@NOV22 SOLD OUT OF SHELTERS
Scroll down for alternative sources of shelters and straw
- We are unable to ship them (sorry!)
- SIZE (approximate): L=22 x H=15 x W=12 (in inches)
- Appropriate for 1 (maximum 2) cat
- Lined with Durofoam
- Already filled with straw
- $20 per new shelter
- $10 per refurbished shelter
The totes have been used before but have been thoroughly cleaned, are in good shape, and have fresh insulation/straw - STRAW: All shelters are prefilled with straw.
If you need straw to refresh shelter(s) you already have:
$5 per Large garbage bag (max 5 per person)
Free or token donation for < 1 garbage bag
- $5 CREDIT FOR EACH USED SHELTER YOU BRING IN
Regarding the user shelter(s):
-There must be no cracks in the lid or body of the plastic tote
-Please empty shelter of insulation/straw
-Please return plastic tube (if you still have it)
Full or partial credits can be applied against price of new or refurbished shelters, straw, or applied at a later date
- ETRANSFER (preferred) to torontostreetcats@gmail.com
- CASH
DATE: TBD. We have a small stock of plastic totes left to turn into shelters. As soon as the shelters are made we’ll communicate a sale date on social media and via our email distribution list. So keep an eye out!
FUTURE AVAILABILITY @Nov22: after we convert our small left over stock of plastic totes into shelters (and then sell them), future sales of shelters will be TBD; as a result of American tariffs the plastic totes we have been using for many years are no longer available at ANY store in Ontario (nor are any comparable sizes in other brands). So we will need to finalize which smaller sized totes to proceed with, then start from scratch sizing/creating the templates to cut the pieces of insulation to line them with. Please bear with us.
Outside a storage pod, in the parking lot at the back/east side of the of Toronto Humane Society (11 River Street, Toronto) – see the red star in the below map:
Click here for loads of excellent DIY cat shelters (for all skill levels)
Ontario SPCA and Humane Society: a limited amount are made each fall by their volunteers for caretakers. Their winter shelters are made available at each of their animal centres, and at their clinics in both Barrie and Stouffville. Please contact them in advance to ensure inventory is available.
- Click here for some simple (but important!) tips for how to maintain your cat shelter (ie where to place it, how to entice cats into it, how to improve the environment around the shelter to keep the cats etc)
October is the perfect time of year to find straw in stores – it’s sold for Hallowe’en/Thanksgiving decorations, fall dances at schools, you name it. But after Hallowe’en/Thanksgiving, it gets MUCH harder to find. You can get a whole bale of STRAW (don’t buy HAY for shelters) for under $20 and keep it in your garage for the season. ALWAYS ask to make sure the straw has NOT been treated with fire retardant.
NOTE: opt for OAT straw – it’s the softest (what we use)
- Check your local nurseries, garden centers, and grocery stores (that sell plants).
Contact local schools to see if they have any available (for free) after their Hallowe’en dance. - Google search animal feed & farm supply stores (I did a quick search and there were ones in Caledon, Newmarket, Lindsay…)
- Hardware stores (i.e. Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowes, Rona, etc)
- Kijiji (that’s how Toronto Street Cats originally found our “source” for straw >> which is in Courtice, ON – email Brad at brad_found@yahoo.com – EXCELLENT resource!)
Where ever/however you look for it, make sure it’s STRAW you’re getting. Not HAY
toronto street cats 