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The 11 Best Cat Houses

A cat house provides sanctuary whether you're wanting to give a shelter for your pets when they're outside or somewhere cozy for frequent stray guests.

Cat houses, like our homes, can range from modest, single-room boxes to elaborate, labyrinthine structures with many rooms, insulation, and even heating. There are even indoor cat houses that are nothing more than cat beds or cat caverns.

To assist you in your search for the best cat houses, BestForPets (bestforpets.org) has compiled assessments of ten of the best feline escapes and kitty condos, as well as a guidance to selecting one that is both safe and desired.

Reviews

K&H Pet Supplies Birchwood Wooden Cat House – Overall Winner
 

K&H Pet Products Inc. Birchwood Manor Outdoor Wooden Cat House is a solid wood, one-story house. Its slanted roof directs water away from the building and onto the ground.

Front and back entrances allow for quick access and unobtrusive escape, and each have a plastic flap that keeps some of the cold out and keeps driving rain out.

The house is built of solid wood and is simple to put together, using only a screwdriver. It can be left plain or painted or stained to your specifications.

The house has been treated with a UV-resistant layer, which means it will not fade or become damaged in the summer or winter.

There’s also a removable cushioned pad that gives comfort while being simple to clean and replace. Based on our research, this is the best cat house overall.

The home is reasonably priced and well-constructed, although it is a little simple, and the height (18 inches) includes the domed ceiling, so it may not be suited for really large cats or many cats.

 

Outdoor Unheated Kitty House by K&H Pet Products – Ideal for Kittens
 

When your newborn cat takes its first cautious steps outside, it is a good idea to provide a warm and comfortable place for them to relax.

Even better if they already recognize the place as their own. The K&H Pet Products Outdoor Unheated Kitty House can be used indoors or outdoors and is easily moved: no assembly or reassembly is required.

Leave the house indoors for a few weeks until your kitten spends time there on a regular basis, then relocate it outside when the kitten makes its first journey into the outer world.

The cat home is made of waterproof nylon and has two doors, which are great for emergency exits and preventing your child from becoming trapped inside if they feel threatened.

The doors include removable flaps, allowing you to customize the house to your kitten’s needs and the location.

The K&H Pet Products Kitty House is inexpensive and simple to assemble, but because of its nylon structure, it is best suited to being placed in a barn, garage, or other outside building to protect it from blowing away.

Furthermore, while the nylon is waterproof, a heavy downpour means that the sloped roof may pool water, potentially soaking the inside.

 

Wide Outdoor Unheated Kitty House by K&H Pet Products
 

The K&H Pet Products Extra-Wide Outdoor Unheated Kitty Housing is a huge outdoor cat house made of nylon that is cheaply priced.

It secures the components with hooks and Velcro, making it simple to assemble without the use of tools or extra parts. Because of the extra-wide shape, there is more than enough space inside for huge cats or many kitties to rest.

It includes two exits, allowing for a rapid escape if necessary and providing reassurance to your cat. It also contains a warm and cozy Berber pad that can be removed and washed in the washing machine to keep it clean.

Because of the nylon construction, this house is best suited to a shaded or protected place, and it is great for use in barns and garages. Nylon also lets in some wind and water if left out in heavy rain.

 

Outdoor Multi-Kitty A-Frame House by K&H Pet Products
 

Another outside housing from K&H Pet Products is the Outdoor Unheated Multi-Kitty A-Frame House.

This one is an A-frame design, so you don’t get the entire dimensions, but the shape helps maintain stability, stops cats from sitting on a possibly collapse roof, and ensures that some rain and wind will be diverted.

Because of the nylon design, assembly is quick and straightforward, and it has two doors so your cat can escape from any potential predators that might wish to utilize the house.

It’s an excellent size and a fair price. It can comfortably accommodate two or three medium-sized cats.

The A-Frame House, on the other hand, is composed of nylon, which can take light rain but will leak in moderate to severe rain and allows some wind to get through.

You’ll probably want to add some kind of cushioned floor or nesting material for extra comfort, and the space between the floor and the bottom of the door allows for this, but it comes at an extra cost on top of the home itself.

 

Shaded Balcony Cat House Trixie Natural
 

Trixie Natural Shaded Balcony Cat House is a wooden multi-story cat house. Steps lead to a covered top perch, while a condo-style room lies on the main level.

The design is appealing, and it is made of eco-friendly fir wood that has been treated to withstand rain and sun. The elevated foundation improves ventilation and prevents the condo’s base from sitting on a potentially cold and damp floor.

The Trixie Natural Shaded Balcony Cat House looks nice and benefits from the shaded top perch and elevated foundation, but it is tricky to assemble and will require two persons.

There is only one door, therefore there is no escape path in the event of a predator. And, while the inside is dry due to the felted roof, the entrance is just a hole: the little porch covering does little to keep driving rain and wind out.

Buyer's Guide: Choosing the Best Cat House

Owning or caring for stray and feral cats can be a highly rewarding experience, but it comes with certain obligations. You must offer food, drink, and a warm and safe environment for your feline companions.

While many owners prefer to keep their cats indoors, others prefer to let them roam freely. If you do let your cat out, providing it with its own safe and secure area will substantially improve its outside living experience.

Let’s have a look at what makes the best cat house.

 

The Advantages of an Outdoor Cat House

Having an outside cat home has various advantages for your cat:

Security

Wild animals and other cats might be a threat to cats. Giving them their own outdoor space provides them with a safe haven if they feel threatened.

This is beneficial to more than just stressed pets. Cat houses with several access points are more secure than those with a single door because they provide your cat with a way to escape out the back if a predator approaches the front door.

Protection Against the Elements

Cats are well-equipped to withstand moderate temperatures and weather conditions, as well as some rain.

When they are outside, they prefer to be dry and away from frigid temperatures, and a cat home protects them from such conditions. Wooden houses provide more protection, but they must be treated.

Shingled rooves keep rain out even more, while cat flap style doors keep wind from rushing into and around the shelter.

Elevated foundations also indicate that the house’s floor is raised from the ground, preventing running rainwater from soaking the foundation.

A Place for Any Cat

Cat homes are handy for more than just your own cats.

If you feed the local ferals or know they hang out in your garden, a cat home will not only provide them with a comfortable and safe place to sit, but it will also serve as a food and water storage facility.

Indoor Cat Condos

In our reviews, we have included some indoor cat houses. These can be much simpler than outside dwellings. They do not have to withstand wind and rain, thus they can be made of materials such as cardboard.

They can also be paired with scratching posts and may incorporate heat mats to provide your feline buddy with a more comfortable environment.

They do provide a private place for a cat to hide and might become a favorite spot in your home. They are especially beneficial if your cat has to escape from roving children and playful pups.

Features of an Outdoor Cat House

There are various aspects to consider when shopping for the best outdoor cat house:

Multiple Points of Entry

A point of entry and exit is obviously required for a cat housing. This allows your cat to enter and exit without difficulty. If the door is difficult to open, your cat will most likely disregard the house.

It is also worthwhile to look for residences with a second entry/exit point. There are times when a cat needs to flee, whether it be from hostile local cats, wild cats, or other predators.

If yours becomes trapped in a wooden box with only a single door that is blocked by an agitated cat, it will be helpless.

In addition to the potential injuries and stress caused by the incident, it will have an impact on your cat’s future use of the house.

Your feline companion will prefer to spend time outside, where it can better examine its surroundings and make a rapid departure.

Construction that is weatherproof

One of the advantages of a cat home is that it provides shelter from the elements. It can protect your cat from rain and provide shelter from the wind.

The shelter must be waterproof in order to provide this protection. If it’s made of wood, make sure it’s been treated with a waterproof finish.

If it’s nylon or another material, be sure it’s weatherproof or resistant to the elements. If you reside in a particularly sunny place, search for those that offer UV protection.

Simple to assemble

Nylon cat houses are less difficult to put together than wooden ones. They normally do not require any tools and rely on hooks and zips.

They are simple to assemble, disassemble, and reassemble. Wooden houses are stronger and more secure, but they are more difficult to build and frequently require additional instruments such as screwdrivers and drills.

Even the most complex structures should be simple to put together, due to predrilled holes and clear instructions.

Insulation

Insulation in cat houses is uncommon, although it does occur. This is similar to the insulation used in our homes, and it is typically in the form of foam that is injected inside the wall cavities.

This foam keeps heat from fleeing the house and cold from entering. Insulation should be a priority if you reside in a very cold place and are primarily looking to provide a form of protection against chilly circumstances.

Platform Elevated

A cat house with an elevated foundation features legs or expanded sidewalls that hold the bottom floor’s base off the ground.

This keeps wetness and cold from the soil and other surfaces from seeping into the cat housing itself. It creates a warmer, more pleasant environment for the kitties within.

Elevated foundations are not frequent in nylon cat houses, but they are popular in wooden cat houses.

Conclusion

The best cat housing offers cats safety, security, and comfort.

There are numerous alternatives and styles available, including single-story and multiple-story houses, nylon and wooden constructions, whether you’re purchasing for your own cat or regular garden guests that you wish to protect.

Hopefully, you were able to locate the best cat houses for your needs and the needs of your cat by utilizing BestForPets‘s (bestforpets.org) evaluations and buying guidance.

Cats can be demanding animals, after all.

The K&H Pet Products’ hardwood construction and flapping doors K&H Pet Products Inc. Birchwood Manor Outdoor Wooden Cat House is our vote for the greatest overall cat house, despite the fact that it is only truly ideal for a solitary cat.

The K&H Pet Products Outdoor Unheated Kitty House is a low-cost alternative that incorporates scratchboards and is truly inexpensive, but due to its cardboard structure, it is only suitable for indoor use.

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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