If you are looking for a fun way to recycle an Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam cooler, consider creating a winter home for outdoor cats. EPS foam is an excellent insulator, making it ideal for furry friends in Wisconsin winters.
To make a winter cat home, you will only need a few supplies:
- EPS Foam Cooler (if you do not have one available, you can purchase one or, consider asking your local restaurant for one – lots of food products ship in foam coolers)
- Straw insulation
- A sharp knife
Begin by removing the top and cutting a hole in the front of the cooler. Do not make the hole too large, or your habitat will attract larger creatures such as raccoons. Five to six inches is plenty of space for a cat to climb in and will limit unwanted animals from entering.
Next, firmly pack in a good quantity of straw. Avoid using old towels or blankets as these can retain moisture and do not insulate nearly as well as straw.
Finally, add the top back and set your new cat home in an out-of-the-way spot. If you are looking for ideas on positioning, camouflaging, and weighing down the cooler, check out this detailed post from the ASPCA. You can also look at this TikTok video to see the creation of one of these habitats.
Let us do for you what others can’t! Contact Plymouth Foam, an ALTOR Solutions Company, at sales@plymouthfoam.com for a collaborative solution to meet your protective packaging and temperature sensitive insulated shipping needs.