Winter Shelters for Community Cats Without Inviting Raccoons

A good winter shelter for community cats is small, insulated with straw (not blankets), raised off the ground, and has a cat-size door. Keep food away from the shelter and feed during the day so raccoons are not drawn to it.

Caretakers put a lot of work into winter shelters, and it is discouraging to find a raccoon or opossum curled up inside instead of the cats. A few design and placement choices make a big difference.

What makes a good cat shelter?

The best shelters are simple. A cat stays warm by trapping its own body heat, so the inside should be small, just enough room for one to three cats. Bigger is not better in winter. The shelter should be insulated on the walls and roof, raised a few inches off the ground on pallets or bricks so it does not sit in cold, wet soil, and placed with the door facing away from the prevailing wind. A single door, just large enough for a cat, keeps warmth in and larger animals out.

Common builds include insulated storage bins with a door cut in the side, foam coolers inside a protective outer box, and simple wooden boxes with an insulated lining. Whatever you use, keep the roof sloped or covered so rain and snow run off.

Why straw instead of blankets?

Straw is the standard bedding for outdoor cat shelters because it stays dry and lets cats burrow into it. Blankets, towels, and folded fabric soak up moisture from the air and from wet paws, then stay damp and cold. Hay looks similar but tends to hold moisture and break down, so ask for straw specifically. Fill the shelter loosely, refresh it when it gets matted or dirty, and check it after storms.

How do you keep raccoons out of the shelters?

Raccoons and opossums look for the same things cats do: a dry, protected space near food. Make the shelter fit a cat and nothing bigger, and keep food out of the picture.

• Keep the door small: A door sized for a cat stops most raccoons. Resist the urge to widen it.
• Place shelters away from the feeding station: Food next to a shelter turns it into a raccoon stop. Put some distance between them.
• Feed in daylight and pick up leftovers: Feed at a regular time during the day and remove what is left before dusk.
• Use two doors or a baffle in larger shelters: In a multi-cat shelter, a second exit or an inside baffle gives cats an escape route and makes the space less appealing to a raccoon.
• Check shelters for signs of other animals: Large droppings, torn bedding, or a widened door are clues that something else has moved in.

Where should shelters go?

Put shelters where the colony already spends time: quiet, protected spots along a wall, under an overhang, or behind a building, away from foot traffic and roads. Always get permission from the property owner, and check local rules on colony care, since they vary by city and property. A shelter that annoys a neighbor or a property manager can put the whole colony at risk.

What if raccoons are already moving in?

Start with food. Most raccoon problems at colony sites come from food left out overnight. Switch to daytime feeding, clean up spills, and move shelters away from the feeding area. If a raccoon keeps raiding after that, trapping may help, after checking local regulations. Remember that any trap set near a colony is going to catch cats too, so you need a plan for releasing them quickly.

How does OcuTrap support colony caretakers?

OcuTrap sends a real-time photo alert the moment an animal is caught, so you can see whether a trap near the colony caught a raccoon or one of your cats. If it is a non-target, you can release it from the app right away. Many TNR programs use one app to keep track of traps across several colony sites.

Keep the colony warm this winter and keep the raccoons out of the shelters. Learn more at ocutrap.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big should a feral cat shelter be?

A winter shelter should be small enough for one to three cats to warm with their own body heat. Larger shelters are harder to keep warm and more likely to attract raccoons. The door should be just big enough for a cat. Raise the shelter off the ground and face the door away from the wind.

Should I put food inside a cat shelter?

No. Food inside or right next to a shelter draws raccoons, opossums, and other wildlife, who may take over the space. Feed at a separate spot, ideally during the day, and pick up leftovers before dusk. Keeping food and shelter apart is one of the most effective ways to keep wildlife out.

Is hay okay instead of straw for cat shelters?

Straw is preferred. Hay is grass cut for feed, and it tends to hold moisture and break down, which makes bedding damp. Straw is the dry, hollow stalk left after grain harvest, and it stays drier and lets cats burrow. When you buy bedding, ask specifically for straw.

How do I know if a raccoon is using my cat shelter?

Signs include large droppings near or inside the shelter, bedding pulled out or scattered, a chewed or widened door, and muddy hand-like prints on the lid. If you see these, move the shelter farther from the feeding area, switch to daytime feeding, and check that the door is sized for a cat.