The Best Cat Houses, According to Cat People
Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your account’s‘Saved for Later’section.
Comment
In this article
If you’ve ever owned a cat, you know they love to find hidey-holes to hang out in; my cat Smudge’s preferred spot is in an under-the-bed drawer full of my husband’s pajamas. While cats have no problem finding nooks and crannies on their own, sometimes it’s nice to offer them a dedicated place in the form of a cat house, cubby, or condo. This is especially true if your cat is an indoor-outdoor cat, or if you’re caring for fully outdoor cats that need shelter from the weather and protection from potential predators. So I called up some cat behaviorists, cat café owners, longtime cat owners, and experts in feral cat care to collect their recommendations for the best indoor and outdoor cat houses.
The best indoor cat houses
Cats don’t need “shelter” indoors the same way they do outdoors, so an indoor cat house is simply a place for your cat to cozy up. That’s why I’m including cubbies, boxes, covered beds, and caves under the umbrella of “indoor cat house.” Cat-behavior expert Jackson Galaxy points out that indoor cat houses make up one genre of cat supplies where humans can really indulge our aesthetic desires, as cats don’t typically care one way or the other, so long as they’re comfortable.
Still, be prepared for trial and error: “There’s so many cute ones, but then, the cat is like, ‘I don’t care about that, just gimme the box that it came in,’” says Marci Koski ofFeline Behavior Solutions. If you want to keep it cheap and simple, you can’t go wrong with a plain old cardboard box. But if you’re looking for something more stylish, there are plenty of choices to match just about any décor. And to maximize the chances of your cat actually using an indoor cat house, you should study your cat’s behavior and purchase something similar to the places it already likes to curl up in, saysPurr Cup Cafeowner Sarah Newton. Here are some indoor cat houses the experts recommend, along with many additional nice-looking options.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Cat behaviorist Ingrid Johnson likes Karma Cat’s cozy wool caves.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This hooded bed is “self-warming” thanks to a layer of metalized insulation that traps body heat.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Koneko Cat Cafe founder Benjamin Kalb recommends these retro TV turned cat beds.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Kalb also recommends the brand Vetreska for unique, colorful designs like this tangerine bed.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Corrugated cardboard cat houses are cheap, come in fun designs, and offer cats a place to scratch.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Having multiple openings is good if you have more than one cat, so no one gets trapped.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Another colorful take on a classic cardboard box.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Kalb is eyeing this wooden house with clear openings for his café (and his own cats at home).
New! You can now save this product for later.
This baguette bed is soft inside and crinkly on the outside.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Lots of experts recommend Mau for stylish cat furniture, like this side table with a hiding spot.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The Refined Feline also specializes in good-looking cat furniture.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Plenty of cat trees also have cubbies, if you want both functions in the same footprint.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Mau’s version is one of the best-looking on the market.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Or here’s a more modern take on the two-story that comes in four colors.
New! You can now save this product for later.
This potted houseplant is especially cat-friendly.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
A sleek, soft house for your kitty to curl up in.
The best outdoor cat houses
Outdoor cat houses serve a pretty important purpose: providing shelter and protection from harsh weather and potential predators. If you simply want a nice, shady place for your cat to relax in when they are outside, the main thing you need to look for is a cat house with two entrances/exits. “You don’t want some other animal to come in and have the cat be completely cornered. That can lead to very bad things,” says Koski.
However, if your cat is outdoors all the time or if you are caring for feral cats, you’ll need to make sure the shelter you provide is insulated and waterproof. The insulation should be one-and-a-half to two inches thick, saysNeighborhood Catsnational programs director Bryan Kortis. Openings should be no larger than six inches long by six inches wide, to prevent too much heat from escaping. And the size of the house should match the number of cats you expect will be using it. “If you have a giant shelter and one cat, there’s too much air space for the cat to heat up,” Kortis says. Neighborhood Cats executive director Susan Richmond recommends filling outdoor cat houses with straw so that cats can burrow; this will also help trap their body heat for additional insulation. There are plenty of ways to DIY a shelter (Neighborhood Cats hasinstructions on its websitefor a variety of methods), but if you’d prefer to buy something premade, here are the experts’ top recommendations.
New! You can now save this product for later.
Kortis told me about the Kitty Tube, which is lined with Styrofoam for insulation and can house up to three cats. The Kitty Tube comes with oat straw to add comfort and extra insulation; you can also add double insulation, a pillow, and a heating pad each for an additional cost. Since the Kitty Tube is designed for maximizing warmth, it only has one entrance/exit, but it is small enough that predators won’t be able to get in. The lid can be removed, and the entire house can be rinsed with water for easy cleaning.
New! You can now save this product for later.
The Neighborhood Cats team also recommends the Feralvilla to provide cats with safe shelter in cold weather. It does require some assembly, but Kortis says it’s relatively simple to build. The Feralvilla features a shingled roof and insulated second-floor area; it has two entrances/exits, both on the ground level, and then cats can climb up to the interior second level to stay warm, dry, and comfortable. The Feralvilla can fit two to three cats.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
New! You can now save this product for later.
For pet cats that only spend part of their time outdoors, Galaxy recommends K&H’s heated cat houses. Since they are made of fabric, these houses aren’t meant to provide life-saving shelter in extreme cold. But for a cat who just likes to chill outdoors in nice weather or spends time in a cooler space like a garage or basement, these provide shelter and heating (though K&H also makes unheated versions, if you prefer).
The Strategistis designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the bestacne treatments,rolling luggage,pillows for side sleepers,natural anxiety remedies, andbath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
