Feral Cats (& stray, lost/escaped, and abandoned cats) can survive in even extremely cold climates if they are provided with adequate winter shelter. Winter shelter is critical for feral and stray cats living in frigid climates and can help them thrive despite the low temperatures. Listed here are mostly examples of inexpensive, do-it-yourself shelters that can be built in a matter of hours or less. All designs share three essential qualities - they're well insulated, have minimal air space and are waterproof. They need to be well insulated to trap the cats' body heat, have minimal air space so there isn't too much empty room to heat up, and be waterproof so the interior remains dry. Further down this page, you'll find info on placement of shelters, insulating materials to place inside your cat cabins, extra protection for extreme cold and flap doors. For more on winter care, see how to stop freezing water.