10 Best Outdoor Cat Houses of 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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With a little effort, you can also transform plastic storage bins and Styrofoam or insulated coolers into solid houses, Phillips says. For instructions on how to build a DIY cat house, check out Alley Cat Allies step-by-step guide. Some store-bought cat houses feature roof panels that lift up, which allow you to access the interior for easy cleaning. Quand recommends avoiding using strong cleaners like bleach or ammonia, as these may be too strong for sensitive feline noses.
Do outdoor cats need a cat house?
There are two exits with removable door flaps, but watch for heavy snow that can block the entrances. The water-resistant nylon and vinyl walls and roof should keep harsh weather out but can become saturated if the house is left exposed. It's best to situate this house on a porch, in a garage or somewhere under an overhang — be mindful that it'll also need access to an outlet. The house is constructed very well with easy to follow directions. He is very knowledgeable about building things and this cat house had all the high standards he would expect in a well design house. First, your cat should always have an escape route in case a predator or another cat shows up.
The 7 Best Outdoor Cat Houses
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. The K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Kitty House has a fleece-lined heating pad to keep its interior cozy and warm. Our top pick for an outdoor home is the Petsfit Outdoor Cat House, which combines superior safety and weatherproofing with a play-friendly design. However, we have several other recommendations that may fit you and your cats even better. The Good Housekeeping Institute reviews pet products of all kinds, from pet cameras to help you keep an eye on your furry friends to the best cat trees for indoor cats.
Do outdoor cat houses need litter boxes?
The elevated floor provides flow-through ventilation, ensuring that condensation doesn’t build up inside the cat house. "The big benefit of the bin outdoor shelter style is that it's waterproof," Phillips says. "It takes time and cost and muscle to put together, but it's easy to maintain. You just lift off the lid and stuff a bunch of new straw in." Petsfit's two-level cat house features a shady porch where cats can take refuge from the heat. With its boxy and cabin-like design, this humble, pleasant, and highly compact home is perfect for kittens who need a place to rest.
Frisco Outdoor Wooden Cat House With Retractable Roof
The only downside is its relatively short power cable, which only extends five and a half feet. For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has been providing expert reviews and advice on everything a pet parent needs, including outdoor cat houses. We evaluated dozens of highly-rated options, sifting through the reviews and speaking with pet experts to find the best outdoor cat houses. At the end of this guide, read more about what to consider when picking the right outdoor cat house and how you can insulate it for winter.
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Best Insulated
The house's raised design can help cats stay dry on rainy days. Your cat can also seek shelter inside the lower level, which can fit one to two cats snugly. Plus, the escape hatch provides another way for cool air to enter. While many people purchase a cat house for the outdoor cat in their own family, it’s also common for people to consider a cat house for feral or abandoned cats living nearby. We're using this as an outdoor cat shelter for a colony of cats. We built a platform to go beneath it to raise it up off the ground, and it was very quick and easy to assemble the shelter.
K&H Pet Products heated cat house a-frame
Very pleased with the product and my cats do appreciate their own outdoor house. This Extra Large Insulated Cat House is great and is so easy to put together. My wife and I put this house together in under 10 minutes. We have 4 other feral cat houses and this new one is by far the best. The folks at Cozy Cat were extremely helpful when I ordered the house.
If the building has electricity, setting up a heated bed or heated cat house will help keep outdoor kitties warm. If you don't have a space to welcome cold cats, set up a pre-made cat house or build your own with material that won't leak. Make sure to insulate your structure and place it in a location as protected from the elements as possible.
Predator Protection
Therefore, in high winds, they’re liable to slam open and shut (which cats probably won’t like that much). The best place is always on private property, Phillips says. A cat house will offer the most protection to cats when placed under an overhang, inside of a shed or barn, or in a location where predators can't go. Ninnemann says a fenced-in area may work best, and facing the opening against a wall may help your cat feel safer.

I searched and examined many cat houses before choosing Cozy Cat Furniture. After thinking about it, I decided I thought it might be best to have two openings. It was easily and quickly resolved simply via an email. My husband and I watched a Cozy Cat furniture video to see how to assemble it. The video gives explicit directions and leaves no reason for error.
I don't want a fire but our winters are VERY cold and want kitties to be as warm as possible. Depending on the purpose of your outdoor cat house and the number of cats you have, your reasonings for investing in a cat house may vary. Heated cat houses also have more parts that can break, which often limits their lifespan. However, if you live somewhere very cold, that might not matter much. The K&H Pet Products Outdoor Kitty House is a simplified version of the premium choice on this list.

We followed the simple directions and put together a strong, beautiful insulated home for our adopted feral cats in a few minutes! The pieces are numbered and marked to stop any guess work from entering our thought process. We have two adult feral cats that we started to feed when it was only 28 degrees here in Tampa, Fl.
There are heated cat houses, which are great for cold places but less great if you live in Texas! Some outdoor cat houses are extremely basic, and others have a plethora of features. If you'd like to provide shelter from the cold and rain for a feral cat, this outdoor cat house could be a perfect home. According to the brand, its plastic-wood polymer composite is resistant to rot and warping and should not crack or attract bugs. We appreciate that you can simply rinse this house clean with a hose. And as always, we like that the house features more than one door — although both can be accessed from the outside as well as the inside, unlike a true escape door.
If you have many cats, you’ll need a bigger house (or several). Large cats also need more room, as you’d probably guess. However, with a basic understanding of the possible features, you can easily pick out a house that works best for your feline. There are two exits built into the house with removable door flaps.
A mini castle for your backyard, they'll prance around the cool, raised floor like the royalty they are. The nontoxic wood-and-metal frame are water-resistant so your cat can run for cover during rain showers. While some of this is due to the size, even when you consider the two-story feature, it’s still more expensive than the competition.
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