Robyn Smith and Verna Johnson recently created three warm, portable winter shelters for stray or feral cats for Halfway Home Pet Rescue.
Hoping to create warm, safe havens for lost or feral felines, Verna Johnson, left and Robyn Smith created these straw-insulated shelters.
Norma Milton, president of HHPR, had received a call from Dot Peterson who was concerned about a new feline hanging around her neighborhood. Peterson had been putting food out every day for the young cat but was worried about the cold because the cat doesn’t want her to come too near. One of the new shelters was put on Peterson’s porch until the owner can be found or the cat caught and placed in the shelter. “Smith and Johnson, did a great job and just in time for the cold weather ahead,” said Milton.
“To construct the feline shelters Smith and Johnson took some old large carriers, placed a layer of Styrofoam inside, covered all window sections with gorilla tape, lined it with straw (donated by Frank and Joan McElwain of Caribou), placed a smaller carrier inside, filled the smaller carrier with straw and created a tunnel effect with the straw. Next they covered the top of the inner carrier with more straw and placed the top on the larger carrier. Then they cut the heavy plastic from drapery plastic, taping that to the front for a see-through entry. The shelters are easily portable and old tote boxes could give the same protection for stray animals. Straw is the best insulation against cold for any animal. The cost of all three shelters was about $30 with lots of left over materials to make even more shelters,” said Milton
