Outdoor Cat Houses

There are two main kinds of outdoor cat houses; houses for feral cats and houses for pet cats. What kind of outdoor cat house you get will, obviously, depend on what you’re trying to accomplish with it. The first kind of cat houses is utilitarian in nature, while the second type is more of a luxury item for Kitty. So which kind of outdoor cat house are you looking for?

In a way, an outdoor cat house for a domestic cat is an easier proposition. These cat houses are available in pre-fab/ some-assembly-required form from several upscale retailers. They are usually made out of a weather-resistant hardwood like cedar or pine. The outdoor cat houses that we’ve seen tend to resemble a dog house with a smaller entrance. Do you let your house cat out? Do you think that they are likely to make use of the shelter, or will other animals like raccoons end up in it? We’ve seen cats that instantly take to their houses and cats that barely look twice at them (guess that’s why they’re cats!) The retailers we found that carried these outdoor cat houses were selling them for between $150-$300. These wooden houses all seemed to benefit from a high level of workmanship. A couple ways to let Kitty know that the new structure in the yard belongs to them is to sprinkle catnip inside or to put a litter pan inside. However, be aware that this could attract other neighborhood cats just as easily.

Outdoor cat houses meant to shelter stray cats are typically insulated. Many cat lovers attempt to care for feral cat communities in their neighborhood by feeding them, neutering them and providing shelter during freezing winters. If this is your case, then you’re probably looking for something affordable. This requirement can lead these animal lovers down the Do It Yourself road. The folks over at the website pacthumanesociety.org have some great suggestions for constructing insulated outdoor cat houses out of basic hardware store materials for around $40. One of the most ingenious involves cutting a door hole in a pair of large Rubbermaid storage containers and layering them, then stuffing them with insulated material. Other insulated outdoor cat houses resemble rabbit hutches and look like long, covered plywood boxes. Food and water can be changed out via a hinged top. Of course, be aware that taking care of a feral cat community is a huge commitment, both to the cats themselves and to your neighbors, who may not appreciate living with a pack of cats. However, if you’re prepared to put in the resources and dedication, taking care of feral cats can be incredibly rewarding. Once they become used to you, you’ll see that these cats are slightly more independent “outdoor” versions of the house cats you may be used to, and that they’re still capable of showing affection.