Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

"Prometheus" wrote in message

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them.

For that very reason, I regularly incurred parental wrath when a kid by
surreptitiously keeping the door to the barn feed room ajar during cold
weather.

I would do it again. If you believe it's right, do it ... but with the
proviso that if you notice detrimental/unintended consequences to whatever
it is you're trying to help, stop doing it.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 1/06/07

On Jan 20, 9:08*am, "Swingman" wrote:
"Prometheus" wrote in message
A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)
So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them.For that very reason, I regularly incurred parental wrath when a kid by
surreptitiously keeping the door to the barn feed room ajar during cold
weather.

I would do it again. If you believe it's right, do it ... but with the
proviso that if you notice detrimental/unintended consequences to whatever
it is you're trying to help, stop doing it.

--www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 1/06/07

Yes. We've got a long shed--65', by only about 15' deep. One central
area is elevated--I have no idea why it's elevated--and enclosed and
underneath is a storage area. My wife hates it, but I always leave that
open for the feral cats. They're a nuisance, but so is the constant
flow of rodent life around here. They help to keep the teeming masses
down to semi-manageable numbers, so I don't feel really bad about
providing some shelter from the absolute worst of the elements.

On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 07:43:33 -0600, Prometheus
wrote:

Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

Apparently in the UK people buy such houses for thier pets
http://www.gardenpine.co.uk/cat-houses.htm.

Might also want to read up on rabbit hutches--cats aren't rabbits but
they're about the same size and should need somewhat similar shelter.

The cats won't fight over it regularly--cats are territorial and have
protocols well established for deciding what belongs to who--if
there's a fight it will be over something on the borders of a
territory generally, or a newcomer establishing turf. There's not
going to be the "occasional passerby" though, if any cat likes it it's
going to belong to that cat.

Personally I'd be tempted to design it as passive solar, but I'm
nuts--couple of layers of glass facing south at the proper angle and
some cinder blocks or bricks for thermal mass and a nice overhang and
good insulation and it will be warm as toast all winter long, without
costing much more than doing it the old fashioned way.

The feral cats in my neck of the woods live under the back porch, take
shelter under the covered canoe, etc. Basically any recess (not a hole,
but a recess) in the ground with a thick carpet of leaves and a lean-to
style roof of boards or branches to keep out the worst of the snow will
suffice. It's unobtrusive and sufficiently rustic in appearance that no
one would even notice it on the border of your property.

J.


Prometheus wrote:
Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

J. Clarke wrote:

| Personally I'd be tempted to design it as passive solar,

I like the way you think! :-)

| but I'm
| nuts--couple of layers of glass facing south at the proper angle and
| some cinder blocks or bricks for thermal mass and a nice overhang
| and good insulation and it will be warm as toast all winter long,
| without costing much more than doing it the old fashioned way.

Not so nuts...perhaps.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

Prometheus wrote:
Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

I think your intentions are wonderful. I don't know if they'll be
realized however. I live in a rural area, and we have a multitude of
animals around here. Birds, coons, the stray fisher, deer, etc. Because
of the way this place has been constructed, some of them have taken
residence under the house, for the very same reason you've stated.

Some of them I don't mind. A family of coons shows up from time to time,
and they don't bother me because for the most part they're harmless and
part of the landscape. While skunks also claim equal residency, them I
do mind, and I'd never encourage them with any kind of structure that
would make them feel more at home on my property.

Neither coons nor skunks are necessarily rural animals, so regardless of
where you live, the cathouse may very well be a lure to all kinds of
critters.

YMMV

Tanus

--
This is not really a sig.

Prometheus wrote:

| I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
| technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
| deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

It's pretty difficult to find fault with a project that relieves
suffering.

If you decide to do this; and if you like J. Clarke's idea of
incorporating a bit of passive solar heating, I have some twin-wall
polycarbonate solar glazing cutoff material that I'd be happy to
contribute...

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto

Prometheus, you're a good man. I hope you manage to work something out for
them.

Tom Dacon

The cheapest, easiest to make cat shelter -

Every year I make a couple of cat igloos. They're easy and cheap to make and
the cats seem to love them. I don't have ferel cats, but I own a few that
can't behave in the house, so they've been evicted. I replace the igloos
every year as they get pretty dirty and the styrofoam gets brittle and
begins cracking, but since they only cost about $2 each and about 15 minutes
to make, it's worth it.

I buy styrofoam ice chests and use construction adhesive to glue the lids
on. The ice chest then gets inverted so top then becomes the bottom in the
final design. I cut a doorway centered in one long side, about 5" wide and
6" high from the seam up. I round the top corners of this doorway to make
the top form an arch shape and I take an old towel or a piece of fuzzy
bathrobe and place it in the bottom (they like several layers for
cushioning). Since my cats are "evicted" pets I place these igloos on an
open porch, but they could just as easily be put almost anywhere under some
kind of rain shelter. The first year that I made these igloos I fastened old
wash cloths over the doorways with duct tape to act as a flap door, but they
seemed to only use these igloos when it was extremely cold. Lately I haven't
been installing the wash cloths, and they seem to like them better and sleep
in them every night from October to March. I guess the wash cloths made the
inside too warm for them.

You could fasten these to a board if the location of choice subjects them to
blowing in the wind or build a leanto type rain shelter for them if they
will be directly exposed to the elements and not placed on a porch out of
the rain (my obligatory connection to woodworking).

--
Charley


"Prometheus" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 09:33:59 -0500, J. Clarke
wrote:

On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 07:43:33 -0600, Prometheus
wrote:

Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

Apparently in the UK people buy such houses for thier pets
http://www.gardenpine.co.uk/cat-houses.htm.

Further to this, been thinking about those shelters all morning--was
wondering why they were on stilts and it came to me that the entrance
should be elevated enough that it doesn't get buried in snow too
easily--if it does the cat can get trapped in there. And stilts
instead of a solid base let the snow level underneath instead of
drifting against it.

Pro,

We've built two "cat houses" for friends with outdoor and feral cats. We
lined the insides top bottom and sides with old carpeting, put platforms
inside for sleeping, and added a tunnel entrance to keep the breezes out
(the tunnel roof acts as an additional platform).

At last report, one house was seen to have 5 cats sleeping in it at night,
no fighting.

The other house is fully occupied as well. It seems that cats are willing to
share sleeping quarters on a cold night without too many problems.

Since we used cedar and pine reclaimed from shipping pallets to build or
side the houses, we went ahead and made them look like small shacks or
cabins, complete with faux windows and porches. We also added a flat roof,
covered in outdoor carpet, for outdoor lounging. That was just for fun and
the people we made these for loved the look.

If you want pictures of the houses under construction and finished, let me
know and I'll put them up on a server and publish links.

Andy
6 cats
2 rabbits
2 Harleys


"Prometheus" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project.

A couple of days ago, I came home after work to see a cat that has
been prowling the neighborhood since I bought the place huddling on my
front steps (it was about -10*, and the steps have outdoor carpet on
them, so I figure it must have been more appealing than concrete or
snow)

Now, I don't need another pet, and I don't care to try and tame a wild
tomcat at any rate- but I do hate to see an animal suffer like that
and I figure he probably earns his keep eating rodents before they get
near my house.

So I was contemplating building a little stray cat house with some
insulation in the backyard to give the occasional semi-domestic
passerby a place to get out of the weather on particularly cold or
rainy nights, just as a little act of kindness to them. It'll be
about 50 yards from the house if I do this, and I don't have any
interest in really interacting with the animal(s) at all, aside from
maybe peeking out the window every once in a while to see if anything
is in residence.

But, I'm a little concerned that my good intentions may go awry in
this case. I don't much care if the thing gets peed in or whatever
else might happen to it, but I don't want to have to listen to
alleycats fighting over the place in the middle of the night.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.

Anyone else ever done this? If so, did it end up causing problems of
any sort, or is it as simple as I'd hope it would be? Won't cost
anything to do, and be easy enough to maintain with a coat of paint
every couple of years. Seems like it's so simple and cheap, that
there must be some kind of catch involved- and that's why I've never
seen or heard of one before. Can't just be me that doesn't like the
idea of animals (well- cats and dogs, anyhow) losing ears and tails to
frostbite needlessly.


Not much of a cat lover, but we do have a family of stray dwarf
rabbits (unwanted pets?) that hang around. They took up residence
under my 50 Pymouth that I was going to restore and never did. The
car has since been sold and the rabbit evidence became clear. I just
rearranged some framing lumber under a loose tarp for them. I like
these rabbits hopping around here even if they try to chew the hell
out of my apple tree.

I don't hate cats, but you have to flatten them out first before you
can hang them on the wall.

Pete

http://www.all-creatures.org/ak/feral-shelter-01.html

http://www.altavista.com/web/results...=all&miwxh=all

Some places have a trap, neuter and release program for controlling
feral cats.

--

FF

http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/feral_cat_shelter.pdf

Sat, Jan 20, 2007, 7:43am (EST-1)
(Prometheus) doth pondereth:
Hello all,
I've got a woodworking question, only it's not really about the
technical aspects of making something as much as it is a dilemma in
deciding whether or not I *should* do a project. snip

It'll be good Karma. Even if all you do is toss out an old
cardboard box.



JOAT
Bugrit. Millennium hand AND shrimp.

On Sat, 20 Jan 2007 12:57:59 -0700, "Andy"
wrote:

Pro,

We've built two "cat houses" for friends with outdoor and feral cats. We
lined the insides top bottom and sides with old carpeting, put platforms
inside for sleeping, and added a tunnel entrance to keep the breezes out
(the tunnel roof acts as an additional platform).

At last report, one house was seen to have 5 cats sleeping in it at night,
no fighting.

The other house is fully occupied as well. It seems that cats are willing to
share sleeping quarters on a cold night without too many problems.

Good deal- that's what I was wondering. As far as I know, there are
only one or two real strays in the neighborhood, but I was concerned
about yowling all night from them if there was a dispute. They seem
to keep the rodent population low (at least, I've never had a problem
with mice or rats, and my indoor cat has never had occasion to catch
one either)

Since we used cedar and pine reclaimed from shipping pallets to build or
side the houses, we went ahead and made them look like small shacks or
cabins, complete with faux windows and porches. We also added a flat roof,
covered in outdoor carpet, for outdoor lounging. That was just for fun and
the people we made these for loved the look.

Yeah, that was kind of my thought as well- I figure I'll make it kind
of like a scaled-up decorative bird house with some of the bits and
pieces of leftover siding and shingles the original owners left in the
garage. Then it can match the house.

If you want pictures of the houses under construction and finished, let me
know and I'll put them up on a server and publish links.

You can if it's not too much trouble, but I don't really need any
how-to to do it, like I said, it was just a concern that it could
cause more problems than it solved.