How Can a Feral Cat Shelter Benefit Your Neighborhood?

Outdoor cats face a harsh reality. Exposed to the elements and vulnerable to disease and traffic accidents, their lives are far from easy.

While many well-intended animal lovers might think to bring these felines to shelters, shelters and rescues are often at capacity, and many free-roaming cats aren’t ideal indoor pets. So says Dr. Rachael Kreisler, a veterinarian and associate professor of shelter medicine at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine.

For many cats without homes, the ideal support lies in trap-neuter-release (TNR) efforts, community feeding and feral cat shelters. Here’s how you can support the cats in your neighborhood.

What Is a Feral Cat?

“Feral cats are born outdoors or released shortly after and have survived without human interaction for most, if not all, of their lives,” says Niki Padula, a cat shelter manager at MaxFund Animal Adoption Center in Denver, Colorado.

In these circumstances, kittens are born to unsocialized mothers. This lack of socialization is passed down to the kittens, who learn to fear humans. Kittens rescued from feral mothers and socialized will not be feral.

What’s the difference between a feral and a stray cat?

Unlike stray cats with some socialization skills, feral cats rarely interact with humans. You might only see a feral cat if you’re among the 10% to 14% of people feeding neighborhood cats.

“We actually like to use the term ‘community cat’ to refer to free-roaming cats,” says Kreisler.

Neighborhood cat populations tend to include feral and socialized free-roaming cats. Some of the latter were once owned and have since adopted an outdoor lifestyle. She says ‘community cats’ is a better catch-all term.

Community cats often live in groups known as colonies. While cats within colonies are frequently related, familial connections isn’t required for a cat to be considered a member of the colony.

What Is a Feral Cat Shelter?

A small, waterproof space where cats can safely rest and stay warm. The best shelters don’t have to be elaborate. If you’re providing shelter for a colony, consider offering multiple spaces that house one to a few cats.

Kreisler says sleeping together is a common affiliative behavior, so cats with strong social bonds may prefer a more spacious shelter. However, she adds, larger shelters can be more difficult to keep warm and may encourage fighting, depending on the relationships within the colony.

While commercial cat shelters are available, a DIY shelter with straw will also be greatly appreciated by your neighborhood felines.

“Sometimes people don’t like supporting community cats with shelter or food because they worry that this will increase the number of cats,” Kreisler says. “Or they would prefer that the cats were simply gone.”

This is where TNR comes in. The humane approach traps, spays or neuters and returns community cats to their original location. When resources are available, cats may be vaccinated as well.

TNR stabilizes the population by preventing breeding and curbs disruptive mating behaviors like fighting, spraying and caterwauling (meowing loudly). It also reduces the spread of disease and improves the overall health and well-being of the cats.

Among other benefits, providing community cats with shelters can make the trapping of feral cats more manageable.

Benefits of a feral cat shelter

The experts we spoke to say offering outdoor cat shelters provides the following benefits:

• Improved welfare monitoring: Outdoor shelters simplify caregivers’ monitoring efforts by offering colonies a secure and consistent place to rest, especially during inclement weather.

• Prevention of unwanted nesting: Shelters deter community cats from taking up residence in unwanted areas.

• Improved well-being: Shelters contribute to the overall well-being and physical health of cats, creating a positive impact on the health of your community and its animals.

• Aids TNR efforts: “It’s easier to humanely trap and sterilize cats that have a tie to a physical location such as shelter or food,” Kreisler says.

Tips for Making a Feral Cat Shelter

Our experts offered these tips for constructing an outdoor cat shelter:

Keep it small

The ideal cat shelter size provides enough space for a cat or two to comfortably stand up and turn around. Any bigger and their body heat will disperse, says Dani Gallardo, shelter medicine supervisor at the San Diego Humane Society.

Keep it dry and warm

Outdoor cat shelters should be insulated and weatherproofed. Wind and water-resistant exteriors keep the elements at bay. Insulation that doesn’t retain moisture, likes straw or shredded newspaper, keeps heat inside.

For extreme environments, consider adding a heating element. “Cats love electric blankets,” Kreisler says, “but for safety, they should be outdoor rated and waterproof.”

To keep the floor of the shelter dry, the structure should be off the ground. Gallardo suggests wood pallets as a DIY solution. At the entrance, opt for an L-shape design to block the elements, or add a flap to the entry point.

Keep predators out

Design the entrance so it’s small enough for only cats to enter, and consider adding a second entry point for a quick escape. Camouflage the shelter with dark paint or vegetation.

While it’s OK to put food near the shelter, Gallardo recommends feeding colonies only at specific times of the day and promptly removing leftover food. This will prevent attracting unwanted predators.

Where To Put a Feral Cat Shelter

Find a spot where the cats already feel comfortable hanging out, as long as it’s considerate to your neighbors.

Feral cats typically prefer quiet areas away from human and car traffic. Friendlier felines may not mind resting in a higher-traffic area, Kreisler says. In urban settings this tends to be a porch.

The Best Outdoor Cat Shelters, According to Experts

In addition to DIY tips, Kreisler, Gallardo, and Padula shared their favorite pre-built cat shelters:

Kitty Tube shelter

It’s a top pick from Kreisler for a reason: Animal lovers have trusted the Kitty Tube double-insulated shelter since 2010. It’s suitable for the coldest of environments with an optional outdoor-rated heated bed, while a flap door ensures safe entry and exit.

Petsfit weatherproof outdoor cat shelter

“Made from cedar wood, this shelter is weatherproof and has a raised floor to keep moisture out,” says Padula. “It also has an asphalt roof for additional protection. The shelter is well-ventilated and provides a comfortable space for cats.”

Kreisler says shelters with porch or balcony-like structures are a thoughtful addition for cats who enjoy lounging in nice weather.

New Age Pet Ecoflex Albany outdoor feral cat house

With two entry and exit points, this is an ideal shelter for multiple cats. Kreisler also recommends this shelter because the sloped roof keeps water from accumulating while the door flaps protect against rain, wind and cold. The durable structure comes with a 10-year warranty.

Deblue weatherproof outdoor feral cat house

Kreisler says that this A-frame shelter with a dome is a nice option for cats with kittens because you can monitor the litter without disrupting the mother. While it costs less than $100, she notes it may require some DIY improvements, like additional caulk and leveling of the floor.

About the Experts

• Dr. Rachael Kreisler, VMD, MSCE, DACVPM, is an associate professor of shelter medicine at Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine in Glendale, Arizona.
• Niki Padula is the cat shelter manager at MaxFund Animal Adoption Center in Denver, Colorado. MaxFund is a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter established in 1988.
• Dani Gallardo is the shelter medicine supervisor at the San Diego Humane Society, which provides animal services for 13 cities within San Diego County.