Outdoor Cat Houses

Outdoor cat houses with heat insulation, lightweight and sturdy designs make for great abodes for your feline friends. Moreover, if you have cats and kittens which roam around the neighborhood, then cat houses provide them with safe and comfortable places to spend the night and laze around in the day. Most of the cat houses are built of material like cedar and plastic which are sturdy and easy to clean and maintain. Moreover, cedar is a good insulator against pests such as ticks and fleas which might irritate your pet. These houses are available in a number of designs which can range from custom-crafted cedar wood cat apartment, duplex, or even a super deluxe kitty condo. Available online and in pet shops, these cat houses need to be assembled. So if you want your cat to have her very own luxurious home, here are some things you need to keep in mind while purchasing the cat house.

How to Buy an Outdoor Cat House

Material of the Outdoor Pet Houses: The material of the outdoor pet houses can either be wood or plastic. The most common type of wood used for pet houses is cedar which is quite popular for its durability, sturdiness and resistance to decay. Moreover, the natural cedar wood repels ticks, termites and fleas. The wood has natural protective oils that make it weather resistant and capable of withstanding harsh weather conditions like sun, cold and precipitation. Wood stains helps to retain the durability of these houses.

Although not as durable as the wooden ones, plastic outdoor cat houses have a number of advantages. These cat houses are lightweight and extremely easy to clean unlike their wooden counterparts. Moreover, they are warm and cozy with innovative designs and a range of colors.

Design of The Cat House: There is no dearth of the design ideas when choosing cat houses. Similar to innovative dog kennels, you can have cat houses for your feline friends with multiple bedrooms, double and triple storey pet houses. I had a friend who had designed her cat's house to resemble a Swiss Chalet. Houses for multiple cats feature separate compartments for the cats and even a porch and a deck in some cases. Raised platforms are also a common feature of the cat houses. This helps keep the fleas, ticks and other insects away from the cat houses. The choice of the cat house and design also depends on whether you want a luxuriant house for your kitties or are housing the feral cats from around the neighborhood.

Optional Features for Cat Houses: Outdoor cat houses need weatherproofing and insulation inserts during the winter. Optional heated pads are one of the safest and best ways of providing your cats with a nice, cozy and warm environment, even in the extremely cold weather conditions. Moreover, they are quite energy efficient and require the energy of just one light bulb. These heat pads are great for the elderly cats and those which are nursing. Do not opt for large heating pads that cover the entire floor, but choose ones which cover half the floor size. This way the cats get to stay off the pad completely or partially if they want to. In addition to the heat pads, you can also opt for pet mats which are comfortable and cozy while also having the advantages of being dust free, antifungal and hypoallergenic.

Outdoor cat houses in a range of shapes and designs are available online at really affordable prices. Moreover your local pet store is sure to have outdoor pet houses that you can purchase and even have them assembled. If you are purchasing an outdoor house online, be ready to shell out some hefty shipping charges. To top it all you will have to assemble the cat house yourself. You can also choose to build cat enclosures that would safely contain your cat in your own backyard.