And the rest of Saturday

Was spent building an outdoor cat shelter.

I used plans based on quick and easy shelters primarily for feral and stray cats. I was shocked at how much information is out there!

I made one primarily based on this tutorial. I also read many, many other instructions so mine is actually cobbled together and/or inspired by several sources.

I probably looked quite strange taking tote after tote off the shelf and nesting one inside the other at the local hardware store today. When I asked if they had any Styrofoam insulation, the clerk didn't seem to think it was strange when I explained it was to go between the walls of the 2 totes.

Alas I did not find the correct insulation and instead of hay, as shown in the tutorial, I used some Styrofoam I had on hand and those evil packing peanuts in between the two walls. The idea is to create pockets of dead air anyway. I also upped the R factor with one of those mylar emergency blankets on the floor and "roof" of the innermost tote.

I completed the inner sanctum with a thick, snugly crate pad/bed. I researched some of the self heating pads online but did not find any at 2 different pet supply stores. The pad I did find seemed good and thick and soft so I road tested it with it pressed to me. It definitely reflected a decent amount of body heat back and pretty quickly, too.

Like a dolt, I put the whole shelter together before putting the cat in it. Then I took the lid off and dropped her in. Like she was spring loaded, she popped right back out.

Some treats and cat nip worked to keep her in long enough to put the lids back on. She did not come right back out just peered at me thought the door for awhile. But she had to really work to get through the door when she was ready to leave, so I had to take it all back apart and enlarge the doors.

If you ever decide to do this, forget the knife. Bust out the drill and jigsaw. Trust me on this.

No point in posting a picture, it looks like a large plastic tote with a door cut into it. And to up the boring factor, I put it in a huge black plastic bag (hoping that should any opportunistic thieves happen by they will leave it alone). It resides just outside my front door on a porch not immediately visible from the street, but we have had problems with break ins in the area.

I hope this will make her life a little better when the rains start and the frost nights hit. She usually spends the night inside with me, but with the company party coming, I won't be home and I don't want to stress about her.

Now if I can just get the fiercely stubborn cat-diva to actually use it...