Armed with plans from the fine folks at All About Animals Rescue, one 4' by 8' by 2" thick mylar coated sheet of styrofoam from Lowes, my husband (who is game for anything that involves power tools) and I set out to build two shelters for our new family.
1 - It is easiest to use a table saw with this material. There are plenty of other plans online for other styles of shelters if you don't have the tools or skills or someone who can take care of this for you. Luckily my husband has found out that as long as I benefit from the use of his tools, I won't complain when he buys more.
2 - Mia is intrigued*.
3 - Caulking gun? Check. Tubes of silicone? Check.
4 - Run a wiggly line of silicone along two sides. Do the same along the back and up the sides of the walls you've already put up. Make sure they have maximum contact.
5 - Measure 2" in on the front (the side without a styrofoam wall yet) and run another wiggly line of silicone down each wall and across the bottom.
6 - One more line of silicone around the top and then place the roof.
7 - Fasten the "feet" on the bottom, weight the structure with something that is not too heavy (I used an inverted card table with some books) and let it set up over night.
8 - Almost ready for painting.
*FYI the printed film on the sides should have been removed before I started gluing. Also, I should have sealed the inside joints with silicone. I tried after the fact, but it took way longer than had I done it before the roof was added.
Next post: Cats Part Three - Actual plans for your very own cat shelter, our finished product, and the hunt for the elusive daddy cat.
The Butcher
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