How to get stray cat to use outdoor shelter?

Question

I have a very friendly stray cat that has been roaming around outside for the past few months. Now that its getting cold, and I can't bring her inside, I made her a shelter out of a box and blanket, and put it in an area out of the wind about 10 feet from my front stoop. The problem is she still likes my stoop and climbing on my screen door at 3 AM. How can I get her to use the shelter?

Answer 1

put food in there,is it safe from other animals,try putting her in there a few times if you can pick up

Answer 2

Outdoor Shelter For Feral Cats

Answer 3

The best way to handle the cold for a stray outdoor cat is to go to Walmart or another superstore and buy a big plastic container with a lid. Cedar chips bedding will attract the cat and keep insects and fleas away, and will not freeze or get cold. Cedar will generate body heat from the cat, unlike blankets. The worse thing is a cardboard box and blanket because both get stiff and freeze and can cause mold build up. Put a box inside the box to make levels and you can put this off the ground and get some plastic tarp to go around the top for more privacy and act as a wind breaker. Good luck!
I did this for a feral cat and he slept there all the time.

Answer 4

I had a similar problem with a stray last year. I had placed a box against our apartment not far from our step. The cat wouldn't go in. Then I bought a basket and put a small towel in it and placed it on our step/porch. He liked it. Its not protected from rain so I bought a booda dome litter box and round cushion from the pet store. Its cheaper than a Dogloo. I used some very wide, waterproof tape over the vent hole and around the handle. About a week later I found him sleeping in it. I placed it not far from the basket. You can also purchase a heat pad disk. I ordered one (reasonable price) from www.snugglesafe.com. You heat in the microwave, place it under the blanket and it stays warm for up to 12 hours. Good luck!

******Ok, I just checked the price of the heatpad and I guess it is more than I remembered. The disk + shipping is about $35.00......but it does work great.

Answer 5

I take it your front stoop has no protection from the wind. Otherwise, I would suggest the box and blanket be placed there.
You may want to put a dish of food, and a dish of water out in the shelter area you have for her. When she gets used to getting it there, that should help.
Thank you for taking such good care of her.
Take care.

Answer 6

You probably wont have much luck. My house cats would never go near anything I specifically bought for them lol. A wild cat is definitely not going to go for that. That stray may have been captured and taken to a vet to be spayed in the past by someone who also used a box. Cats are smart. She will find somewhere to stay to get out of the cold on her own.

Answer 7

Put food and a blanket and make it up off the ground & very private. Do not go out there at 3 and talk to her or let her in ever! She will find a warm place when it gets to cold, they have natural instincts......They are not like dogs they have there own way of doing things & don't listen.

Answer 8

Put food in the shelter. Stray cats often like that, and when she gets cold, she'll think of the shelter.

Answer 9

Try placing food in the back of the box. You could try a water correction while she is on the screen. Get a water bottle and turn nozzle to a "stream" if you catch her on the screen give a squirt and tell her no.

Answer 10

Wow...spray a scared cold cat with water?!? I'm speechless and disgusted at this...there are many places to search how to make homes for feral cats out of storage totes and warm them...I have done it. I pray you figured it out for this poor cat.