Khloe's Cooler Shelter

Help stray cats stay warm

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🐱 How to Make a Warm, Safe Cooler Shelter for Stray Cats

I made this shelter after seeing a lot of DIY houses in my area that unfortunately weren’t keeping cats warm or dry. Coolers work much better than plastic bins because they’re already insulated and designed to hold temperature.

Here’s what worked best for me:

❄️ One Hole or Two? (The warmth debate)

Some people recommend two holes as an escape route, but in colder weather one small entrance keeps heat trapped inside much better.

I used two holes so warm air from the dryer vent can flow through and heat the shelter. Of course, this setup is practical for me in Florida because we only have a few really cold nights. I just run my laundry at night so the cats get that extra warmth.

If you live somewhere that’s cold all winter, running a dryer for heat might not be practical. But for a few chilly nights, it works perfectly!(If your area has predators or heavy foot traffic, a second hole may help — but for warmth, one hole is best.)

🧰 Cutting the Doorway — do this safely

When cutting into plastic:

• Always stabilize the cooler with something heavy in front of it

• Don’t hold it with your hand or foot (it can slip)

I tried using other tools like a circular bit and it caught on the plastic — which was honestly scary.

The multi-tool I linked cuts smoothly and safely, even if you’re not experienced with tools. It’s also super useful for lots of home projects.

🧷 Seal the edges (this is important!)

After cutting the hole:

✔️ Cover the edges with waterproof tape

✔️ Keeps rain out

✔️ Prevents sharp plastic from scratching paws

I used Gorilla Tape because it’s fully waterproof — I even used it on my gutter before and it stopped a leak!

🌾 Straw, not blankets

Blankets hold moisture and can freeze.

Straw stays dry and traps warmth — especially wheat straw. Wheat straw is best for insulation.

Local stores near me only carried pine straw. Local feed stores sometimes carry wheat straw, so if you have one nearby you may be able to grab it in person. I linked wheat straw on Amazon since I failed to find it locally.

♻️ The cooler doesn’t have to be new

I actually found mine being thrown out by a neighbor and cleaned it — recycling works great for this project.

❤️ Why this works better than plastic bin

• Built-in insulation

• Holds heat longer

• Stays dry

• Much warmer than regular storage containers

🛒 Supplies I Used (linked below)

• Insulated cooler

• Straw for bedding

• Waterproof tape

• Multi-tool for cutting