It is often not possible to provide cats with a warm home or basement that provides even a little protection from the cold. If a cat lives at your dacha or in a private house, and you don’t go there every day in winter, you can buy a winter house for your cat outside. There are many models of houses in which the animal will wait for the breadwinner to come home from work. A wonderful, warm hut will help the animal spend rainy days, cool evenings, and cold nights.
Wooden winter house for a cat – photo
What should an insulated winter house for cats be like?
- The main thing is to be warm and waterproof! What is important is not aesthetics for the human eye, but warmth for the cat. Make it look whatever you want on the outside, as long as it helps keep the cats warm!
- It is insulated inside with heat-insulating material: polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, foam rubber (any material can be bought in sheets at construction stores).
- Raised above the ground to preserve heat, from snow drifts and water (30-40 cm will be enough). If the house will stand on legs, they must be stable.
- With a small entrance to preserve heat, approximately 15*15 cm. The entrance can be covered with a curtain.
- Small in volume so that approximately 4-6 cats, curled up in it, warm the house.
DIY winter cat house
For the simplest option a cardboard box , you can ask for it in any store, they give it away for free, alcohol boxes are good. A replacement for the box can be an old bedside table , a small cabinet that neighbors often throw away. You will need adhesive tape, foam insulation and a durable film (tablecloth, greenhouse film, bath curtain).
In order for cats to fill the house with their warmth, its size must be small , but the animals must be able to freely change their body position. In other words, size the cat box according to the number of cats you plan to have, and remember that in cold weather, cats huddle together, even if they are cramped.
A large box can be made smaller. It is better to insulate walls and floors with polystyrene foam ; compared to polystyrene foam, it is more durable, retains heat better and absorbs less moisture.
We securely glue a piece of insulation to each side of the house and to the bottom using tape. Next, we wrap the entire structure with waterproof thick film so that the insulation is reliably sealed from moisture and from cat scratches (preferably in two layers). We tape all the seams with wide tape to prevent them from blowing in the wind. It is better to fix a canopy over the entrance , you can also make side flaps, and hang a piece of felt at the entrance.
For bedding, a fleece blanket, a piece of an old fur coat, coat, or wool will do. A cat brings water and snow on its paws or fur; wet wool takes longer to dry than fleece.
It is worth putting something under the box to raise the house above the ground: bricks, boards or parts from wooden furniture. This will provide additional good insulation from cold and rainwater.
If financial opportunity allows, then you can order a ready-made house from craftsmen; it’s easy to find such craftsmen on the Internet. From good, reliable materials, the craftsman will make a durable winter booth, which will serve as a real salvation for stray cats for many years.
Cat in the country: photo among flowers
Did you know that in 2003, British gardeners named the cat one of the most harmful animals. According to the survey results, baleen animals were in second place, second only to rats and ahead of such serious “rivals” as moles, squirrels and rabbits. The researchers concluded: “most gardeners are tired of seeing neighbors’ cats in their gardens, disturbing the diversity of garden fauna” and advised cat owners to lock their pets at home.
If you're not willing to sacrifice either your cat's freedom or the safety of your garden, you'll have some serious work to do. It is believed that dense garden plantings, when plant leaves form a carpet, completely covering the bare soil, do not seem to be an attractive place for cats to fulfill their natural needs. Fertilizing the soil with garden compost and humus serves the same purpose - this will not only enrich the soil and help retain moisture, but also protect the plants from cat attacks. Cats prefer to dig in dry, light soil.
If we talk about a natural and harmless “shield” from cats, we must not forget about the persistent dislike of tailed cats for some strong odors: the aroma of citrus fruits, cayenne pepper, vinegar, Coleus canina, but how to organize such a fragrant barrier? We don't think it will be easy.
And delicate cat paws really don’t like fine gravel and sharp pebbles. Paths covered with these materials can also serve as a boundary between cats and valuable beds.
Where to put a winter house for cats?
Pay special attention to choosing a SECRETE PLACE for the house! This is very important: it will not make your work in vain, and most importantly, it will save the life of the animal.
If it is possible to place the house near the heating pipe, then this will be the best solution!
It’s better to put a sign on the house so that the janitors don’t throw the house in the trash. If you live in an area that is strongly anti-cat, you can put up a sign asking people not to clean the house, appeal to people's compassion and understanding, and remind people that cats are the natural enemies of rats , which carry a huge number of diseases.
It is important to monitor cleanliness after feeding so that there are no complaints from residents.
If you plan to build a house near a residential building, then it is often impossible to come to an agreement with the building managers, hoping for their mercy. There is a way out - installing houses for cats on the HOME TERRITORY, i.e. the lawn adjacent to the house, and not in the yard. Then for installation it is not necessary to convene a meeting; a decision of the House Council/Board of the HOA (housing cooperative) and the consent of the residents of the 1st floor in front of whose windows it will be installed is sufficient.
Our furry pets need warmth and comfort no less than we do. Cats love to walk on their land, exploring the vast areas around the house. Therefore, it is so important for owners of private plots and summer cottages (and sometimes just kind people who decide to take care of homeless animals) to have an idea of what exactly housing should be like for a furry pet on the street.
In addition, such beautiful apartments will serve as an excellent decorative element decorating your garden. To do this, it is important to choose the right design and style of the project in which you would like to make your dream come true.
Prerequisites for arranging a house on the street
There are many reasons why there is a need to arrange a winter house for a cat. We list just a few moments when a solid design will help out an animal during the cold period:
- Often a situation arises when a stray cat, who happily accepts treats, does not want to change its status to a pet under any pretext.
- Sometimes compassionate residents of private houses keep not one or two cats, but four or five meowing creatures. It is not possible to shelter them all in the house. Therefore, you should take care of having a winter structure where your pets will survive the cold without loss.
- It is not uncommon for one of the family members to be allergic to wool. In this case, it makes no sense to limit communication with a furry creature in an open space. But it is necessary to provide for its existence during the harsh season.
- A winter house can serve as a kind of transit base when the owners are absent and the cat did not have time to return to the warmth in time.
In addition to domestic cats, stray animals suffer no less from the cold. Different countries solve this problem in their own way. We will tell you below what kind of winter houses are equipped for different categories of cats.
Options
Finished goods
Ready-made products sold in stores are an excellent option if you do not have time to build a house with your own hands. However, it is worth considering that this will be somewhat more expensive than making a house with your own hands from scrap materials. But such buildings also have their advantages.
They have a reliable design and are impregnated with a special agent to protect against adverse weather conditions and insects. In addition, such homes come with heated floors, magnetic doors, or even backlighting.
Price issue
From 5,000 thousand rubles for modest small dwellings, to 40,000 for luxurious penthouses for the whole family with playgrounds.
How to choose an outdoor house?
What to look for when choosing?
- No pungent odors.
- Durability and reliability of the design.
- Size.
- Price.
- Material.
- Form.
Choice
Secluded, closed places. Cats love to hide their lives from prying eyes. That is why it is so important that the home is closed with a door and a roof. But at the same time very cozy and soft inside.
Multi-level buildings. A variety of stairs and ramps will allow the cat to walk around the den, exploring it anywhere.
Since cats are very playful and inquisitive creatures, they will love this way of exploring the territory. Various trapezes and climbs will only stimulate her curiosity, making the house any habitat.
Large play complexes for a large family. The structures can be made not only one-story, but also large, so that the pussy could climb from the first floor to the second and third. Such tall structures are especially popular with playful girls, because they have somewhere to play.
In addition, some cats prefer to be on the upper tiers, observing the territory from above.
Self-production
- Box with a bed.
- Game trapeze.
- Hanging options.
- From newspaper tubes.
- Made from foam rubber.
Materials
To build a house on a garden or summer cottage that will please the eye and surprise guests and neighbors with its architecture, you will need high-quality building materials:
- lining (for wall cladding),
- slats (for making a frame),
- plywood (you can use it to upholster the inside of the house),
- tongue and groove boards (for flooring),
- roofing felt or ondulin (for the roof),
- metal corners (for fastening structures).
Be sure to calculate the size of the house: too big is not needed - the cat will be uncomfortable and cool in it; too cramped is also not suitable - its occupant should be able to easily turn around inside and take a comfortable position (most often they focus on the parameters 1.5 x 1.2 x 0.5 m).
Based on the intended dimensions, stock up on the required amount of material. Also provide means to protect your cat's home from fungus so that the structure will last longer. And in order for a winter house to reliably warm its owner, the walls must be insulated with some suitable material.
To build a cat house with your own hands in the courtyard of a city residential building, you can focus on the economical option. Suitable building materials:
- a large cardboard box (as an option - an old bedside table that has become unnecessary);
- duct tape;
- pieces of foam;
- thick film or a piece of an old waterproof tablecloth.
How to accustom a cat to a new home
If the house turns out to be warm and cozy, it has a place to hide and several tiers for choosing where to place the animal, then the cat will not have problems getting used to the house. However, to make the process more familiar, it is best to put some of your pet’s favorite toys into the new home.
The ideal option would be his old bedding on which he slept. But under no circumstances should you wash it; a cat cares about its smell. Feeling it in a new place, she will adapt faster, considering the new home her own.
It would be a good idea to spend the first time with your pet close to home, but without violating its boundaries. For example, with the help of a fun game where the pussy chases its favorite toy on a string. Outdoor games will help her relax in an unfamiliar environment. Giving your pet a treat in its new home is another good way to provide positive motivation. This way she will associate the housing area with some pleasant memories.
A domestic cat in the country is a walking house for fleas and ticks
It doesn’t matter which way you choose to keep your cat, whether you decide to give it free rein or make an enclosure for it, it must be protected from fleas and ticks - these bloodsuckers carry many dangerous diseases. They have a lot of means to fight them - special collars, drops, sprays, ointments. What exactly to choose is up to you. However, it is worth considering that the collar is not entirely safe - the ubiquitous cat can easily get caught on something, and anti-flea shampoos do not serve as a preventive measure and destroy only those parasites that have already settled on the cat.
Conclusion
The cat house will become your pet's favorite habitat. It is especially important that it is not only beautiful, but also reliable and warm if it is located outside . Cats are creatures that walk on their own, but thanks to your efforts, your pet will have his own protected corner in the huge open world, where he can confidently while away his time.
The onset of winter cold is difficult for people not only. Animals, especially those who live on the streets or are completely homeless, often have it much worse. However, it is in our power to improve the situation by buying or building an outdoor house for a cat for the winter, in which it would safely survive the cold season.
The fact is that cold weather poses a danger not only to the health, but also to the life of street cats. Very often, wild cats or simply abandoned by careless owners live in places such as dachas, courtyards of residential buildings, construction sites, production or transport bases, and so on. And if somewhere cats have the opportunity to find more or less warm places in which they can hide during frosts and other bad weather, then there are many places where they are simply deprived of this. An example would be city houses with boarded-up basements or holiday villages that are practically uninhabited in winter.
Attention! The problem period for cats lasts from autumn to early spring, but in different climatic zones it may differ slightly.
There are 2 main possibilities to acquire such a design:
- Buy an outdoor cat house for the winter. Buying a ready-made version at a pet store is faster, but it will require you to pay a certain price.
- Make a booth yourself.
There are many cases in which you may need to acquire a place for your cat to live comfortably in the winter. For example, in cases where one or more cats have come to you, which you do not have the opportunity to keep at home, for one reason or another. This could be an allergic reaction in someone in the family, intolerance to the smell of cat litter, etc. On the other hand, sometimes it happens that the cat that has come to your house is already old enough and cannot be tamed. That is, he will never become tame again, but you still want to take care of him. The solution is to arrange a warm outdoor house. And finally, you should consider the following situation: you live, for example, in a house in the private sector and periodically leave, for example, for work, shopping at the supermarket, etc., letting your pets out for a walk during this time. It can often happen that the cat will return from a walk long before you arrive home. To prevent it from freezing or getting wet, you can provide a kind of temporary shelter.
In any case, we can talk about both pets and stray animals that have strayed to your home. It doesn’t matter, because both of them want to provide care.
Cat in the country: welcome or unauthorized entry is prohibited
The first condition for your dacha cat to be protected from diseases is vaccinations. Therefore, if you plan to take your pet outdoors, make sure that he receives all the necessary vaccines in advance. As a rule, the mandatory list includes vaccinations against panleukopenia, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis and rabies. Vaccines for leukemia and chlamydia are considered recommended.
Veterinarians categorically do not advise taking kittens out into the wild until they are three months old, that is, until they are vaccinated. But for adult animals that have not undergone this procedure, country holidays are also not recommended.
What can be built
To a large extent, the type of design you choose depends on your specific circumstances, as well as the budget you have. Sometimes something simple and quick to construct will do (a box insulated with foam plastic or foam rubber, etc.), but in other cases you will have to take care of more complex and spacious options.
On a note! Some especially caring owners even install additional heating and install a special thermometer to control the temperature.
But even the construction of a light temporary structure must take into account 2 important conditions:
- It should be raised above the ground. For this you can use bricks, an old pallet and so on.
- It is necessary to ensure waterproofing of the outer layer, no matter what it is made of: moisture from rain, snow and other precipitation should not penetrate inside.
Capital structure
If you need a spacious and solid box for a cat on the street, then it is advisable to make it using internal partitions. They can divide the “room” either into separate compartments or into 2-3 unique “floors”. On the one hand, this will somewhat improve the thermal properties of the cat’s house, and on the other, it will make the animals’ stay inside more comfortable. So, the upper level can play the role of a kind of soft bed. It is desirable, however, that there be only one entrance.
Advice! An important condition is to ensure the possibility of periodic cleaning from the inside. This can be done using an opening roof, removable or hinged wall.
Cat in the country: romance without consequences
Every loving owner of a kotodama is worried that the summer vacation will not leave a memory in the form of a mustachioed addition to the family. There are already too many stray cats on earth that need homes. If you are not ready to give away kittens in the fall, there is the only reliable method - sterilization. In modern conditions, this is not barbarism, but an opportunity to prolong the life and increase the health of a cat. This is much more humane than drugs that reduce libido. Most of these products are dangerous - they contain steroid sex hormones, which affect not only the reproductive system, but also the entire cat’s body. The side effects of such a “lapel potion” are often the most deplorable.
Purchasing a ready-made solution
Not everyone has the capabilities, necessary tools and work space to make a cat house for the winter with their own hands. Today, manufacturers are becoming increasingly aware that the demand for such products is constantly growing. So they're starting to offer a more diverse selection. Here are the features that ready-made cat winter houses may have, which you can buy from manufacturers or order online:
- Among the most popular materials for exterior decoration are decorative boards or lining, and for interior decoration - plywood or other sheet material.
- According to their configuration, structures are most often divided into simple ones, made for temporary purposes, as well as one- and two-story, larger, more spacious and solid, in all respects, booths. In this environment, animals can comfortably survive even the coldest winter.
- It is important to remember about the possibility of additional equipment for cat housing. These could be doors, windows, beautiful decorative finishing of the roof, walls, the presence of steps, etc.
Advice! A good and affordable insulation for summer residents, which can be used as internal bedding, is ordinary hay or straw.
As for providing heat, it can be achieved in two ways. Firstly, in most cases it is enough to simply properly insulate the walls, ceiling and floor. If this is not enough, then you can consider the possibility of additional heating. The price of the latter option, of course, will be higher.
In any case, it is worth considering the fact that it is better to buy (or do it yourself) and install housing for furry friends in advance, before the late autumn and winter cold sets in. The fact is that it may take some time to get used to and adapt to a new place, even a warm, dry and comfortable one.
Self-production
When thinking about how to make a warm cat house for the winter yourself, the first step is to take care of creating a general concept and project. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is impossible to do without preliminary design. At the same time, it can always happen that the cats’ family will be replenished: small kittens will appear, or another stray cat will decide to move into the house. So, it is always better to plan, as they say, “with a reserve.”
Important! Try installing a scratching post next to the cat booth. It could be just a log or a piece of wood.
Meanwhile, more details about scratching posts, although for home use inside an apartment, can be found in this article.
What materials to choose
Of course, the layout, as well as the length and width, are important parameters that you should think about carefully. But after you do this, you can move on to choosing the materials from which the outdoor cat box will be made. And if everything is more or less clear with the floor, walls and finishing (it is best to buy a board or lining), then as for the other structural elements of a small building, they also have their own characteristics. So, it is best to use polystyrene foam or thinner but dense extruded polystyrene foam as insulation. This will keep your cat warm in winter even in severe cold. The frame can be made slatted, and standard solutions such as roofing felt, metal or soft (bitumen) tiles can be used as roofing material. Ondulin is also suitable.
Know! The advantage is that you can use leftover materials or substandard products: this will not particularly affect the final quality.
In addition, you will need consumables and fasteners. Depending on the situation, these could be nails, screws, and so on. Don’t forget about the tools (hammer, screwdriver, hacksaw, pliers, etc.).
Construction stages
So, here is a brief step-by-step instruction for creating and assembling a house for a cat outdoors in winter:
- First of all, you will need to make a frame from slats. Metal mounting angles can be used for connection.
- Fill it inside with insulation, for example, foam boards, which will first need to be cut to size.
- Cover the interior with plywood, OSB sheets or other analogues.
- If you consider it necessary, divide the interior spaces into vertical or horizontal compartments-rooms.
- If you have a pallet, wooden beams or other similar elements on hand, you can make a kind of sled or platform out of them, since a warm cat box should be located at some distance from the ground or sidewalk.
Important! Wooden, and even more so plastic floors and ceilings also need to be reliably insulated.
As an additional option, you can use a special varnish that will protect the wood from rotting and fungus. It has no pronounced odor and is completely safe for animals. In addition, you can make a heated box for your cat. The most acceptable option is infrared insulation. On the other hand, this will complicate the work somewhat and will require wiring. In addition, the total cost will also increase.
By the way, as an alternative, you can do it easier. Take an old nightstand, drawer or something similar: this will serve as a base and you won't have to make a frame. All that remains is to saw through the entrance, cover it with insulation, make a roof and other finishing touches, depending on the situation. The insulation, however, should be protected from moisture. See photos of real examples in the gallery at the bottom of the article.
Another interesting type of shelter that can be made quickly and in a hurry is any large plastic container, including packaging. The main thing is that gasoline and other types of fuel have not been stored in it before. Cut a hole in it and fill it with hay, sawdust or other insulation.
Heated “shelter” above the heating main
