Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

Toronto Street Cats started their cat shelter building workshops for the season last week.  The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society.

It's my fourth year volunteering with them ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR). 

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

Since COVID, instead of having 40+ volunteers, there are only 10.  There are lots of strict protocols to follow ... we were all socially distanced and required to wear masks.  56 shelters were made today.

I set up next to my pal, Darlene.

There's Carol, our coordinator.

We taped the insulated walls together in the bins and then taped the tubing entrances ... I mostly did the first part as I like it better and just did taped the tubing to a couple.  Thom cut the tubing for the entrance ways, cut the Styrofoam for insulated walls and drilled holes into the bins after the insulated walls had been taped inside.

Before

After

Before

After

After

Once the shelter is completed, straw is put inside and a lid is put on top.

In addition to selling the shelters (they are available to caretakers and colonies for $15 and refurbished ones are $5), Toronto Street Cats also provides straw to replenish existing shelters and you can buy a feeding station.  You just have to register in advance to schedule a time slot to show up and Carol takes care of you.