!

So I since have constructed newer shelters from plastic tool storage boxes. These I line with styrofoam and/or all-weather carpet and/or foam carpet tiles. I have a group of four near the No. 1 building which Ragi, Caramel and Orange Blossom are using. Orange Blossom is also spending a lot of time out of the wet and cold of Fukui's winter with Shaun, by the No. 2 Building. This, by the way, is what is left of the 'Dining Hall Troop'. Gwen, the calico daughter of Ragi born 2 years ago, is living in styrofoam shelters set up in a bicycle shelter near the north side of campus. I'm trying to get her to move in with the Dining Hall Troop, but apparently she is afraid of Orange Blossom and Shaun. She lost her best home when they reconstructed the campus library; she used to live under the handicapped access ramp but the newly rebuilt one doesn't offer any 'inner recess'. The old one was like a cave in which she would hide.

The next issue to face is what to do for the Swimming Pool Gang, since their entire area is under re-construction. I'm guessing that Sheba, Gus and Buddy are sheltering under construction trailers as well as in the basement of the College of Science's No. 3 Building. But the No. 3 Building is also due for re-construction. So I'm going to have to move some of the more sturdier ones over to where they are. The problem is finding a place where they won't be disturbed and at which the cats will use them. 

Here is hoping for an early spring, too.


These are two boxes that went outside for the Dining Hall Troop. You can see that there is a styrofoam box inserted inside the storage chest. The entrance holes are fairly large, but that is because these boxes will be in a fairly sheltered space. If the box is going to out in the open, it needs to be anchored well and a 'box-within-a box' type construction works best. Also, it helps to make the entrance hole as small as possible and as high up the side of the box as possible. Finally, it is best to raise the chest up off the ground, such as with wooden boards or bricks.

When a cat gets inside this, they usually feel very warm and secure, so long as it is sheltered from the wind and snow.

I make boxes big enough for just one cat, and larger ones for two cats. Cats who don't spend that much time together in the summer will cuddle together in the winter in order to stay warm.