Cat house

darren234

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Hi i am caring for a stray cat at the momment i got him a cat house for outside put straw inside a heated pad using thermo wrap to insulation the inside the problem is when check the house the thermo insulation is wet i dunno if it due to condensation or something else the cat house i did two layer of thermo wrap all round the house is this correct way?
 

DeesCats

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Welcome to TCS D darren234 !

I'm not sure what thermo wrap actually is, can you post a pic or the brand name? The only thing I can find online using 'thermo wrap' is that it's either an epoxy based product or it's used to wrap pipes.
 

Norachan

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Hi D darren234 I`ve used something similar in my feral cat shelter. I think it works better in wooden shelters, rather than those rubber/plastic shelters people sometimes make.

Let me post some pictures. My shelter is a modified garden shed.

NewHome96.jpg

I attached the thermawrap to the inside of the shed walls with thin strips of wood screwed into place
NewHome100.jpg

I made plywood boxes and then attached wrap to the inside of these too. But I found that it`s best to only put the wrap on the walls and lid of the box and use cardboard on the bottom. When the cats lay on the wrap condensation builds up and you end up with wet straw.
NewHome98.jpg

What is your shelter made of?
 
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darren234

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is there anyway to make it warmer without using any electricity
 

DeesCats

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Thanks for the info on the Therma Wrap product and Norachan Norachan for showing how they installed it on the house.

Nice house for your outdoor kitty D darren234 ! The cat is probably using the house often and body heat, respiration + any moisture on the cat will contribute to condensation in the house.

Fabric, pillows and cat beds will also absorb moisture and humidity from the air and cat and are usually not recommended to use for this reason. If you think the cat will be just fine sleeping in the straw, that may help reduce excess moisture or you can periodically swap out the soft bedding material, replacing it if it becomes damp/wet and put new bedding in IF the cat is comfortable with you doing so.

I'm using an electric cat heated hard pad that has a thin fleece cover over it and I periodically check the house and if it is damp or soiled, swap it out with another and wash/dry the wet/dirty one. I also sprinkle some cat nip on the new fleece after rubbing some scent from the soiled fleece so it still has the cat's scent on it.
 

Norachan

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I agree with D DeesCats I think you`d be better off just using the box lined with wrap, a few sheets of thick, corrugated cardboard at the bottom and straw.

Every few months I wait for a sunny day and spread all the straw I use out on a tarp and put it in the sun to air. If there`s any that smells damp and mouldy it goes into the compost. When I put it back in the shelter I top it up with fresh straw and it`s good for another few months.

I`d also suggest that you don`t leave food in the same shelter that the cat sleeps in. Food will attract other animals and if the cat is sleeping in a shelter with only one exit and another animal comes in for a snack there could be a fight. Food will attract ants and other bugs in the summer too. Could you make another shelter just for feeding? My cats have this kind of covered walkway where they get fed.

Walkway next to the shelter.
NewHome99.jpg

Looking in from the open end.
NewHome101.jpg
 

Antonio65

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My cat house has been lined on the inside with panels of hi-density styrofoam, 2 cm thick, on 5 sides, which in turn have been lined with a plastic sheet usually used to protect the bottom of drawers. The ceiling has been lined with the same material, 1 cm thick, which in turn has been lined with something like your thermo wrap, to reflect the cats' body heat down.
The floor has a puppy pad on the insulation panel and plastic sheet, so that I can quickly refresh the inside by simply replace the pad.

There are also three tiny LED beads on the ceiling, powered by a 6 V battery and a switch, so that I can check the inside at night as well.

The house is a two-floor one, and both floors have this arrangement.

I never found any moisture on the walls, but I found that it's really warm inside when the cats are in.
 
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