Community cat shelter
For colonies what matters is capacity, several chambers or several shelters, a quiet location and regular checks. Alley Cat Allies describes a shelter of about 2 × 3 ft for three to five cats.
- One or two entrances: a second one gives an escape from predators but lets in more cold air.
- For a larger colony several smaller shelters beat one oversized one.
- Place them near where the cats already rest, with privacy.
- For batch builds use the rescue planner.
28 catalog models
Nordic Solo Winter
Compact insulated winter shelter for one adult cat, with reserve capacity for two cats that voluntarily share it.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Nordic Duo Winter
Single-chamber winter shelter for two adult cats with restrained interior volume and an elevated base.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Nordic Quad Winter
Two-chamber shelter for four adult cats, with one chamber per pair and two independent entrances.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Nordic Quad Heated
Heated two-chamber variant with space for a compatible purpose-built heating product and an unheated choice zone.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Alpine Colony Six
Three-chamber shelter for up to six community cats. Multiple chambers reduce the whole group's dependence on one entrance.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Rescue Modular Eight
Four-chamber reference model for rescue/community use, designed as a repeatable modular segment.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Nordic Solo Heated
Heated variant of the compact single-cat shelter, with a coordination zone for a purpose-built heating product and a required unheated choice area.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Nordic Duo Heated
Heated single-chamber variant for two adult cats, with a purpose-built heating provision zone and remaining unheated floor area.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Alpine Colony Six Heated
Heated three-chamber variant for up to six community cats, with one separate heating provision zone in each chamber.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Rescue Modular Eight Heated
Heated four-chamber rescue/community variant for up to eight cats, with a separate product-specific heating zone in each chamber.
- Build
- Workshop
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 16 h–40 h
- Insulation
- XPS 50 mm
Foam Shipping Box Shelter
A clean foam shipping box (fishmongers, pharmacies, labs) with an entrance, straw and film over the roof. ASPCApro mentions coolers about 2 inches thick as an inexpensive waterproof option.
- Build
- No skill needed
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 15 min–40 min
- Insulation
- EPS 50 mm
EPS Core in Plastic Shell
A foam box placed inside a larger tote: the plastic protects the foam from rain, sun and outside scratching while the foam insulates. The entrance is cut through both, aligned.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 30 min–60 min
- Insulation
- EPS 50 mm
Tote with Straw
A tote raised off the ground, with a high entrance sill and loose straw up to half the height. An inexpensive winter option for one cat until an insulated shelter is built.
- Build
- No skill needed
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 20 min–40 min
- Insulation
- no insulation
Tote + EPS Lining
A tote lined inside with 30 mm EPS on every side and under the lid. The foam must be covered by straw and checked for scratching.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 60 min–2 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Tote + XPS Lining
The same tote as the EPS variant but with XPS boards that tolerate moisture and pressure better. Useful when you have XPS offcuts from construction.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 60 min–2 h
- Insulation
- XPS 30 mm
Tote-in-Tote + Straw
The Alley Cat Allies method: a large tote of about 30 gallons, a foam slab on the bottom, a smaller tote of about 20 gallons inside and straw, with one entrance through both.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 45 min–90 min
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Double Tote Insulated
A tote-in-tote with foam panels also in the gap between walls, not only on the bottom. More work and material than the basic version, with a more complete insulation layer.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 60 min–2 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Wooden Crate Shelter
A checked wooden crate with insulation fitted outside and a waterproof wrap, so the cat touches wood inside rather than foam.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Utility knife, Hand saw
- Time estimate
- 60 min–2 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Scrap Wood Cat Box
A box of checked old boards with EPS and a thin interior lining. Boards of unknown origin, with oil or old preservative treatment, are rejected.
- Build
- Intermediate
- Tools
- Hand saw, Drill
- Time estimate
- 3 h–6 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Pallet Mini Cat Shelter
Three checked pallets cut into a floor and walls, with EPS in the cavities, boards over the gaps and an interior lining. The pallet itself raises the floor off the ground.
- Build
- Intermediate
- Tools
- Hand saw, Drill
- Time estimate
- 4 h–7 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
OSB Economy Cat
An OSB/3 box with EPS and a thin lining, roofing felt and a roof falling to the rear. Sealing the OSB edges is mandatory.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Hand saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 4 h–7 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Plywood Economy Cat
Exterior plywood, 30 mm XPS and an interior lining. For two cats that get along, without the framing and hardware of the engineered models.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Hand saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 4 h–7 h
- Insulation
- XPS 30 mm
Two Cat Budget Winter
An OSB box with 50 mm EPS, one entrance and enough room for two cats to curl up together.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Hand saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 4 h–7 h
- Insulation
- EPS 50 mm
Double Chamber Budget
Two separate chambers, each with one entrance, for cats that do not share a space or to keep an escape option per entrance.
- Build
- Intermediate
- Tools
- Hand saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 5 h–8 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm
Four Cat Modular Budget
Two chambers for two cats each in one OSB box, close to the Alley Cat Allies suggestion of about 2 × 3 ft for a small group.
- Build
- Intermediate
- Tools
- Hand saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 6 h–10 h
- Insulation
- EPS 50 mm
Six Cat Colony Budget
Three chambers with one entrance each and a service roof for cleaning. A budget alternative to the engineered Alpine Colony Six.
- Build
- Intermediate
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 8 h–12 h
- Insulation
- EPS 50 mm
Stackable Colony Module
The same module built in batches and stacked at most two high when secured. A small 20 mm roof fall still sends water to the rear.
- Build
- Intermediate
- Tools
- Circular saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 5 h–8 h
- Insulation
- XPS 30 mm
Covered Porch Cat Shelter
A lighter insulated box without roof covering, only for a porch, shed or garage with no rain. It must not stand outside without a roof.
- Build
- Beginner
- Tools
- Hand saw, Jigsaw +1
- Time estimate
- 3 h–5 h
- Insulation
- EPS 30 mm