Ways to Build Cat Houses

Wild cats, feral cats, and cats that live outdoors need to have cat houses that they can sleep in. Cat houses protect cats from the elements, keep them warm, and allow them to have somewhere safe to go. Cat houses also discourage cats from making nests in other places, like the attic of your garage, or the backseat of your old car.

  1. Existing Cat Houses

    • Build cat houses out of existing animal or pet houses. Find dog houses at the dump, for sale online, or at rummage sales. Get animal burrows from give-away programs at zoos, research facilities, or from the city. Modify the houses that you have gotten by turning them into cat houses. Line the inside with felt, and set rubber against the sides of the doors or openings in order to provide some protection from the weather. Set the house into the corner of your garage, backyard or alley, or other place where cats tend to congregate.

    Plastic Cat Houses

    • Use Rubbermaid containers as cat houses. Buy ten-gallon or bigger Rubbermaid containers with lids. Attach the lid to the house and make sure that it snaps tightly. Use a jigsaw to cut a rectangle door into the lid of the house. The door should be about half of the size of the lid, or smaller if the tote is very big. Sand the edges of the door so that they are smooth for the cats. Lay felt or blankets or towels on the inside of the Rubbermaid container so that it is a soft home for the cats. Set the tub on its side with the door a few inches off the ground and put it in a place where cats tend to congregate.

    Wooden Cat Houses

    • Build wooden cat houses. Follow an easy plan for a dog house. The house only needs a floor, four walls, and a roof and can be square or rectangle. Cut a cat-sized door in the side of one of the walls and line the interior with a comfortable lining like felt or old towels. Wooden houses should be sanded before allowing cats to use them, as they might have sharp edges. However, these are good for feral cats because they can also provide places to scratch and to sharpen claws.