The Best Cat Hut: Reviewed for You

A cat house can serve as a haven for your pets when they’re out in the open or a comfortable retreat for stray cats. You can find basic, single-room boxes and more elaborate structures with insulation and heaters. It doesn’t matter if you have an outdoor cat or if you care for a local feral colony; cat huts or houses are essential for your feline companion to survive the harsh and snowy winters.

Besides providing a warm, cozy place for your kitty to hang out, cat huts can also help protect your cat, especially if they’re outdoors. Outdoor cats need protection from predators like owls, coyotes, wolves, and other cats. Even though we strongly advocate keeping cats inside for their protection, we recognize that this may not be an option for feral cats, barn cats, and other animals used to living outside.

We’ve done the research to find the best for you to choose from. Here are our top picks for the best cat huts!

Top Picks: The Best Cat Huts Today

#1 Overall Best: K&H Pet Products Birchwood Manor

In our review, the best cat hut is the K&H Pet Products Birchwood Manor. Made entirely of solid wood with 18 inches by 16 inches by 15 inches dimensions, this cat hut is as simple as it gets. It is a great size for an average-sized kitty, although it can only house one cat at a time. Still, the K&H Pet Products Birchwood Manor is perfectly built for outdoor and indoor use. The single-story solid woodhouse has a sloped roof to allow water to run off onto the ground. It also has two exits covered by two clear door flaps — one at the front and back — allowing easy access for your cat and ensuring added safety.

Like most cat huts, you first have to assemble this one after purchasing. This K&H house is easy to put together with just a screwdriver and nothing else. The hut comes with pre-drilled holes and is coated with a UV-resistant layer. The latter prevents the wood from getting stained, washed out, or damaged in harsher summer or winter conditions. You can also paint the exterior of the house, so you can personalize it for your yard and for your kitty!

The K&H Manor also has a detachable cushion for extra padding to keep your kitty extra comfortable. This cushion is easily removable whenever you want to clean the cat hut. There is also a “heated” option available, with a thermostatically controlled cushion that uses just 25 watts of power to keep your cat warm.

Pros and Cons of the K&H Pet Products Birchwood Manor

Overall Best

K&H PET PRODUCTS Birchwood Manor Outdoor Wooden Cat House

• Made entirely of solid wood
• Perfect for outdoor and indoor use
• Easy to put together
• Comes with a detachable cushion

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2.  Best for Keeping Warm: Kitty Tube Outdoor Insulated Cat House

The Kitty Tube Outdoor Insulated Cat House is a super cool-looking dome-shaped cat house specifically designed for outdoor use and is large enough to accommodate up to two cats at a time (or a mama cat and her babies). With its unconventional shape (it looks like a prop from The Matrix filming set), the kitty tube is one of the most insulated, weatherproof cat huts on the market. It has a strong, durable shell made entirely from 100% recycled plastics, thus creating a warm, cozy space to keep your kitties warm in the winter but cool in the summer.

The Kitty Tube Cat House has an elevated floor within the structure to prevent your cats from laying on the cold, wet ground. The cat hut is super easy to assemble and also has a machine-washable cat bed, meaning your cats will have extra padding to sleep on. This structure is also really easy to maintain as you can simply take off the lid and clean it as needed. The house also uses high R-value insulation, keeping your kitty cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The only downside to this cat house is that it has only one entrance, unlike many other cat huts.

The Kitty Tube provides a safe haven for cats, with awnings and a removable clear flap door for their safety. The door design ensures that your cat is safe from potential predators, while the lifting handles can be adjusted to provide full ventilation in summer and closed off to keep warmth inside in winter.

Pros and Cons of the Kitty Tube Outdoor Insulated Cat House

Best for Keeping Warm

The Kitty Tube Outdoor Cat House

• Specifically designed for outdoor use
• Insulated and weatherproof 
• Sturdy dome shell made of recycled plastics
• Very easy to clean

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3.  Best Outdoor: Petsfit Outdoor Cat House

The Petsfit Outdoor Cat House is perfect for keeping your kitty safe and comfortable outdoors. Cats can easily keep the house warm using just their body heat. The A-frame design of the house keeps in warmth, so cats don’t need to use too much of their own body heat to feel comfortable.

But if you need more heating, there’s an opening for a power cord — so you can use a heating pad or other device. Plus, the house big enough for one average-sized cat or two smaller cats — with interior dimensions of 18 inches by 17 inches and 20 inches in height. Assembling this house is a breeze — all the screw places are pre-drilled, and there are small dowel protrusions on the sides that fit into the holes to make sure all the pieces line up exactly.

The roof is made of Finnish spruce boards that are angled just right to keep the interior warm and dry. Rubber insulation and plastic sheeting help protect against rain and water damage, while asphalt-protected awning shields against heavy snowfall. However, heavy rainfall can still be a problem, so it is best to caulk the pitched roof joints before putting on the ridge piece if you live in an area with lots of rain, and/or put the cat house under an eave.

The Petsfit Outdoor Cat House comes in three colors and is made from sturdy wood, so it’s tough enough to handle excitable cats. It also has two removable floorboards with small holes for easy cleaning.

The house has two entry/exit doors that measure 7.8 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide. While this fits most average-sized cats, the door may be uncomfortable for larger cats. The house is not suited for cats that weigh over 15 pounds.

Pros and Cons of the Petsfit Outdoor Cat House

Best Outdoors

Petsfit A-Frame Outdoor Cat House

• The A-frame construction provides a roomy and comfortable interior.
• It is insulated and designed to stay warm.
• There is an entrance in the front and in the back.
• Angled roof boards, plastic sheeting, and rubber insulation keep the interior safe from the elements.

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4.  Best Multi-Story: Rockever Two-Story Outdoor Cat Shelter

If you need a cat house for more than one cat, then the Rockever Two-Story Outdoor Cat Shelter is the way to go. This cat house gives cats plenty of room to do their own thing, play around safely, and leave quickly with two entrances. It is recommended for three or so cats under 15 pounds.

The house is sturdy, made from durable fir wood, and built to last. It measures 20.8 inches wide, 24.4 inches deep, and 36.2 inches tall. It is also equipped with adjustable plastic feet so you can adjust if the ground is slightly uneven.

The roof of the home is made from asphalt shingles and has acrylic protection on its doors, making it resistant to the elements. Unfortunately, the house is not fully insulated. The walls and flap doors retain heat as best they can, but it might need straw added during the winter to insulate even more. The balcony is especially nice, making it the perfect place for lounging in the sun.

With all the parts included, assembling this cat house is super simple. All you need is a Phillip’s screwdriver to put it together. Once set up, you can trust that the structure won’t ever split apart or fall down.

Cleaning is easy too, as both the bottom floor and the middle floor can be removed. Just pop off the floors and open up the roof for easy access and cleaning. The Rockever Two-Story Outdoor Cat Shelter looks just like a luxury penthouse for your cats and comes in three different colors, each with beautiful white trim.

Plus, if you like the design and function of this two-story house, Rockever also has a single-story cat house as well.

Pros and Cons of the Roever Two-Story Outdoor Cat Shelter

Best Multi-Level

Rockever Two-Story Outdoor Luxury Cat Shelter

• Made from sturdy fir wood and built to last.
• Can house multiple cats.
• Adjustable feet for uneven surfaces.
• Resistant to the elements.

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5. Best for Multiple Cats: Kitty City Outdoor Cabin

Create the perfect insulated at-home hideaway for your cat with the Kitty City Outdoor Cabin. Ideal for outside, garages, porches, and barns, this cat house has water-resistant and sturdy fabric side walls to create a reliable outdoor home for your pet. Moreover, two exits come fitted with removable clear door flaps to protect cats from harsh weather. It’s easily assembled, stowed away, and designed to perfectly stack in sets of two.

The Kitty City Outdoor Cabin measures 19.5 inches wide, 22.5 inches long, and 21.5 inches tall. It is made to hold one cat at a time, but you can stack one house on top of another one. This cat house is easy to put together and can be used immediately.

This house comes with two entry/exit points, so your cat will never be trapped. Plus, its sloped roof repels water, ice, and snow for added protection. The size and material create insulation that doesn’t require power to keep warm — which means, no electric cords are necessary! However, this cat house does not have any bedding inside, so you may want to add a cat bed.

The Kitty City Outdoor Cabin is solid and cleverly put together with stiff accordion walls attached using velcro strips. It can withstand rain and mild wind, although it isn’t as sturdy for stronger windstorms. This cat house is best suited for use in a garage, carport, or on a porch, where it can be sheltered somewhat from strong storms.

Pros and Cons of the Kitty City Outdoor Cabin

Best for Multiple Cats

Kitty City Outdoor Cabin

• Double-layer insulation keeps cats warm
• Great for indoors or out
• Water-resistant fabric keeps cats dry
• Folds up for storage when not in use
• Can be stacked

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Choosing the Best Cat Hut: What to Look For

Your furry friend deserves the best that you can get. As such, you will need to keep in mind several essential factors when choosing a cat hut, such as:

• Size
• Insulation and heating
• Protection from predators
• Waterproofing and weather resistance
• Safety

Let’s take a look at each of these in detail.

Size

You might know cats enjoy lounging or curling up in confined spaces — that much is true. They’ll find the smallest boxes, bowls, and impossible nooks and crannies to crawl into. The dimensions of your cat hut are important. Ensure that your purchase has enough room to allow your cat to get in and out comfortably and curl up easily to sleep.

It is important to remember that when looking for a shelter for your cats, don’t get one that is too large. That way, their body heat won’t escape and they can stay warm. If you’re looking for a shelter for just one cat, make sure it’s not too big. It should have narrower interior dimensions to make your pet feel cozier. Also, the entrances or doors should be between 6 and 8 inches — any wider and other animals may be able to get inside.

Insulation and Heating

Many cat huts come with insulating properties. However, insulating materials may not be sufficient to keep your kitty warm in colder climates. Insulation may be fine for temporary outdoor use, but heated houses may be better if your cat will be outside for longer or in extremely old conditions. If the weather is super cold, ensure that your cat house has a heated pad to keep your cat warm and comfortable.

However, remember not to rely too much on heating mechanisms to heat up your cat’s shelter. Using a powered heat source in a cat house can be dangerous for your cat and might stop them from controlling their own temperature properly. Straw is a good alternative as it won’t develop mold or rot, and it won’t absorb moisture like blankets and towels do.

Protection from Predators

Cat shelter experts suggest having two doors in your outdoor house — a front and a back door. This way, your cat can escape if it faces any danger from predators or other animals like dogs, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, or snakes. However, remember that having more doors or windows also means a greater likelihood of heat escaping, so you want to make sure your cat house doesn’t have more than two doors.

Additionally, the door size and type should be carefully chosen to make sure that potential invaders won’t be able to enter, usually no larger than 6 to 8 inches.

Waterproofing and Weather Resistance

Outdoor cat huts need some form of resistance against the elements. If not fully waterproof, they can be shower-proof and strong enough to withstand harsh winds.

To make sure your outdoor cat house is up to the task, go for something that is water-resistant and waterproof. Materials like these will keep roaming and feral cats dry even in bad weather like rain and snow.

Safety

If you’re purchasing a cat hut for outdoor purposes, you must ensure that it is safe enough for your cat. Apart from proper construction and materials, the most important safety feature is the number of exits present. This prevents your cat from getting trapped if a predator shows up.

Up Next:

• The Best Indoor Cat Houses: Reviewed and Ranked — Check out the best indoor cat houses here.
• The Best Heated Outdoor Cat Houses — Keep your cat cozy and warm outdoors with an outdoor heated cat house.
• The Best Cat Doors: Reviewed and Ranked — Keep your dog out of the kitty litter and cat food by installing a cat door that only your feline will fit!