How to Build an Outdoor Pet Shelter
Pets need shelter from the elements, just like we do. Here’s how to build an outdoor pet shelter that is cost-effective, attractive, and gives your furry friends a safe and comfortable haven in the backyard, no matter what Mother Nature has in store.
Cat and dog shelters can be repurposed from a variety of household objects. In this article we’ll explore a small-pet shelter option and a large-pet shelter. Both can be built in less than a day using materials you may already have around the house.
But first… logistics.
One of the most important factors for pet shelters is location. If your pet shelter is movable, you can relocate it with the seasons (a warm, sunny spot out of the wind in winter, and a cool, breezy spot in summer). If it’s meant to be in a permanent location, you’ll want to choose a spot that offers the best available shelter from blazing sun, driving snow, or pouring rain.
Next, factor in size. An outdoor shelter should never feel suffocating, cramped, or uncomfortable - or your pets simply won’t use it. As a ballpark, a shelter for any pet should be roughly twice as wide and five times as long as your cat or dog. This will give them a “nesting spot” as well as room to turn around.
Small-Pet Shelter: Totally Cool
A cooler is a great shelter option for a cat or small dog. Choose a cooler that your pet can fit into comfortably based on the guidelines above. A plastic-covered cooler is a more durable option than a Styrofoam cooler, which will degrade and become very brittle fairly quickly in sunlight (and is vulnerable to scratching and chewing).
Drill a hole large enough for a jig saw blade to fit in. Cut either a square or circular opening that your pet can fit through comfortably, approximately 2-4 inches above the interior floor of the cooler. In winter, this opening is small enough to prevent harsh weather from coming in as long as your shelter is located in a sunny spot out of the wind. In the dog days of summer, you can “pop the top” (by propping the lid open using a 1”x2” piece of lumber cut a little longer than the cooler) to keep out the rain yet allow air flow.
Next, add a foam pad and a clean used blanket or towel for bedding. Since it’s already insulated, a cooler can stay very warm on even the coldest days, and stay comfortably cool in summer.
Plus, you can simply lift the cooler lid to clean the interior and change out the bedding.
Large-Pet Shelter: A Pallet Palace
Three square pallets plus two rectangular (or larger square) pallets can be used to create the ultimate in large dog shelters. This project will go smoother with two people, since pallets can be a bit unwieldy.
To make the floor, use one of the large pallets. Glue Styrofoam insulation to the underside of the pallet and cover the bottom as well as the top with heavy duty plastic sheeting to protect the insulation and provide a washable base that you can then cover with a comfortable dog bed.
To insulate the walls and ceiling, glue Styrofoam to the inside of the pallets. Then, staple sections of indoor-outdoor carpet to the walls to protect the Styrofoam and provide a cozy feeling.
Screw the three same-sized pallets together and to the floor to form the walls, and then screw on the roof pallet.
Once your cube is assembled, weather-proof it by stapling the same plastic sheeting you used for the floor to the outside of the cube to keep out wind and water. In winter, you can protect the kennel opening with a thick blanket (attached on the top pallet) to provide easy access and keep out harsh weather. Keeping your shelter out of the wind will ensure your pet is comfortable in winter.
To keep the shelter cooler in summer, you could position it under a deciduous tree, or use a shade sail to provide shade especially in the afternoon. Since one side is open (you’ll be removing the heavy blanket in springtime) there’s plenty of airflow; only shade is necessary to keep the space comfortable on the hottest day.