Pics of front step for ideas

"The Cat Guy" asked me for wider angle pics of my front step, so I snapped these last evening and thought I'd post them here, in case others have ideas too.

There's really only about 3 feet from my door to the pipe, and the depth is slightly more than 2 feet, maybe 2.5 feet. But I would think something around 20 inches deep would be better, because I need room for the cat dishes and for Toby to move around.

The formerly thick and full shrub has been cut back. It used to be quite sheltered under here, but not any longer. This is where the former neighbour's sweet cat, Niko, brought his dead birds. Some of you will remember that! He was a mighty hunter, all the more so because he was declawed in front, poor boy. I think of him often and hope he's okay, wherever they've moved to.

I thought maybe I could make a bed down there, but the wind and snow and freezing rain will blow right in.

Keep in mind that Toby really might prefer to hunker down in his usual spot(s), rather than on my doorstep. Therefore, I'm not going to go to great lengths to build something elaborate. Well, "elaborate" is beyond my budget, anyway.

So, if anyone has practical, viable, inexpensive ideas, do share. Otherwise I'll likely make up a Rubbermaid container and offer that. I like the easy idea of just a basket, except it would offer no protection from the elements and the below 0 temps (Farenheit).

And as for Mr. Toby...He had an encounter with a neighbour's off-leash dog yesterday morning, as I was leaving for work. I happened to have my little Elph in my hand and ready to go, so snapped the aftermath. The idiot young man walking the dog thought it was funny that Toby was hissing and spitting and lunging--apparently they have two cats of their own, as well as the large dog (looked like a Boxer or Boxer cross). He kept calling for the dog to come, but made no move to actually retrieve the dog. The dog wasn't nasty, though wouldn't back off, but Toby certainly was nasty enough for both.

As for me, I just wasn't happy to be caught in the crossfire!

Have a calm and hackle-free day, everyone.  :-)

P.S. Thanks for the ideas in yesterday's comments, much appreciated.