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#ProjectWARM Community Cat House Construction

Each year, Friends For Life builds hundreds of tiny homes for community cats – now, you can make your own!

February 6, 2019 by Friends For Life

Each year, Friends For Life builds hundreds of tiny homes for community cats. To cover the cost of making these, we ask those acquiring them at the shelter for a $20 donation.

If you’re not in the area*, though, or just want to make your own, we’ve put together our process to make your own. These bins usually last through at least a few years of use, though the hay should be changed out after each season change (especially if it gets wet).

Project WARM house
cat in project warm house

Materials

  • 14-gallon Rubbermaid storage bin/tub
  • Roll of one-inch thick foam (a twin mattress topper works well)
  • Yardstick/tape measure
  • Spray glue
  • Box cutter/utility knife
  • Hay or straw (straw is preferred, but not available in all parts of the country)

Assembly

  1. Cut a doorway approximately 8” x 6” in one of the short sides of the storage bin. To prevent flooding, cut the opening so that the bottom of the doorway is several inches above the ground.
  2. Using spray glue, line the floor of the bin with foam cut to size.
  3. Size foam to the interior four walls of the bin.
    1. At this time, you can trace the pre-cut door into the foam you’ll be using on that interior wall, and cut that out before you start gluing the interior insulation in.
  4. Using spray glue, line each of the four interior walls of the bin with a piece of the foam (cut to size).
    1. This method holds best (trust us – we’ve made A LOT of these with different building and adhesive materials).
    2. If you don’t have spray glue, a hot glue gun or heavy-duty double-sided tape from the hardware store can also work.
    3. For the foam, perfect cuts are not necessary. The cats won’t mind. ?
  5. Stuff the bottom of the bin generously with straw or other insulating material (shredded newspaper, foam rubber cut into strips/cubes, polyester pillow stuffing) on top of the bottom foam.
  6. Cut out a foam “roof” and glue it to fit the inside of the lid. Glue the foam onto the inside of the lid.
  7. Cover the bin with its lid. Voila!

*Our design is for warmer climates. If you live up north, a tub-within-a-tub design is recommended for better insulation from freezing temperatures.

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Category iconShelter Best Practices Tag iconcat,  community cats,  feral,  fix houston,  trap-neuter-return

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Friends For Life Shelter

Don Sanders Adoption Center
107 E 22nd Street
Houston, TX 77008

713-863-9835

Hours:
Adoptions are still happening!
We've transitioned to curbside
services, so give us a call if
you need something.

Petsmart Cattery

2902 S. Shepherd
Houston, TX 77098

Adoption Hours:
Showcasing cats
Saturdays, 12-5PM

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