
The asphalt roof has a raised design that can help keep your kitties dry in wet weather, and it extends past the base. While this does make the house look odd, it will keep your feline dry. There is only one entrance, but it is covered by a plastic flap. The roof retracts if you need to get inside the house for cleaning. The floor is also raised, which helps preserve the wood and keep your cat off the ground. This feature stands out from other cat houses, which may have trouble with snow caving in their roof.
Where's the best place to put an outdoor cat house?
The roof opens up which we love because it makes it easier to clean the second story and refresh any bedding you put in there. The board between the two stories can also be removed so you can clean out the first floor as well. Reviewers describe the wood as lightweight and soft, and worry that it will wear down in the elements over time, but the asphalt roof offers some good protection.
Gowoodhut 2 Story Cat Shelter
The only downside is its relatively short power cable, which only extends five and a half feet. Although this house isn't raised off the ground, it features a thick layer of foam insulation on the bottom to prevent the floor from getting too chilly or wet. Up to three cats can be housed in a Kitty Tube, and unique features like lid vents help the interior stay dry. Online reviewers like how waterproof this cat shelter is, and say it is easy to remove the top of the tube for cleaning or air-drying the house.
New Age Pet ecoFLEX Albany Outdoor Cat House
If you're setting up a shelter for feral or community cats, it's also important to remember that they may not want to bed down together. Ninnemann recommends setting up multiple houses instead of one large house if you think more than one cat in the neighborhood may use it. It's fitted with a fleece-lined heated pad that is MET safety-listed, which means an independent lab has evaluated and approved it for safe use. The pad is removable — its fleece cover is even machine washable — and so are the plastic door flaps, which attach to the house with velcro. It's available in several colors as well as barn- and cottage-themed prints. Using a powered heat source in a cat house has the potential for overheating and may restrict your cat’s ability to control their own temperature comfortably.
I put her food bowl on top first few days and bingo she immediately started using. I wish it was a little larger but the cat loves it and that is what matters,” said one buyer. Sure, this is not the most design-forward of the bunch, but it is the best-insulated option on the market.
After entering via one of two doors on the ground floor, a cat will pass through a wind-breaking baffle. Then, they can hop up through an opening to a completely protected, cozy upper level that's 20 inches wide and deep and 12 inches tall. Steps or a ramp could give older kitties a helping hand, Quandt says — and this cat house by Trixie comes equipped with a handy ramp to give older cats easy access.
The easy-to-assemble Petsfit house is the ideal size for keeping a kitty warm in cold, wet conditions. The pitched A-frame shelter is made with spruce wood and lined with high-quality plastic sheeting for waterproofing. An asphalt-covered awning over the front door keeps out the rain and snow. The polyester design of the K&H Pet Products Heated A-Frame Cat House is solidly weather-resistant and provides extra insulation on top of the heating capabilities. Even the doors are designed to retain heat, with clear door flaps on both the front and rear escape door. Plus, it’s tough enough for use with feral cats, in barns, or other adverse conditions.
The Catio Is Ready for Its Close-Up - Dwell
The Catio Is Ready for Its Close-Up.
Posted: Tue, 24 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Fit-to-Size Cat Shelter
It’s even made from weather-treated fir wood, which gives it a premium vibe. The wood also happens to be quite durable, which is a necessary feature. It’s made from treated wood that’s designed to stand up to outdoor conditions. It even has plastic flaps to provide extra protection from the wind and rain.
However, we have several other recommendations that may fit you and your cats even better. All while remaining accessible for cats to freely enter and exit. Have a pre-built cat run sent to your door, build your own from one of our easy catio kits, or have our team design a custom outdoor cat enclosure for your property. California is home to an abundance of wildlife, especially birds. However, outdoor cats pose a threat to California’s bird population.
In general, full-time outdoor or stray cats don't use the best cat litter boxes like indoor cats do, so you don't necessarily need to add one to your cat house. That said, a 2020 Japanese study found that when outdoor cats were provided with litter boxes, they used them exclusively within weeks. So, if you're tired of finding cat "gifts" in your garden, setting up an outdoor litter box near your cat house could make both you and your kitties happy. This two-tier cat house has an upper level with a shady porch where your cats can feel the breeze.
The final project looks more expensive than the materials you use. This keeps your kitty safe from wild animals or feral cats that might try to invade their outdoor house. While this is not an inexpensive project, the original author suggests multiple adaptations that could lower the price if you so choose. Providing an outdoor shelter for community cats is one of the best ways to improve your community for all of its members! You can find options ranging from cost-effective DIY blueprints to pre-built cat condos all over the internet, or get creative and try your hand making your own unique cat shelter.
If you have many cats, you’ll need a bigger house (or several). However, with a basic understanding of the possible features, you can easily pick out a house that works best for your feline. When choosing a cat house for senior kitties or cats with limited mobility, you'll want to opt for one they can easily access from the ground, says Gaffud. Its awning, protected by asphalt, is a perfect shield against heavy snowfall. The same brand that makes our best overall choice also offers this smaller wooden A-frame cat shelter, which can fit just one cat. Its smaller size makes it more affordable and easier to tuck into a corner of your yard or patio.
Your cats should have enough space to stand up and turn around, but not enough room to let their body heat escape. Keep in mind, too, that the smaller the house, the better it can retain heat. The GDLF cat house's elevated design keeps cats off wet or muddy ground, while the insulation helps keep them warm on chilly nights. This article was written by Winston Cook-Wilson, a freelance writer and reporter for The Spruce Pets. He consulted with Vicky Halls of International Cat Care—an expert in cat-friendly homing—to learn the best methods for housing outdoor cats.
If you have to place the shelter in a public area, Phillips recommends using a bike lock or other tether to prevent people from removing it. She also suggests attaching a laminated sign to the box to explain why it's there. Dr. Athena Gaffud is a licensed veterinarian from Isabela, Philippines. She runs her own virtual veterinary company, Doc Athena Vet Services, and fact-checks pet articles for Veterinarians.org. Gaffud helped us understand how to choose a cat house for rainy or wet weather and what to look for when choosing houses for senior cats. Our top pick for an outdoor home is the Petsfit Outdoor Cat House, which combines superior safety and weatherproofing with a play-friendly design.
The most specialized tool it calls for is a miter saw, which can easily be rented if you don’t have one of your own. Because the directions are so detailed, a beginning DIYer should be able to complete this project. They even explain how to set the miter saw to produce the angled cuts you need. This cat house isn’t insulated, so it’s a better option for a shelter in warmer climates.