How to Choose the Perfect Cat House for Your Cat

Unlike dogs, who need room to stand up and turn around fully, cats prefer tight, compact spaces. A cat feels most secure when it can touch the walls of its enclosure. Furthermore, a smaller interior space retains the cat's body heat much more efficiently. If you buy a massive cat house, it will be too drafty and cold for them to enjoy.

If you are buying an indoor house or condo, elevation is key. Cats are natural climbers and feel safest when they can observe their environment from above. An enclosed cubby that is three or four feet off the ground will always be preferred over a bed placed flat on the living room floor, especially in homes with active children or dogs.

If you are placing a cat house outdoors, it must have two entry/exit points. While a single door traps heat better, it also traps the cat if a predator (like a coyote, raccoon, or loose dog) approaches the entrance. A secondary exit ensures your cat always has a safe escape route. To keep the elements out, install heavy-duty clear vinyl flaps on both doors.

An outdoor shelter should never sit directly on the grass, soil, or concrete. Elevate the house using a wooden pallet or cinder blocks. This prevents the cold ground from sapping the heat out of the floor and stops heavy rain or melting snow from flooding the interior. Ensure the roof is slanted and overhangs the doors to prevent rain from blowing inside.

Cats are fastidiously clean animals, but they also shed heavily and occasionally cough up hairballs. Whether indoor or outdoor, ensure the interior bedding or the house structure itself is easy to clean. Removable, machine-washable covers and smooth internal walls (that won't absorb urine if a stray decides to mark it) will drastically extend the life of the shelter.