Stray cat house

Abstract

To provide a stray cat house that protects stray cats from the harsh outdoor environment and aims to properly manage and coexist with stray cats in community cat activities.SOLUTION: The stray cat house according to the present invention is composed of a bottom panel 6, a front panel, a back panel, a side panel A (2), a side panel B (5), and a roof panel 1, all made of foam plastic insulation material with a weather-resistant and durable coating. This provides a stray cat house with high insulation performance, weather resistance, and durability. Functional expansion parts A (9) and B (17) allow for the addition of interior and exterior features and equipment, meeting diverse needs depending on the usage environment. Furthermore, a surveillance camera 13 can be easily installed inside, which can be used to promote sterilization and health management of stray cats as part of community cat activities. These features contribute to solving the stray cat problem in local communities and realizing sustainable coexistence.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hut (hereinafter referred to as a stray cat house) that is installed outdoors for the purpose of properly managing and coexisting with stray cats. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, community cat activities have become more widespread, both by government and private organizations, in an effort to resolve the stray cat problem. Trap, reversion (TNR) is a method of capturing highly fertile cats, sterilizing them, and returning them to their original habitat. Returned cats live outdoors as community cats, living out their one and only generation. Cats are naturally susceptible to the cold and are not suited to living in harsh outdoor environments. Community cats need to be managed and protected by human intervention, but dealing with the cold, especially in winter, has been a challenge.

[0003] One way to protect cats from the cold in winter is to set up stray cat houses. There are foreign products made from nylon or resin, as well as handmade ones made by volunteers using cardboard or styrofoam boxes, but what is needed is one that combines high insulation, weather resistance, durability, and design.

[0004] Regarding animal hutches to be installed outdoors, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a pet house that is lightweight yet has the necessary strength and hardness by applying an exterior coating to panels with a foam plastic core, and further houses a heater and a Peltier element integrated board inside the base panel, providing cooling and heating functions, thereby maintaining the health of pets and repelling pests. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2002-262692 (paragraphs 0001-0009, 0020-0021, figures 1-2) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Conventional cat houses have limitations in terms of insulation, weather resistance (deterioration by ultraviolet rays and rainproofing), and durability. In particular, the lack of insulation and rainproofing makes outdoor use problematic. Also, cat houses made from styrofoam boxes have an advantage over other types in terms of insulation performance, but are vulnerable to ultraviolet rays and cannot withstand long-term use.

[0007] Patent Document 1 describes a heater housed within the base, providing heating functionality to maintain the health of pets. However, stray cat houses intended for use in community cat activities are not necessarily installed in environments where electricity is available. In environments without access to electricity, the heater section suffers from insulation defects. In particular, insufficient insulation performance under the floor directly affects the temperature perceived by cats. Furthermore, when attempting to accommodate a variety of animals, the openings for entrance and exit and the interior space are too large for cats, resulting in unnecessary heat loss. Furthermore, considering the promotion of the widespread use of stray cat houses to address the stray cat problem, it is necessary for them to be cheaper and comprised of fewer parts.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a stray cat house that has high insulation, weather resistance, and durability, regardless of the installation location or usage conditions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The stray cat house of the present invention is a stray cat house made of a surface material made of foam plastic insulation with a weather-resistant and durable coating, and is composed of a bottom plate, a front plate, a back plate, side plates, and a roof plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] By having the above-described configuration, the present invention makes it possible to provide a stray cat house that has high insulation, weather resistance, and durability, regardless of installation conditions or whether electricity is present or not. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a right-hand view of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a left side view of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the present invention with the roof 1 removed. [Figure 7] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 5 when a surveillance camera, a function expansion part, and interior and exterior parts are provided. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Stray cats are originally pet cats that were abandoned by humans and have become wild. The problem of stray cats is one of the social issues created by humans. Until now, no concrete solutions have been put in place, and feeding problems and damage caused by feces and urine have been seen as problems. Cats have a high reproductive rate, and if they are not sterilized, their populations will continue to increase. Currently, many of the cats that are euthanized in Japan are kittens with unknown mothers.

[0013] In recent years, community cat activities have become more commonplace, both by government and private organizations, to address the stray cat problem. Trap, neuter, rehome, or TNR, is a method of capturing highly fertile cats, sterilizing them, and returning them to their original habitat. Returned cats live outdoors as community cats, living out their one and only life. Activities that aim for coexistence by reducing the population without killing them contribute to animal welfare and the SDGs' goals of "a society in which no one is left behind" and "building sustainable cities."

[0014] Cats are naturally weak to the cold and are not suited to living in harsh outdoor environments. Community cats need to be managed and protected by humans, but measures to protect them from the cold in winter and rain have been a challenge. This invention embodies humane support to protect stray cats from the harsh outdoor environment. In addition, by using surveillance cameras, it promotes sterilization surgery, fundamentally solving the problem of the increase in stray cats and aiming to achieve sustainable coexistence in local communities.

[0015] Conventional stray cat houses lack insulation, weather resistance, and durability. The cat house of the present invention has excellent insulation and rainproof properties and is designed to maintain the cat's body temperature, providing a refuge for stray cats exposed to harsh outdoor environments and improving their survival rate. The body is designed to withstand UV degradation and can withstand long-term outdoor use.

[0016] Specifically, foam plastic insulation is used to improve insulation performance, while the drawbacks of the foam plastic insulation - vulnerability to ultraviolet rays and the softness of the material itself - are overcome by coating it with a weather-resistant, durable coating, resulting in a highly insulated, weather-resistant, and durable stray cat house. This technological improvement dramatically improves the heat retention inside the stray cat house, allowing cats to escape the cold even in the coldest of times. In addition, the greatly improved weather resistance and durability provided by the coating means that the house can be used outdoors for long periods of time, reducing the frequency of cat house replacements and contributing to lower maintenance costs.

[0017] The use of stray cat houses is an effective way to protect stray cats from the cold, but to promote their widespread use, they must not only be functional, but also inexpensive, mass-producible without using special materials, lightweight, inexpensive to transport, and easy to assemble. This stray cat house is constructed using materials and methods that meet these needs.

[0018] Furthermore, community cat activities not only require providing food and stray cat houses, but also proper management. For example, monitoring after TNR is also necessary, such as checking whether the cats have been neutered or not and their health status. Conventional cat houses were not designed to control the behavior of the target animals. Devices for proper management of community cats are also required.

[0019] Stray cats are very wary, making it difficult for humans to approach them to check whether they have been sterilized or not, or to check their health. In order to promote sterilization, traps are used to capture stray cats, but this is inefficient as some cats are caught multiple times, and some are so startled by the sound of the trap that they never approach the trap again.

[0020] The stray cat house of the present invention is designed to allow for easy installation of a surveillance camera. By installing a surveillance camera, in addition to providing a physical shelter for stray cats, it also serves the additional function of watching over and managing local cats. Even without human access, data on cat behavior can be collected and used to promote sterilization and health management. It can also be used to find cats that have become lost or separated from their owners due to an earthquake. It is compatible with a variety of cameras, including wired, battery-powered, wireless, and data storage types, and can be selected depending on the installation environment.

[0021] In order to increase the number of stray cat houses being installed, it is necessary to devise ways to meet diverse needs. For example, it would be possible to offer options for exteriors that match the landscape of the installation location, or to make it possible to add heating equipment in places where there is power, or conversely, to remove equipment in places where there is a risk of electrical leakage, so that the specifications can be changed depending on the environment. It is expected that a wider range of options will increase the number of installations and further promote the solution of the stray cat problem.

[0022] The present invention provides a wide range of options by providing functional expansion parts. Specifically, it is possible to add surveillance cameras, interior and exterior parts, and heating and ventilation equipment. Providing options tailored to needs expands the possibilities of stray cat houses. In addition to providing options with the surveillance cameras and exterior parts mentioned above, for example, interior and ventilation parts can transform stray cat houses that were previously designed for use in winter into ones that protect cats from rain and wind all year round. In addition to functionality, providing a ventilation layer between the exterior parts and the main body prevents deterioration due to moisture and increases durability.

[0023] The cat house of the present invention is described in detail below based on the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. It is constructed by assembling the following panels: bottom panel 6, front panel 3, back panel 7, side panels A (2), side panels B (5), and roof panel 1, each of which is made of foam plastic insulation, such as 30mm extruded polystyrene foam (XPS), and coated with a weather-resistant, durable coating, such as FRP or urethane paint. Each panel can be attached with weather-resistant foam plastic adhesive or double-sided tape, but it is preferable to assemble panels with pre-tenons, as this shortens the on-site assembly process. However, it is preferable to leave roof panel 1 unglued and removable for maintenance and summer ventilation.

[0024] The opening (entrance / exit) 4 can be located on either the front panel 3, the back panel 7, the side panel A (2), or the side panel B (5), but by locating it closer to either the side panel A (2) or the side panel B (5) of the front panel 3, internal heat loss can be minimized. Also, heat loss can be minimized by making the size of the opening (entrance / exit) 4 the minimum width that a cat can pass through, for example, about 140 mm. Furthermore, by setting the height of the opening so that the bottom edge is about 150 mm from the ground, for example, it is possible to set the height at which a cat can easily enter while preventing cold air from entering and rainwater from splashing up from the ground.

[0025] The roof panel 1 extends beyond the front panel 3, back panel 7, side panel A (2), and side panel B (5) to protect against rain, dirt, and direct sunlight. In particular, by extending the roof panel farther on the side with the opening (entrance / exit) 4, rain and direct sunlight can be prevented from entering the interior. Furthermore, by using a single-slope roof, the overall height of the cat house can be reduced, improving the thermal efficiency of the interior and creating a less oppressive appearance. For example, Figures 1-5 show a roof with a slope of approximately 4 degrees, extending 110 mm from the front panel 3 with the opening (entrance / exit) 4, 45 mm from the back panel 7, and 30 mm from each of the side panels A (2) and B (5) to protect against wind and rain and create a less oppressive appearance.

[0026] Figure 7 shows a cross-section of a stray cat house equipped with a surveillance camera 13, interior parts (12, 15, 16), exterior parts (8, 10, 11, 14), and expansion parts A (9) and B (17) for adding heating and ventilation equipment. The expansion parts allow for a wide range of customizations of the stray cat house depending on the user's needs and the environment of the installation location. The surveillance camera can be attached to the main body with adhesive or a dedicated mounting method for that surveillance camera. Furthermore, when installing electrical wiring, such as the surveillance camera or heating and ventilation equipment, expansion part B (17), which can be installed anywhere on the main body, minimizes heat loss and allows for neat wiring. If the power source is far away, the electrical wiring can also be buried underground. By placing expansion part B (17) near the opening (entrance / exit) 4, it is less likely for cold air to enter the interior than if it were installed in another location.

[0027] The interior and exterior parts can be made of wood, stone, tile, resin, or metal, for example. The panels of the stray cat house's main body are sandwiched between the interior and exterior parts and secured with the functional expansion part A (9). While the stray cat house itself does not have any holes, they can easily be drilled with a screwdriver or similar tool. The functional expansion part A (9) is inserted through the interior part with the holes and used to connect to the exterior part with a female thread. The female threads on the exterior part are designed not to penetrate the exterior part for waterproofing. When using the exterior part 8 (roof) and the exterior part 14 (exterior) separately, or when securing the exterior parts 10 (gable) and 11 (eaves), they can be secured to the main body with a weather-resistant adhesive such as Nedabond or double-sided tape. It is recommended to provide a ventilation layer 19 between the exterior part 8 (roof) and the exterior part 14 (exterior) and the main body. By inserting ventilation packing B (20), such as thin plywood with a thickness of 2 to 3 mm and a width of about 30 mm, at intervals of about 200 mm, a ventilation layer can be created, preventing deterioration due to moisture.

[0028] The main unit can be placed directly on the ground, but placing it on brick blocks about 50 mm thick, for example, can prevent cold air from underground and rainwater from splashing up from the ground. Furthermore, by placing ventilation packing A (18) between the brick blocks and the main unit, a ventilation layer can be created on the ground, preventing deterioration. For example, a 9 mm thick ventilation packing A (18) can be placed on top of a 50 mm thick brick block placed on the ground, and the main unit can then be placed on top of that. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 1. Roof shingles 2 Side plate A 3 Front panel 4 Openings (entrances) 5 Side plate B 6 Bottom plate 7 Back plate 8 Exterior parts (roof) 9 Functional expansion part A (connecting bolt) 10 Exterior parts (gable) 11 Exterior parts (eaves) 12 Interior parts (ceiling) 13. Surveillance Cameras 14 Exterior parts (exterior) 15 Interior parts (interior) 16 Interior parts (flooring) 17 Functional expansion part B (wiring hole) 18 Ventilation packing A 19 Ventilation layer 20 Ventilation packing B

Claims

1. This hut for stray cats is placed outdoors and is made up of a bottom plate, a front plate, a back plate, side plates and a roof plate, which are made of foam plastic heat insulating material and coated with a weather-resistant and durable coating.

2. The shed of claim 1, further comprising a surveillance camera installed inside the shed.

3. 10. The shed of claim 1, having interior and exterior features and expansion parts for adding heating and ventilation equipment.

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