How to Use Mylar in an Outdoor Cat Shelter
Feral cats and stray cats rely on the kindness of strangers to get by during cold, snowy winters. An outdoor cat shelter allows you to provide a warm, dry place for these creatures to wait out storms. Cats naturally have a body temperature higher than humans -- between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Even so, that body heat only goes so far. Outdoor survival blankets, made from mylar and insulation, help reflect body heat back on the user. Lining your outdoor cat shelter with outdoor survival blankets made of mylar helps keep outdoor cats warm and cozy during winter.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the length and width of the interior walls of your cat shelter. Cut a piece of mylar or an outdoor survival blanket to match each surface.
-
2
Measure the length and width of the floor space of your cat shelter. Cut a piece of mylar or an outdoor survival blanket to match the surface.
-
-
3
Glue the mylar or outdoor survival blankets to the walls of the cat shelter. Allow the glue to dry.
-
4
Lay the mylar or outdoor survival blanket on the floor of the cat shelter.
-
5
Cover the mylar flooring with a layer of straw or wood chips. Many cats will not step on shiny surfaces because they believe the surfaces to be water.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Consider using faux or real sheepskin as a lining over the mylar. These options help cats retain warmth and provide a comforting texture.
Cut up a recycled or thrifted real fur coat for use in the shelter in conjunction with the mylar blanket. The smell of the fur, combined with the comforting texture and warmth, puts outdoor cats at ease.
Add a heating pad specifically manufactured for cats and rated for outdoor use. The mylar reflects heat around the shelter. Added heat from the heating pad provides extra warmth for super-chilled winter days. Avoid heating pads made for people, which do not regulate to a cat's body temperature and cannot stand up to a cat's claws. Avoid indoor-use heating pads, which cannot stand up to the elements.
Change the straw or wood chip bedding as it becomes wet or soiled. Wipe the mylar with a damp cloth to clean.
If your cat shelter is a year-round fixture and not used strictly in winter, remove the mylar in summer. Make removal and reuse easy by installing self-sticking hook-and-loop tape to the walls and the mylar survival blankets.
Do not nail or staple the mylar to the cat shelter. These sharp objects may cause injury to the cats using the shelter.
Avoid blankets, towels and sheets over the mylar. These items remove body heat from the cats and are counterintuitive to warming them.
Avoid cedar, pine or other soft wood chips. These bedding options retain moisture, which is counterintuitive to heating and can cause mold and mildew to build up in the shelter.
Hay is not an acceptable substitute for straw. Hay retains moisture, which saps heat from the cats and can lead to a buildup of mold and mildew. Some cats can develop an allergy to hay, resulting in nose sores and the overproduction of mucous.
References
- Photo Credit straw image by Katrina from Fotolia.com
