The Top Five Outdoor Cat Houses

Let's look  at the top five outdoor cat houses. If you’ve got a kitty who thrives in the outdoors, you’ll want to be sure you have a cat house where she can retreat when the weather takes a dip towards the chilly. Some house cats do enjoy spending time outside, even in the winter months. However, feral cats, by nature, make their home in the great outdoors and need proper protection against winter elements such as snow, sleet, rain, and high winds. There are many different cat houses on the market today; all with their advantages and disadvantages you need to consider carefully.

The Most Important Features of an Outdoor Cat House

When deciding upon the perfect cat house to meet the needs of your fave feline friend, there are many different factors to bear in mind. These include:

• Protection against predators
• Depending on where you live, your outdoor cat might draw predators to your property that could harm your cat and pose problems for your home. To ensure your cat remains safe from those who might like to treat her as prey, it is important to select a cat house that has a minimum of two doors. Two doors ensure your cat has an easy way of escape should a predator invade her space.
• The most common predators cats face include coyotes, raccoons, snakes, squirrels, other cats, rats, and dogs.
• The materials the cat house is constructed with
• If you plan to place your cat house on the grass as opposed to patio stones or a deck, you will want to be sure the dwelling you select is waterproof on the bottom as well as on the top. This is also an important consideration if you hope to situate your new cat condo in an area that will be unprotected from the elements. Any cat house constructed of fabric or wood is unlikely to be 100% waterproof, meaning leakage is possible.
• The amount of assembly required
• Though this consideration is more for you than for your cat, it is important to understand up front how much assembly is required with the purchase of your new cat house. Larger cat houses with more tiers or add-on amenities will require a more hands-on approach to go from the box to ready to use.
• The ease of cleaning
• Your outdoor cat house will require regular cleaning to maintain a fresh appearance and smell as well to remain a sanitary place for your cat to rest. Certain materials are easier to clean than others, and some are more prone to trapping and retaining smells. Any fabric components should be easily removable for a quick tumble in the washer and dryer.
• Heated and unheated options
• Heated cat houses come equipped with a heating pad, meaning this type of cat house must be installed in an area of the yard that receives shelter from the elements. The heating pad is powered by electricity and thus must be kept away from water and moisture.

The Five Best Outdoor Cat Houses

To help you make the best decision for your cat, we have compiled our list of the top five outdoor cat houses for your consideration:

• UnderCover Insulated Cedar Cat House
• Available in four different sizes to best meet the needs of the cats in your life, UnderCover Pet Houses’ Insulated Cedar Cat House is available in both heated and unheated varieties. The heated cat houses include a heating pad which can be removed for cleaning.
• Constructed of high-quality cedar, the Undercover Cedar Cat House is insulated and durable. Thermal Ply is installed on all four sides of the house for an added layer of protection against the elements. Stylish in its design, you can place this cat house proudly in your yard, and it will easily enhance the décor of the exterior of your home. The textured corners of the cedar shingles provide an excellent spot for your kitty to scratch her back.
• The UnderCover Insulated Cedar Cat House can be more costly than run-of-the-mill cat condos but provides great value for your investment given its durability. There are several add-on features available including additional doors, platforms, and lofts, allowing you to custom design the cat house of your fave feline friend’s dreams.
• ecoFLEX Albany Outdoor Feral Cat
• Made by New Age Pet, the ecoFLEX Albany Outdoor Feral Cat shelter is constructed from a material known as ecoFLEX which is highly prized for its durability. ecoFLEX is not only environmentally friendly, but it is also rated to resist damage from weather, use, abuse, decay, or bugs.
• A cat house designed to resemble a modern home, the ecoFLEX Albany Outdoor Feral Cat shelter contains windows as well as two doors for easy entrances and exits. Assembly is quite simple, with no tools required.
• This cat house is easily affordable at less than $100 and is guaranteed to be weather, bug, and rot proof.
• K&H Outdoor Kitty House

K&H Pet Products’ K&H Outdoor Kitty House comes in with the option of heat or no heat and bears the distinction of being one of the most popular cat houses on our list. A house that is not just functional but also stylish, you can purchase this kitty condo in barn red, gray, or olive green.

For the ultimate in safety features, this cat house has two portals of entry and is designed to repel water. Comprised of 600 denier nylon that is fortified with a covering of vinyl, this cat house should be housed in an area that receives adequate cover from the elements as it is not completely weatherproof.

This cat condo provides insulation through its roof and walls, which keeps wind and cold at bay. Easy to assemble, no tools are necessary to take this cat house from the box to the backyard.

• Petmate Kitty Kat Condo

Built in the distinctive shape of an igloo, the Petmate Kitty Kat Condo is constructed of plastic, a non-porous material which makes for easy cleaning and that is resistant to the nesting of insects and pests.

The inside of the cat house is carpeted to provide a layer of warmth. The fabric is also amenable to scratching, giving your kitty the added benefit of something fun to do while weathering out any stormy conditions. The one negative to this feature is that it is not removable for cleaning. It also retains water if it becomes wet from rain or snow.

The Petmate Kitty Kat Condo has only one entrance and exit, meaning your cat could become trapped by a predator. If your property frequently sees animals such as raccoons, this is likely not the right cat house for you.

This cat dwelling is equipped with a hood which directs rain away from the entrance to the house. If heavy rain is experienced, you will still want to provide some form of cover for this house as rain will still penetrate inside, leaving your kitty feeling damp at best.

• Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Cat Shelter
• Another cat house designed of cedar construction, the Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Cat Shelter is both attractive and functional. Equipped with a roof comprised of asphalt, this cat condo is intended to easily repel water.
• Available in both wine red and grey, you can select the color that best suits your tastes…or your cat’s. The paint on the outside of the house is water-based and is safe for animals.
• The Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Cat Shelter has two entry portals with the back one fortified with a plastic door flap to prevent wind from entering the dwelling. A cat house that is raised off the ground, this feature adds an additional element of insulation against the cold.
• Though not inexpensive, this cat house is quite attractive, a nice addition to any yard. The porous material of the cedar means it should receive a coat of varnish to stand up against rigorous weather conditions.
• This cat house looks challenging to put together but does live up to its reputation as being easy to assemble. However, those who have purchased this house report it is not as waterproof as they would like to see.

Ready to purchase a cat house for the kitty in your life? Consider one of our top five picks!