Instructions
Calculate your needs. Note how many cats you'll be inviting into your feline real estate, and check the space available and the extremes of weather the cat house will have to withstand.
Browse online at sites like CatsPlay.com to survey the dizzying options (see Resources below). You can choose a cat house designed to match the architecture of your home, or take a flight of fancy and purchase your kitties a Swiss chalet or a Western ranch house complete with split-rail fenced porch.
Choose cedar models for sturdiness and weatherability. Cat houses made from recycled plastics are lighter in weight and easy to clean.
Review options. Your cat house can have several "bedrooms" or storeys to accommodate several cats. Cat houses are available in several sizes. Some come with bedding installed; with others it's extra. You can purchase optional weatherproofing and insulation inserts, and even invest in electric heating pads-these are great for elderly cats or nursing mama kitties.
Decide whether you will purchase your cat house online or at your local pet store. Online retailers usually offer more variety, but you'll have to assemble the cat house yourself. Shipping costs can be hefty on wooden models.
How to Buy an Outdoor Cat House
If you have kitties who roam, or you are sheltering neighborhood strays, you'll need to provide some kind of outdoor shelter for cold nights and bad weather. Of course cats will curl up just about anywhere, but if you want to spoil your feline friends you can take advantage of all kinds of pet architecture. Follow these steps to buy an outdoor cat house.