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The best outdoor cat houses can keep felines warm and dry in the worst conditions. During the winter, cats that live or play outside face freezing temperatures, snow, sleet, rain, and wind. These weather conditions can be dangerous since cats are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia. A cat's age, coat type, and certain medical conditions will determine what types of weather they can handle and which type of cat house is best for them. Dog Jackets Winter Pet Clothes
To understand which features are essential to a good outdoor cat house, we consulted five experts on outdoor cats and pet safety. We then researched dozens of shelters, including heated, multicat, and wooden houses. Our top pick, the Petsfit Outdoor Cat House, is well-insulated and waterproof. If you're looking for extra warmth during the coldest months of winter, we recommend The Kitty Tube Outdoor Cat House. It's made from durable recycled plastic and well insulated with foam and wheat straw.
Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews pet products.
Best overall: Petsfit Outdoor Cat House - See at Amazon
Best for winter: The Kitty Tube Outdoor Cat House - See at Amazon
Best heated: K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Kitty House - See at Chewy
Best multicat: K&H Pet Products Extra-Wide Outdoor Kitty House - See at Chewy
Best for rainy weather: GDLF Outdoor Cat House - See at Amazon
Best for warm weather: Petsfit Cat House for Outdoor Cats - See at Chewy
Best for senior cats: Trixie Outdoor Wooden Cat House - See at Chewy
Best wooden: Feralvilla Outdoor Cat Shelter II - See at Feralvilla
Best DIY: Rubbermaid Brute 14 gallon and 20 gallon totes - See at Amazon
The weatherproof Petsfit Outdoor Cat House has a pitched roof, asphalt awning, and removable floor boards for easy cleaning.
"A good outdoor cat house should have plenty of insulation and be waterproof," says Dr. Stephanie Ninnemann, a veterinarian at VCA Spring Creek Animal Hospital in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Size matters, too. "There should be plenty of room for the cat to stand and turn around but not too much room for them to get cold," says Ninnemann. The experts we interviewed recommend cat houses with a single door for added warmth. They also suggest outfitting the interior with straw, which won't retain moisture like cloth or wool.
The easy-to-assemble Petsfit house is the ideal size for keeping a kitty warm in cold, wet conditions. The pitched A-frame shelter is made with spruce wood and lined with high-quality plastic sheeting for waterproofing. An asphalt-covered awning over the front door keeps out the rain and snow.
This house's floorboards are removable for easy cleaning and have an opening for threading the power cord of a heated bed. Although the house has a second escape door, a swinging plastic flap provides only partial protection. For better weatherproofing, Whitney Phillips, a volunteer with Alley Cat Project in Seattle, recommends covering it with vinyl weather stripping. –Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
The super-tough Kitty Tube is insulated with foam and straw, and its waterproof shell is guaranteed to hold up for life.
Cats are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia the same way humans are. While some cats do well outside as long as they have protection from wind and precipitation, even a heated cat house may not be enough to keep them warm in more severe conditions.
"In general, if it's too cold for you to be outside for any length of time, it is certainly too cold for them to be outside without proper shelter," says Ninnemann. When below-freezing temperatures are forecast for more than a couple of days, outdoor cats should be housed inside a barn or shed with access to heat, water, and food.
The next best thing is the Kitty Tube House, which is one of the best outdoor cat houses because of its insulated and weatherproof material. Although it's one of the pricier options on our list, it stands up to harsh conditions and is very easy to assemble. The interior, including the floor, is protected by foam insulation and comes with wheat straw to add up to two more layers of insulating bedding. The house has a slightly elevated door with an awning to prevent water from entering. It's large enough for two adult cats or a female with kittens.
The shell is made from 100% recycled plastics with a lifetime guarantee against chipping, cracking, or fading. In warmer weather, you can adjust the carry handles for increased airflow. –Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
The K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Kitty House has a fleece-lined heating pad to keep its interior cozy and warm.
Phillips says heated cat houses can be an excellent option, especially in regions with frigid temperatures. These best outdoor cat houses that are heated are warmed with low-voltage electricity. While they aren't likely to catch fire, the wiring should be concealed and kept away from water to prevent shocks or electrocution, according to Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of the Center for Pet Safety in Reston, Virginia. Since these structures aren't waterproof or insulated, you'll want to place them in a sheltered location near a house.
The K&H Pet Products Heated Kitty House is just large enough for two cats to snuggle up together. The shelter consists of lightweight vinyl-backed nylon and has a removable zippered roof with overhanging eaves.
It's fitted with a fleece-lined heated pad that is MET safety-listed, which means an independent lab has evaluated and approved it for safe use. The pad is removable — its fleece cover is even machine washable — and so are the plastic door flaps, which attach to the house with velcro. It's available in several colors as well as barn- and cottage-themed prints.
When temperatures drop, the K&H Pet Products Extra-Wide Outdoor Kitty House provides warm shelter for multiple cats.
Even if you need a house that will fit more than one feline, it's still best to think small: If the space is too large, the cats will have a harder time maintaining the internal temperature, Wolko says.
If you're setting up a shelter for feral or community cats, it's also important to remember that they may not want to bed down together. Ninnemann recommends setting up multiple houses instead of one large house if you think more than one cat in the neighborhood may use it.
The K&H Pet Products Extra-Wide Outdoor Kitty House is big enough to house multiple cats but not so large they'll struggle to warm it up with their body heat. It has a velcro-attached roof, door flaps, and a machine-washable, cushioned pad for added comfort.
The house's vinyl-backed nylon is not waterproof, and there are two exits, which allow for more heat loss than a single entry point. Because of this, it works best when set up in protected areas like porches, barns, and garages. –Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
The GDLF cat house's elevated design keeps cats off wet or muddy ground, while the insulation helps keep them warm on chilly nights.
If you get a lot of rain and worry about outdoor cats staying dry, Dr. Athena Gaffud, a veterinarian with Veterinarians.org, recommends choosing a house that's elevated from the ground and has plenty of insulation. The insulation helps prevent moisture build-up, while the added height should ensure that water doesn't get inside, she says.
The GDLF house meets all of those requirements. 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.
This is also one of the best outdoor cat houses for multiple cats to take shelter from the rain, as it has plenty of space and built-in foam insulation on all sides to keep cats at a comfortable temperature. You can also add extra straw insulation if you live in a particularly cold climate. The roof opens on a hinge, making it easy to clean. Since the shelter is so high off the ground, you might need to add a makeshift ramp for older cats or set it up near outdoor furniture that cats can use as leverage to climb inside. –Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
Petsfit's two-level cat house features a shady porch where cats can take refuge from the heat.
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.
This two-tier cat house has an upper level with a shady porch where your cats can feel the breeze. The slanted asphalt roof blocks out the sun and keeps the elements away, while the open railings will allow cats to enjoy the fresh air as they survey their surroundings. The house's raised design can help cats stay dry on rainy days. Your cat can also seek shelter inside the lower level, which can fit one to two cats snugly. Plus, the escape hatch provides another way for cool air to enter.
If you live in a particularly hot climate or want to help your cat stay extra cool, Quandt recommends putting the cat house in the shade and setting out a cooling mat or cooling water bowl nearby. He also suggests placing the cat house on soil or grass, so cats don't burn their paws on surfaces like concrete or tar when trying to enter. –Brooke Helton, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
This cat house by Trixie features an entrance ramp that gives older kitties easy access inside.
When choosing a cat house for senior kitties or cats with limited mobility, you'll want to opt for one they can easily access from the ground, says Gaffud.
Steps or a ramp could give older kitties a helping hand, Quandt says — and this cat house by Trixie comes equipped with a handy ramp to give older cats easy access. The slightly elevated floor helps promote air circulation while keeping cats off cold or wet ground. But at just 2 inches off the ground, the entrance is also low enough for most cats to easily hop inside.
The slanted roof and weather-treated wooden planks help your kitty stay dry, while the plastic cat flap keeps the wind out. You can also remove the flap if your cat isn't a fan. The house is big enough for a single cat to bed down, but it may not work well for multiple cats. –Brooke Helton, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
The two-level Feralvilla Outdoor Cat Shelter II has a fully insulated and protected "bedroom" that keeps kitties warm and dry in bad weather.
Wooden houses are sturdier and much more weather-resistant than their nylon counterparts. Plus, you can customize them, too. You can paint them any color you like with exterior latex paint, which also extends the life of the shelter.
Although the Feralvilla Outdoor Cat Shelter II requires more assembly than all but our DIY recommendation, its unique two-level design makes it one of the best cat houses you can buy. After entering via one of two doors on the ground floor, a cat will pass through a wind-breaking baffle. Then, they can hop up through an opening to a completely protected, cozy upper level that's 20 inches wide and deep and 12 inches tall.
The Feralvilla is made from wood composite and comes lined with a half-inch of foam insulation and heat-reflecting aluminum foil. –Shoshi Parks, Insider Reviews freelance reporter
Stackable Dog Kennel With Rubbermaid's Brute 14 and 20 gallon totes, you can make an outdoor cat shelter that is affordable, waterproof, and easy to maintain.