Table Of Content
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. Stephen Quandt is a certified feline training and behavior specialist with over 20 years of experience. He consults for organizations like the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, Ready For Rescue, and the Animal Care Centers of NYC. Quandt helped us understand what makes a cat house ideal for hot weather and how to keep cat houses of all kinds clean.
The 10 Best Outdoor Cat Houses
The house is designed to hold in heat easily, requiring cats to build up less body heat to feel comfortable. If you have a need for more heating in the house, however, there is an opening for a power cord to power a heating pad or other device. The A-frame design helps keep the interior roomy without providing too much empty air space—making it easier for cats to keep it warm with just their body heat. The house’s interior dimensions are 18 by 17 inches, with 20 inches of height, providing enough space for one or two cats inside. 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.
Petsfit Four-Level Outdoor Cat House
"Mostly, an outdoor cat house should be resistant to heat and cold and should provide adequate shelter from the elements," Conrad says. Most outdoor cat houses aren’t made for direct exposure to rain and other precipitation. You should put them on your porch or in another sheltered area. Make sure that the outdoor cat house is positioned in a place where your cats feel comfortable and already go frequently.
The 9 best outdoor cat houses of 2024
Plus, it’s much cheaper than most cat houses, making it the best outdoor cat house for the money. The insulation helps prevent moisture build-up, while the added height should ensure that water doesn't get inside, she says. The Kitty Tube is less of an attractive cat house and more of a utilitarian shelter for feral cats. It’s extremely well-suited for cold weather, and even the handholds used to move the Kitty Tube can be closed in winter (or left open for summertime ventilation). 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. With almost 10,000 ratings, this heated cat shelter is essential for pet owners.
My cat sleeps and eats in it every single night,” said one buyer. I have another cat that’s 17 pounds and he likes to hang out on top of it. If you have a cat with all its claws that likes to spend time outside, a cat house can make for a fun and safe spot to both play and relax. Cat houses can protect your cat (with claws) from the outdoor elements while also giving them a place to hide from predators. 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.
With Rubbermaid's Brute 14 and 20 gallon totes, you can make an outdoor cat shelter that is affordable, waterproof, and easy to maintain. Standing 8 inches off the ground, it's designed to keep kitties away from soggy grass or mud. It also has a slanted roof, with leak-proof wooden planks, to help protect against heavy rainfall or snow. The door has curtains to keep the wind out, and an interior divider creates a protected space away from the door for added warmth.
Predator Protection
For consumers looking for extra protection against predators and the elements, the hyper-fortified Kitty Tube may be worth the steeper price tag. With a variety of cozy cubby holes, secondary escape routes and perches for sunbathing, this veritable cat mansion will provide them with a home base. Dr. Conrad specifically recommends cat houses made of sturdy wood and an asphalt roof like this one. This weatherproof cat condo has a flap escape door on the back and the floor’s bottom can be removed for easy cleaning. And in the warmer months, you can plant flowers in the window box!
It’s three stories, giving your cat plenty of room to explore and play. However, it’s a bit more complicated than some other cat houses and harder to assemble. Plus, many cats may not like the lack of two entrances on each floor. It’s nice to look at, but it probably won’t be as practical for these reasons.
#2 New Age Pet ecoFLEX Albany Outdoor Feral Cat House Review
Here, we help you find the best outdoor cat house for your feline. Read on for a list of reviews so you can figure out which one your feline may like. If your cat house doesn't already come with insulation, you can add Mylar, Styrofoam, and straw to provide extra warmth.
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! The triangular frame does allow the house to stand up to the weather. The double entrance works well for concerned cats, and the flaps help keep cold air and rain out of the house. Two different sizes are available so you can choose the perfect option for your cat colony. The raised floor provides adequate ventilation and keeps the house off of the floor.
Want to give house-dwelling kitties a little fresh air and bird-watching (but not bird-catching) time? An outdoor catio may be the cat enclosure that you're looking for. "Catios are meant to be an outdoor enrichment environment for otherwise indoor cats," explains Dr. Conrad. Not even the most enterprising Houdini cat can escape a Habitat Haven outdoor cat enclosure. All the neighborhood cats will want to hang out in this two-story cat pad. It has a ladder to the second level, along with an escape door.
The 9 Best Outdoor Cat Houses of 2024 - Business Insider
The 9 Best Outdoor Cat Houses of 2024.
Posted: Fri, 01 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Wooden houses are sturdier and much more weather-resistant than their nylon counterparts. You can paint them any color you like with exterior latex paint, which also extends the life of the shelter. The two-level Feralvilla Outdoor Cat Shelter II has a fully insulated and protected "bedroom" that keeps kitties warm and dry in bad weather. When choosing a cat house for hot climates, good ventilation and shade are both crucial, says Stephen Quandt, certified cat behaviorist at Cat Behavior Help. Houses with a covered porch are especially ideal, since the porch will have the most ventilation of any part of a cat house, he says.
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.
You have several options for sheltering outdoor cats and feral cats in extreme weather. Ideally, you can offer cats access to a garage, barn, or shed that won't become soggy in the elements. 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.
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. 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. Usually, gentle soap and water should do the trick, but you could also use the best pet-safe cleaning products.
It’s also resistant to the elements, thanks to a roof with asphalt shingles and acrylic protection on its doors. Though not fully insulated, its walls and flap doors are designed to contain as much heat as possible. The Petsfit cat house can also withstand a lot of wear and tear from excitable cats, thanks to its sturdy wood design. It’s also easy to maintain, since the two floorboards can both be removed for cleaning.
No comments:
Post a Comment