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Amazon; The Kitty Tube; Chewy; Alyssa Powell/Insider
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, wind, rain, sleet, and snow. This can be dangerous since cats are susceptible to frostbite and hypothermia the same way humans are. Ultimately, a cat's age, coat type, and certain medical conditions will determine what types of weather they can handle.
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.
Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews pet products.
Our top picks for the best outdoor cat houses
Best overall: Petsfit Outdoor Cat House - See at Amazon
The weatherproof Petsfit Outdoor Cat House has a pitched roof, asphalt awning, and removable floor boards for easy cleaning.
Best for winter: The Kitty Tube Outdoor Cat House - See at Amazon
The super-tough Kitty Tube is insulated with foam and straw, and its waterproof shell is guaranteed to hold up for life.
Best heated: K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Kitty House - See at Chewy
The K&H Pet Products Outdoor Heated Kitty House has a fleece-lined heating pad to keep its interior cozy and warm.
Best multicat: K&H Pet Products Extra-Wide Outdoor Kitty House - See at Chewy
When temperatures drop, the K&H Pet Products Extra-Wide Outdoor Kitty House provides warm shelter for multiple cats.
Best for rainy weather: GDLF Outdoor Cat House - See at Amazon
The GDLF cat house's elevated design keeps cats off wet or muddy ground, while the insulation helps keep them warm on chilly nights.
Best for warm weather: Petsfit Cat House for Outdoor Cats - See at Chewy
Petsfit's two-level cat house features a shady porch where cats can take refuge from the heat.
Best for senior cats: Trixie Outdoor Wooden Cat House - See at Chewy
This cat house by Trixie features an entrance ramp that gives older kitties easy access inside.
Best wooden: Feralvilla Outdoor Cat Shelter II - See at Feralvilla
The two-level Feralvilla Outdoor Cat Shelter II has a fully insulated and protected "bedroom" that keeps kitties warm and dry in bad weather.
Best DIY: Rubbermaid Brute 14-gallon and 20-gallon totes - See at Amazon
With Rubbermaid's Brute 14- and 20-gallon totes, you can make an outdoor cat shelter that is affordable, waterproof, and easy to maintain.
Amazon
Pros: Sturdy construction, removable floorboards, lined with waterproof material
Cons: Escape flap may require weather-proofing, assembly required
"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," Ninnemann says. 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.
The Kitty Tube
Pros: Adjustable handles can supply ventilation, unique door design to keep out predators
Cons: Expensive
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," Ninnemann says. 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.
Chewy
Pros: No tools needed for assembly, includes removable and washable bed
Cons: Need to set it up near an electrical outlet
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.
Chewy
Pros: Can keep multiple cats warm, two exits, tool-free assembly, affordable
Cons: Not fully waterproof
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.
Amazon
Pros: Only one entrance to keep water and wind out, unique design to prevent leaks, insulated, hinged roof for easy access
Cons: Might be too large for single cats, may be too high for some cats to access, assembly required
If you get a lot of rain and worry about outdoor cats staying dry, Athena Gaffud, a licensed 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 helps 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. –Brooke Helton
