Cat House

Indoor and outdoor cat houses serve slightly different purposes. Indoor models are usually designed as cosy sleeping and hiding spaces, while outdoor houses need to offer more protection from wind, rain and changing temperatures.

Hiding is normal cat behaviour. Cats often choose enclosed or secluded places when they want to sleep, avoid disturbance or simply spend time somewhere they feel secure.

A good hiding area should be somewhere quiet and easy for the cat to enter and leave. Some cats also prefer hiding places that are raised above floor level because they can observe their surroundings while remaining out of the way.

Outdoor cat houses should be chosen with the intended location and weather exposure in mind. Check the individual product description to confirm that a model is suitable for outdoor use rather than assuming any enclosed cat house can be left outside.

Browse the dedicated

outdoor cat house collection

for models intended for outdoor environments.

Choose somewhere relatively quiet where your cat already likes spending time. Bedrooms, quiet corners and low-traffic areas can work well, provided the cat can enter and leave freely.

Avoid positioning the house directly beside noisy appliances or in busy walkways. Cats Protection recommends providing hiding places somewhere quiet where cats will not be disturbed, and notes that many cats also feel safer with access to raised resting areas. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”2″}

Nervous cats often value somewhere they can retreat without being followed or disturbed. An enclosed cat house can provide one option, but it should be part of a wider environment that gives the cat several choices about where to rest and hide.

Do not pull a nervous cat out of their chosen hiding place simply because you have bought them a new house. Let them investigate it in their own time.

For more detailed advice, read our

guide to helping a nervous cat build confidence
.

In a multi-cat household, one enclosed sleeping space may not be enough. Cats should have several resting and hiding options so one cat cannot easily control access to every quiet area.

Providing multiple beds, hiding spaces and elevated resting areas can reduce competition and give each cat more choice over where they spend time.

Cats Protection recommends giving each cat access to their own key resources, including beds and hiding places, with additional options where possible. :chatgpt-content-reference{index=”3″}