Build a small raised shelter with a soft entrance flap, a separate escape exit and a roof that screws down and lifts off for cleaning. Straight cuts and screws only. Let the paint cure fully, per its label, before a cat uses it.
Before you buy anything, it helps to know three things: how big the finished build is, what you’ll bring home from the store, and how the assembly goes. Here they are for the Simple Outdoor Cat Shelter, straight from the plan.
How big is it?
The finished size is 27 × 22-15/16 × 19-5/8 in (69 × 58 × 50 cm), width × depth × height. Measure the spot where it will stand before you start.
What you’ll buy
The shopping list comes to about $120 at the prices we saw (Sep 27 – Oct 8, 2026). Prices change, so check your own store.
| Qty | What | At the prices we saw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x4 PT, 8 ft | $4.78 |
| 1 | 1/2 in plywood, 4 × 8 ft | $40.35 |
| 1 box | #8 x 1-1/4 in tan star flat-head deck screws | $10.97 |
| 1 | BEHR PREMIUM PLUS 1 qt satin enamel exterior paint and primer | $24.98 |
| 1 | 3M Pro Grade Precision 9x11 in 120-grit medium sheets | $6.98 |
| 1 | Easy Gardener WeedBlock landscape fabric | $10.47 |
| 1 | Arrow T50 1/2 in leg | $4.24 |
| 1 | DuMOR 2-string compressed wheat straw bale | $16.99 |
The shopping list names what to buy; the cut list in the plan turns those boards and sheets into parts. Check both before your first cut.
Tools you need
- Tape measure
- Speed square
- Pencil
- Level
- Miter saw
- Table saw
- Circular saw
- Straightedge cutting guide
- Jigsaw
- Drill/driver
- Countersink bit
- Drill bits (1/8 in and 5/32 in for pilot holes)
- T20 star driver bit
- Bar clamps (at least 2, 36 in or longer)
- Sandpaper
- Small paintbrush
- Safety glasses
- Hearing protection
- Work gloves
- Dust mask
- Scrap block of wood
How the build goes
The plan has 12 steps, each with a drawing and the parts it uses. The plan’s own estimate is about 6–8 hours; treat it as an estimate.
- Check stock and cut the base
- Cut the walls and roof
- Sand and prepare the joints
- Fasten the raised floor
- Fit the left side
- Fit the right side
- Close the front around the entrance
- Close the rear around the escape opening
- Fit the removable sloped roof
- Finish and let the shelter cure
- Fit the soft entrance flap
- Place the shelter and add straw
Before you start
- Compare the shopping list with the stock sizes your store actually carries.
- Check every measurement against your own materials before cutting.
- Read the safety notes at the front of the plan and wear the protective gear it lists.
What the plan includes
- Preparation packet PDF (shopping list, cut list, tools), 9 pages
- Build guide PDF, 27 pages
- Preparation packet PDF, metric (mm) (shopping list, cut list, tools), 9 pages
- Build guide PDF, metric (mm), 27 pages
- Offline animated 3D build guide (ZIP; open guide.html in a web browser; guide-metric.html for mm)
It is a digital build plan: nothing physical ships. See the plan.
These plans are for planning and personal use. They are not engineered drawings and do not claim compliance with any building code. Check local rules and use your own judgment on site.
General planning guidance. Follow your chosen plan and tools’ instructions; ask about unclear dimensions or substitutions before cutting.