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Some cats have lived outside for generations, while others adapted to living outdoors after being lost or abandoned. You’ve done your part to combat cat overpopulation and protect the health of your cats by having them sterilized, but meanwhile your neighbors’ outdoor cats keep producing litter after litter. Instead of feeling frustrated and helpless, you can turn a problem situation into a success story, benefiting the cats and your neighborhood in the process. Buy the perfect feline home, organize a shelter building day with your community, or make a family event out of providing homemade shelters to community cats!
K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Cat House Extra-Wide — Premium Choice
This unique winter cat house uses PVC pipe framing surrounded by cardboard and insulation to create a cozy shelter. With simple, inexpensive materials, this project should be easy for all skill levels. The PVC frame was upcycled from a previous piece of cat furniture, so if you need a different size, you’ll have to figure out the measurements on your own.
Kitties' Over-the-Top Outdoor Catio Is the Stuff of Feline Dreams - Parade Pets
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DIY Wood Pallet Cat House
It's available in several colors as well as barn- and cottage-themed prints. 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 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.
How we chose the best outdoor cat houses
It features two exits, which is important when choosing a cat house. You don’t want your cat to get trapped by another cat or a predator (plus, many cats just won’t use a shelter with an entrance). 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.
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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 slanted asphalt roof blocks out the sun and keeps the elements away, while the open railings will allow cats to enjoy the fresh air as they survey their surroundings.
To understand which features are essential to a good outdoor cat house, we consulted five experts on outdoor cats and pet safety. We then researched dozens of shelters, including heated, multicat, and wooden houses. Our top pick, the Petsfit Outdoor Cat House, is well-insulated and waterproof.
Why can’t animal shelters rescue all the community cats?

You don’t have to be a DIY expert to assemble the house and the holes are all pre-drilled. Once it is set up, the house provides a stable abode as the wood is made of anti-rot material to stand the test of time. Elizabeth Gray is a lifelong lover of all creatures great and small. She got her first cat at 5 years old and at 14, she started working for her local veterinarian. Elizabeth spent more than 20 years working as a veterinary nurse before stepping away to become a stay-at-home parent to her daughter. Now, she is excited to share her hard-earned knowledge (literally--she has scars) with our readers.
To the front there is a porch roof and a clear plastic cat door while at the back there is a handy escape route, so your kit doesn’t feel too enclosed. Quick and pretty easy to assemble, the structure is also sturdy, giving a secure space for your outdoor cat to hang out. We typically love the Trixie brand when it comes to cat houses, and the TRIXIE 2-Story Cottage Outdoor Wooden Cat House is no different. It’s an adorable cat house with two stories, a large entrance, and several windows. It’s even made from weather-treated fir wood, which gives it a premium vibe.
Most commercially available cat houses have two exits so feline residents can easily escape if another animal comes calling. But Phillips warns that two doors also leave a shelter less protected from the elements. Cats conserve body heat by curling up in tight, cozy spots that are safe from wind, rain, and snow. Many outdoor cats seek shelter somewhere elevated to take advantage of rising heat or find their way under the hood of a car to the still-warm engine. Because cats burn through so much energy trying to stay warm, they also benefit from eating frequent large meals to make up that lost energy. 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.
You can transition your cat indoors and provide safe outdoor time with a catio (an enclosed cat patio) or by taking your cat for a walk on a harness and leash. It’s always a good idea for your cat to wear a collar with identification (and be microchipped) to help reunite you should they become lost or be picked up by a neighbor or animal control. Overpopulation is a serious concern with an estimated 30 to 40 million community cats in the United States.
Make sure to insulate your structure and place it in a location as protected from the elements as possible. According to Wolko, you should never put blankets or towels in an outdoor cat shelter because they will trap moisture and may even freeze. Phillips recommends buying or making a shelter with only one entrance. A single entry prevents a wind tunnel from forming and helps retain more heat.
Some of the designs are extremely clever and can easily be completed using some materials you might already have on-hand. This house is quite expensive, though, especially since it isn’t much larger than many other houses. In fact, we found it to be significantly smaller than most, even with the added balcony on top. With that said, the wood isn’t the highest quality, according to many cat owners. Therefore, while it is cute, it probably isn’t as practical as some other options.