How To Make A Heated Outdoor Cat House?

As the weather gets colder and colder, the living condition becomes a concerning issue more than ever. The reason is that while some cats enjoy living indoors, others prefer to live outside of the house.

In such cases, a heated cat house makes a great solution to provide your cat with a safe and cozy shelter.

With that in mind, this post will show you how to make a heated outdoor cat house.

Does Your Cat Really Need A Heated Cat House?

The answer to this question is obvious, a cat needs a proper shelter when living outside.

During the cold season, it needs a heated house. Normally, the temperature of a cat’s body is 38 degrees Celsius and their fur is not always sufficient to deal with winter.

Short-haired, sick, older cats are more vulnerable than younger, healthier cats. If a cat stays outside for too long, they may suffer from hypothermia or frostbite.

What To Look For In A Heated Cat House?

To provide your cat with the best living condition in the winter, or cold weather in general, you should get a well-heated cat house for them. And here are the important criteria you must look into.

Material

You can choose either a storage bin shelter or plywood, but keep in mind that it has to be waterproof and well-insulated.

You can also opt for thick styrofoams to keep the inside of the house warm during the winter.

Straw is a good option as well, but don’t use fabrics or blankets as these materials absorb the warmth inside the house.

Size

This factor is apparently very important. The house must provide enough space for the cat to turn around, but small enough to keep your cat warm and cozy.

Extra insulation

The cat house should have support under so that it doesn’t touch the ground.

You can use some wooden pallets or bricks to give the house additional insulation, which will also protect it from high snow levels and floods.

Doorway

The doorway should be small to prevent uninvited guests from entering. You should also cover the doorway with heavy plastic to prevent heat from dispersing quickly.

How To Make A Heated Outdoor Cat House?

Materials To Prepare

You should get a specialized pad for cats, which would be best with a fleece cover. Besides, to make the house, you should get some styrofoams, or a styrofoam box, which is waterproof and well-insulated. Make sure the pad fits the box.

Step-By-Step Guide

Now, follow these steps to make an outdoor heated house for your cat.

Step 1: To make sure the styrofoams do not blow away, you can either put a plastic tarp around it or put a brick on top.

Step 2: Use a drywall saw to cut a small hole in the styrofoams for the cord and a larger hole for your cat to go in and out of the box.

Step 3: Put the pad in the box. If you have prepared extra insulation items like wooden pallets of bricks, you can put them under the house. Otherwise, you should put the box in a place higher than the ground.

Extra Tips About Outdoor Cat House

Making an outdoor house for your cat is pretty simple, but there are other things to keep in mind.

• The secure feeling is essential to a cat, so the house must be placed in a safe area, far away from your car, foot traffic, as well as other animals.

• Especially, in the winter, the house must be in a place not affected by the wind to make sure the cat is warm enough.

• Making a cat house on your own is not difficult or expensive, but make sure you use the right material, which must be well-insulated and waterproof.

• Make sure the cat house is placed off the ground and there should be additional support under it to keep your pet from snow and rain.

• Make sure the size of the house is suitable for your cat, which should not be too small or too large. In addition, the entrance must not be too large either to avoid unwanted guests.

• A heated house is especially and extremely important for your cat if you live in a cold area. You can consider buying microwavable heat pads or plugged-in heat pads for the house.

• Check on the house regularly to make sure your feline friend is safe, warm, and cozy. If you leave food in the house, you should use a heated bowl for a solar-powered bowl.

Conclusion

All cats need proper shelter to stay safe from the outdoor environment, especially in the winter and places with cold weather. That’s why if your cat lives outside of the house, you must know how to make a heated outdoor cat house for them.

I hope that through this post, you will be able to create a warm, cozy place for your pet.