The outdoors can be a harsh place depending on the weather, so it is easy to worry about outdoor cats that are subject to extreme weather conditions with no known shelter. Whether you have outdoor cats that simply don’t like to live indoors all the time, or you are trying to help out stray or feral cats, we have some ideas for some great weatherproof cat houses that you can make yourself.
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Maxbetter Vizelberg
Veterinarian, DVM
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Maxbetter Vizelberg
Veterinarian, DVM
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
DIY projects can range from simple and easy to downright difficult. We cover a range of difficulty levels in this article so whether you are an experienced craftsman, or you are just getting started, we’ve got something that will work for you.
The 10 Awesome Weatherproof DIY Outdoor Cat Houses
- DIY Cost-Friendly Outside Cat House
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Materials: 28-gallon tote, 18-gallon plastic tub, straw, a sheet of Styrofoam, blankets
Tools: Scissors, duct tape
Difficulty Level: Easy
This outdoor cat shelter is not only weatherproof, but it is also simple and cost-friendly to create. You don’t even need a lot of supplies for this DIY, it can be thrown together with a plastic tote, a plastic tub, Styrofoam, straw, and some blankets.
Check Instructions Here
Materials: 28-gallon tote, 18-gallon plastic tub, straw, a sheet of Styrofoam, blankets
Tools: Scissors, duct tape
Difficulty Level: Easy
You will need a pair of strong scissors or some other sharp tool to cut into the tote and plastic tub but by the time you are finished, you will have a sturdy, insulated cat house that will offer up a cozy shelter during harsh or rainy weather.
- DIY Heated Cooler Cat House
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Materials: 1 – 100 qt. cooler or larger,1 super bright 12 ft. rope light, 8 – 1″ x 1″ mounting bases, 20 – zip ties, 11 – #8 x 1/2″ long wood screws, 1 – 8″ x 8″ piece of carpet, 1″ thick foam pad for the inside bed (cut to fit),1 rug or blanket
Tools: Drill, jigsaw blade
Difficulty Level: Easy
This crafty DIY turns a regular old cooler into a warm, insulated cat house that is perfect for wintertime. You’d think making a heated cat house would be complex, but this project makes it simple, easy, and cheap. To get holes cut properly, you can use a jigsaw blade or any other tool that can get the cutting done smoothly.
Materials: 1 – 100 qt. cooler or larger,1 super bright 12 ft. rope light, 8 – 1″ x 1″ mounting bases, 20 – zip ties, 11 – #8 x 1/2″ long wood screws, 1 – 8″ x 8″ piece of carpet, 1″ thick foam pad for the inside bed (cut to fit),1 rug or blanket
Tools: Drill, jigsaw blade
Difficulty Level: Easy
Once you are finished your cat will be left with a not-so-conventional house, but one that keeps them warm and cozy while protecting them from the elements. Who knew a product meant to keep drinks cold would work so effectively as a heated cat house?
- DIY Styrofoam Cat House
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Materials: Styrofoam cooler, straw
Tools: Knife or boxcutter
Difficulty Level: Easy
Here we have another super cheap idea that will protect cats from a variety of weather conditions and give them a warm, secure place to sleep. Now, it is made of Styrofoam so it’s not exactly indestructible if they decide to get their claws out, but if it works, it works.
Materials: Styrofoam cooler, straw
Tools: Knife or boxcutter
Difficulty Level: Easy
This DIY is about as simple as it’s going to get. Just grab yourself a Styrofoam cooler, use a knife or box cutter to cut the necessary openings, and place some straw in there. Straw doesn’t retain moisture, so it’s a great option for wintertime.
- DIY Winterized Cat House
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Materials: 1/2-inch plywood (6X4),3 pieces of 2X2X8, nails, screws, ½ inch insulation board, 2 reclaimed cat doors, weather stripping, glue, 2 hinges, 2 latches, solar lights, outdoor paint, straw
Tools: Measuring tape, marker, sander, saw, drill, hammer, paintbrush
Difficulty Level: Moderate
If you are wanting to get a bit more detailed with your DIY but not go too far overboard with construction, check out this winterized cat house. You will be starting from scratch, so you’ll need to grab all the necessary components to make this work. You will definitely need to make a trip into the garage, or the local home improvement store, or give a family member a call to borrow some tools.
Materials: 1/2-inch plywood (6X4),3 pieces of 2X2X8, nails, screws, ½ inch insulation board, 2 reclaimed cat doors, weather stripping, glue, 2 hinges, 2 latches, solar lights, outdoor paint, straw
Tools: Measuring tape, marker, sander, saw, drill, hammer, paintbrush
Difficulty Level: Moderate
What we love about this cat house is that it is super sturdy and insulated to help out during any type of weather conditions, especially the harsh winter weather. You even place two different entries with cat doors on this project. Once you get it built, you have plenty of room for creativity, if you choose.
- Waterproof Insulated DIY Cat House
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Materials: 2 x tubs, 6” PVC pipe, fabric for insulation, Foam insulation
Tools: Jigsaw, knife
Difficulty Level: Easy
These waterproof and insulated cat houses are made out of rubber tubs and foam insulation. You don’t need too much to get this project completed and once it’s finished, it makes for a great cozy cat house that will leave them with the protection you are aiming for.
Materials: 2 x tubs, 6” PVC pipe, fabric for insulation, Foam insulation
Tools: Jigsaw, knife
Difficulty Level: Easy
You just need your tubs, some PVC pipe, foam insulation, and some fabric for lining the inside. The instructions are simple and easy to follow, and this is something that can be thrown together quickly and is easily portable. Does it look fancy? Absolutely not, but it works.
- DIY Weather Resistant Cat House with a Window
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Materials: Lumber, nails, hinges, plexiglass, paint, material for roof
Tools: Drill, jigsaw, adhesive, measuring tool, paintbrush
Difficulty Level: Difficult
If you are up for a bigger challenge, check out this weatherproof cat house that features a window for the cats to keep an eye out for what’s going on around them. It also comes complete with weather-resistant roofing. This project will take you at least a couple of days, depending on how much time you have, but it’s well worth it in the end.
Materials: Lumber, nails, hinges, plexiglass, paint, material for roof
Tools: Drill, jigsaw, adhesive, measuring tool, paintbrush
Difficulty Level: Difficult
This is another project that will leave you with a lot of room for creativity, so if you want to exercise your decorative side, you can paint and add décor as needed. You don’t have to use the paint colors in the instructions, so pick out what you like and work toward your masterpiece. Your outdoor cats are sure to love it.
- Old Tire DIY Outdoor Cat House
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Materials: 2 tires, plywood, blankets
Tools: Dremel grinder, Craft knife, Hacksaw
Difficulty Level: Easy
If you have a couple of old tires laying around, you can easily repurpose them and use them as a cat shelter. This is an easy project, though you won’t want to go out and buy brand new tires to do it, since you can get much fancier with other DIYs for a lot less. So, old tires it is.
Materials: 2 tires, plywood, blankets
Tools: Dremel grinder, Craft knife, Hacksaw
Difficulty Level: Easy
This is a great way to be environmentally friendly since you are upcycling but we do recommend cleaning up all the debris from the project well because rubber tires can pose a toxic threat if ingested.
- Outdoor Cat Shelter for All Weather DIY
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Materials: Lumber, plywood, paint, nails
Tools: Saw, drill, pencil, measuring tool, paint sprayer, paintbrush
Difficulty Level: Difficult
You will definitely want to check out this DIY cat house, it comes complete with a covered porch. This project will yield you an insulated, waterproof cat house that any outdoor cat is sure to love. It even sits up high, which we know cats prefer.
Materials: Lumber, plywood, paint, nails
Tools: Saw, drill, pencil, measuring tool, paint sprayer, paintbrush
Difficulty Level: Difficult
You just grab some simple material and get to work. The instructional video will be very helpful along the way. Once you get this all set up, you’ll have yourself some wonderful neighbors that won’t gossip about you. You may have to worry about them going to the bathroom in your yard, though.
- Cooler to Cat House DIY
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Materials: Ice chest, wooden pallet, glue, bedding
Tools: Drill, nail gun, nails, saw
Difficulty Level: Difficult
This DIY is another cooler, or ice chest turned cat house. This one goes a step further and gets fancier than the other one on the list when it comes to the outside aesthetic. You will need to gather up a wooden pallet, a cooler, some bedding, and the rest of the gear you need to get the job done and you will end up with a very convenient and weatherproof house for your outdoor cats.
Materials: Ice chest, wooden pallet, glue, bedding
Tools: Drill, nail gun, nails, saw
Difficulty Level: Difficult
- Super Luxury DIY Outdoor Cat House
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Materials: Plywood, heating pad, Traffic master mat, twine, rocks, paint
Tools: Wood glue, construction adhesive, palm sander, impact driver kit, jigsaw, table saw, nail gun, painters’ tape, paintbrushes
Difficulty Level: Difficult
If you are looking to get fancy and wish for your outdoor cats to live in the lap of luxury, check this DIY out. Thankfully, the instructional video will walk you through the process very well. We absolutely love the look of this one, especially the stone chimney, which really gives it character. This one will take a lot of work and detail, but it sure will be worth it in the long run.
Materials: Plywood, heating pad, Traffic master mat, twine, rocks, paint
Tools: Wood glue, construction adhesive, palm sander, impact driver kit, jigsaw, table saw, nail gun, painters’ tape, paintbrushes
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Conclusion
It’s very important for outdoor cats to stay warm, dry, and safe. If you don’t want to go out and buy a cat house for your outdoor cat, why not give one of these DIY cat houses a try? Hopefully these plans will give you an affordable option to keep your outdoor cat safe.
Featured Image Credit: vubaz, Shutterstock
