Does this sound like a good cat house, and how do I get feral cats to go inside?

Question

For the cat house: I took a cardboard box, cut out one side, and taped on a cardboard roof. Then I took a piece of cardboard and taped it flat to the cut-out side so that it was like a floor. I took another piece of cardboard and taped it to the roof of the cut-out cardboard so it's like an extended roof. I wrapped it in two garbage bags to keep out rain, leaving the cut-out side open so it's like an entrance and an exit. I put newspapers all over the 2 floors of the cat house, and put an old fur coat all the way in back, so that it's a warm sleeping place. Then I took one of those food-and-water bowls and put food in one side and water in the other and set it inside the house. I put two pieces of cardboard under the house so it's a little off the ground.

It's raining now so despite the garbage bags the house is still getting a little wet; I'm going to tape a garbage bag inside and outside it when the storm's done, and put an extra garbage bag along with the other 2 over it. I'm also going to put extra newspaper. I'm also going to find more cardboard pieces to put under it so it doesn't get wet or chilly from the ground. Does this sound like an ideal house for feral cats to you? And how can I get them to go inside it? It was built for a mother cat and two kittens; they went inside it when I had a cardboard box with one side cut out, no roof, and the fur coat, but they haven't shown up since yesterday.

Answer 1

You should probably build it out of something a little more sturdy if you plan on keeping it around.  Feral cats are wild.. they do what they want.  They aren't the same as a "stray" cat which happened to wander out of someone's house.  Ferals haven't had any human socialization.. nor do they want it.  It's like seeing a squirrel in the yard, basically.  I know you're trying to help them out, but they're smart and know what they're doing for the most part.  You can't force them into the home you built, but putting food inside will usually draw them in.  What you should be doing is buying a humane trap and taking them to a local lost-cost spay/neuter clinic so that they'll stop having kittens!  We need to slow down the animal population.. the shelters are overcrowded.  After they're fixed, release them back out where you found them.  

Answer 2

no, sorry. I know you are trying to help but the cardboard will get wet and soggy and get moldy and deteriorate. try building it out of wood. or even get a plastic igloo type dog house for them.

Answer 3

Cardboard and plastic is not a good method of construction.  Ferrel cats can also carry all sorts of bugs and disease.  You would be better off letting them move on!