Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I bought this for a stray cat we take care of on our covered front porch. I usually make a shelter out of plastic storage bins but they tend to only last a year because the sun destroys them. This year I decided to try a wood shelter. In short I would not recommend this product. I would have returned it but there is a return fee which is about a third of the full price. Instead of throwing that money away entirely, I will try to make due with a few improvements. Below is a rundown of what I like, don't like, and plan to do to make it better. The Good: It is the perfect size for 1 cat and fits our small outdoor heated cat bed perfectly (K&H brand). It looks nice from a distance. Much nicer than a plastic storage container. The Bad: - Low quality wood that is brittle and will break easily. This would not survive a fall, a kick, or a heavy wind IMHO. Your child will not be able to sit on it without breaking it. - Non-weather proof paint. Looks more like a light gray primer. It will absorb water which will in turn rot the wood. - The floor boards are slatted rather than solid. I assume this is to drain any water that gets in but it will also create a horrible draft. - There is a gap where the lid closes that will allow rain to get in and also create a horrible draft. - Water will leak in around the edges of the shingle material on the lid when it snows or rains. - Has a horrible chemical smell. Going to let it air out in the backyard for a few days to see if it dissipates. - The door is huge. Way bigger than it needs or should be for a shelter. My Plan for Improvements: - Paint the entire thing (inside and out) with exterior spray paint. This should help preserve the wood for a few years. - Seal the top of the lid with silicone caulk so water can't seep in around the shingle material. - Add some waterproof stripping on the underside of the lid to close the gap and prevent water from leaking in. - Add a hook latch to the lid to press into the before mentioned weatherstrip to create a nice seal. - Add some wood strips to the inside of the door to make it smaller. I will also add an awning to the front to help keep rain/snow out of the doorway. - I will also be adding some heat reflective garage door insulation to the interior walls and ceiling. This helps reflect body heat back onto the cat. It looks like that emergency blanket material glued to a plastic cardboard material. I use it in some other cat shelters I have made and it works great. The cat snuggles up next to it to get some extra heat.