Plastic bin cat shelter
A plastic tote is waterproof, light and easy to find. On its own it is not insulation, so the models add straw, foam boards or a second tote. Tote sizes are nominal: measure yours before cutting.
- Alley Cat Allies describes a tote-in-tote: about 30 and about 20 gallons, foam on the bottom and straw.
- Cut plastic edges are sharp; cover them from the outside.
- Weight or secure the light tote.
- Plastic has no sourced thermal conductivity, so only the foam layer is calculated.
7 catalog models
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
Single Plastic Tote
The simplest rain and wind cover: a lidded tote with an entrance and a little straw. Without insulation it is not a winter solution; it is a starting point to upgrade later.
- Build
- No skill needed
- Tools
- Utility knife
- Time estimate
- 15 min–30 min
- Insulation
- no insulation
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