I love to snuggle under my blankets when the weather gets cold. Outdoor cats don’t have blankets or warm beds waiting for them. Making sure they have safe, warm shelters is part of Roxz’s mission to help care for the cats who live outside all year. So today, I curled up beside my BFFF Roxz to talk about the shelters she makes and why they matter so much.

I asked Roxz why these shelters are needed. She told me that outdoor cats face wind, rain and snow all winter long. The shelters help keep many alive during the dangerous Wisconsin winters. She said shelters can stay outside all year, but the best time to put them out is early fall so the cats know they are there before the cold arrives.

I asked how cats figure out the shelters are meant for them. Roxz said to place them where you already see cats hiding from the weather or close to where you feed them. If you are feeding only one cat, you can leave their food and water near the shelter and they will check it out.

Last year, Roxz’s nonprofit organization made 155 shelters. The shelters were sent as far as Appleton and all the way down to Chicago. When I asked if she would ever teach classes on how to make them, she said she might hold classes at her location if demand gets very high again.

Each shelter costs twenty dollars and that includes the straw inside. I asked why she uses triple layer insulation and heat tape. Roxz said the insulation helps take the cats’ little body heat and warm it up, and the heat tape adds even more warmth.

I asked if shelters will be needed more this year. Roxz said yes. Food prices for people and animals are going up, so more cats are being dumped on the streets. Some shelters in the Milwaukee area are closed for intake because of a deadly virus and overcrowding. Many more cats are living outside now, and they need safe places to survive.

I also learned why straw is used instead of hay. Straw helps take water off the cats. Hay absorbs moisture, grows mold, freezes and has bugs. Straw keeps them dry and safe.

Roxz told me that you should put something heavy on top of the shelter, like a rock or paver brick. It keeps the shelter in place during wind storms. If the wind takes a shelter with a cat inside, that cat may never trust a shelter again and could freeze outside. The weight keeps them safe.

Shelters should be cleaned out in spring and fall by simply removing the old straw and putting fresh straw in. Some cats may share a shelter if it is big enough. Two little cats might snuggle together. A full grown cat usually prefers one shelter. A tight bonded pair may squeeze in together to stay warm.

When I asked where shelters should be placed, Roxz said to put them away from the wind if possible and close to feeding spots. A porch, under a deck, beside a garage or house are good ideas. In heavy snow, you should shovel out the door so the cat can get out.

People can help by purchasing shelters for families who cannot afford them. Donating supplies or cash also helps Roxz build shelters for cats who need them.

If someone wants to buy a shelter, they cost twenty dollars. You can message Roxz at roxzsresourcesawareness@yahoo.com or contact her on Facebook or Instagram to order.

Outdoor cats do not have blankets or warm beds waiting for them. These shelters are their warmth, their comfort and sometimes the only thing that keeps them alive through the cold. I am grateful that my BFFF Roxz works so hard to make sure these cats are cared for too.