Keeping Outdoor Cats Warm: A Winter Shelter Guide

 

When winter hits hard in Missouri, I don’t just hope the outdoor cats will be okay I build for them. Over the years, I’ve refined a shelter setup that’s warm, dry, and emotionally grounded in care. This post walks you through my method, including how I mold straw for insulation, elevate the shelters, and protect the space from predators and weather.

 Shelter Basics: Warmth Starts with Structure

Each cat house I use is:

• Insulated with reflective heated walls to retain warmth.
• Elevated a foot off the ground using cement blocks topped with plywood—this keeps moisture and cold from seeping in.
• Tucked against a privacy fence under a heavy tree canopy, offering wind protection and natural insulation.
• Placed inside a 6-foot fenced dog run (we don’t have a dog, but the fence keeps stray dogs out while cats can easily escape if needed).

 Straw + Self-Heated Pad: My Layering Technique

Inside the shelter:

• I lay 3 inches of straw across the insulated floor.
• On top of the straw, I place a K&H self-heated pad it activates with the cat’s body weight.
• When it’s bitter cold, I mold the straw around the pad, using my hands to build a soft straw wall. This blocks drafts and creates a cozy nest effect.

Think of it like sculpting warmth: the straw traps heat, cushions the pad, and forms a protective barrier against cold air.

The sketch above shows this technique in action—hands shaping straw around the pad, with the elevated base, privacy fence, and tree canopy in view.

 Safety & Escape Routes

Cats are clever. Mine know how to:

• Jump onto the top of the house.
• Leap from there to the top of the wooden fence.
• Exit the dog run easily if they feel threatened.

This setup gives them freedom and safety.

Warm and Cozy Sherpa Blanket for Cats

 

While shopping online at HSN I found a Warm and Cozy Quilted Plush Sherpa Blanket and thought it would be perfect for the feral and stray cats that seek my shed as a winter shelter.

In the shed, I have insulated with straw cat houses but saw that many of the cats do not like to hang out in the houses and prefer to lie on the floor or on top of a box. I decided to use the heavy Sherpa blanket as bedding for the cats.

The blanket and the self-warming pad are to the cats liking.

The floor in the shed is cold so I used two large storage containers that I pushed together as a platform for the cat bed. Since I ordered the full / queen size I did fold the blanket and rolled the one side so cats could cuddle on the side of the warm blanket.

The Sherpa blanket at HSN.com is the highest quality and is really warm

The shed is cool to cold even though I have the oil-filled space heater set at 41 degrees. The shed never freezes and is a whole lot warmer than outdoors but it still feels cool to cold. Because of the average temperature inside the shed, I decided to set self-warming cat pads on top of the Sherpa blanket. These cat pads have a Mylar reflective pad inside of them and your cat's body regulates the warmth of the blanket.

Sherpa blankets are the cat Meow!

I will say that I am glad I bought the Warm & Cozy Quilted Plush Sherpa Blanket at HSN.com because it is quality-made, and warm and it enables the cats to lie in the shed without feeling cold.

Note I do not recommend using a blanket outside or in a shed or garage that does not have heat.  Blankets tend to make the cat feel colder.  However, a blanket that is used with a self-warming pad then you could add to the cat house and also add some straw. 

View my related blog and shop for fleece blankets for pets here

Ways to Keep Garage Cats Warm in Winter

Today I received a message from a follower at my Cat Adoption Guide and they told me that they have cats that live outdoors.  They went on to say that they allow the cats to go into their garage but feel that they need to do something to keep the cats warm.



K&H makes a soft-sided insulated outdoor cat house that comes with a heated pad that is covered with a soft Sherpa pad.  The heating element on this pad does not generate heat until your cat lies on it and then it will keep your cat warm.  I own this cat house and recommend it for garage use because the product needs protection from rain, wind, ice, and snow.

Here is cat K&H cat house and it is showing wear from being outdoors on a covered porch.  Note it is elevated off the ground to prevent rain or water runoff from penetrating.  This cat house is very lightweight and can be lifted by the wind.

I find that this particular cat house is good for a porch or garage that does not have heat.  Shown is my cat Sam lying on the pad.  Know that it is helpful to spray the heated pad covering lightly with catnip to attract cats to the shelter cavity.  Feral and stray cats are hesitant to enter through the clear plastic door flap.

Now if you are on a budget but still want to provide your outdoor cat warmth in the garage then you can always get a heavy cardboard box and fill it with straw.

Here is a photo of the dish pack size box that I set on its side and started with layers of carpet on the bottom then topped that with a fleece blanket that was folded to provide additional insulation.  On the walls and the ceiling of the box, I cut and then glued a Mylar reflective blanket that I bought at Amazon.  A foot (12 inches of straw) was added to the interior of the box. 

The straw is a natural way to provide the cat with a cozy and comfortable resting area.  Straw is natural insulation.  I set this box with the cat bed under my workbench in my heated garage. The area was away from the door opening and excess drafts.

Here are photographs of the box and the feral cat in the box below.

Know that K&H also makes a self-warming bed (see my photo below)   These beds are great for cold rooms however if your garage gets bitter cold then  I  recommend that you put these beds in an insulated cat house.

Also if your garage is not heated then it does get cold and while the cat's internal body temperature may be warm from the self-heated bed its ears and nose will be cold.  It is wise to invest in an insulated cat house or make your own especially if you keep your cats outdoors or in your garage during the winter months.

Here is a photo of my garage shelter, we have a window heater, outdoor carpet on the floor, self-warming beds, and insulated cat houses. We have also added the heat lightbulbs like the ones they use in the hen house.  My garage is open to all cats that need a warm shelter.  

Here is a video that will show you how to make an outdoor shelter for your cat.