What are the different types of cat houses?

Cats love to hide in various secluded corners, so they like special houses in which they can comfortably sleep and hide from prying eyes. They are made in all kinds of shapes, from different materials, and vary in size. Houses for cats are offered by many pet supply manufacturers. Each of them performs its function, but the quality can vary greatly. Therefore, we familiarized ourselves with the characteristics of various models, user reviews, and based on them, we compiled a rating of the best houses for cats.

Choose a gaming station instead of a sleeper

Unlike dogs, cats are almost impossible to train to sleep in a specific place. But you can build a play area that your cat will definitely like. It’s not a fact that this will completely save you from your cat’s travels through shelves and cabinets, but it will be able to diversify the life of an animal locked within four walls.

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If the owner is lucky enough to live in the same area as an active cat, then he will never be bored, because the animal is constantly looking for new ways of entertainment and gives vent to its physical energy in the most unpredictable ways. Therefore, the owner often witnesses how the cat uses curtains to hone his climbing skills and tries to make a hole in the expensive upholstery of the sofa, imitating climbing a tree.

To protect furniture and home renovations from excessive pet activity, the owner can use playhouses for cats that will interest playful and temperamental animals.

Such a house is not just a place for relaxation and privacy, but a real amusement park for cats. It can accommodate a play area, a place to relax, a scratching post, a house for a cat of this type is quite expensive - from 2,500 rubles and more. To buy a high-quality playhouse for a cat cheaply, you should pay attention to various promotions and sales held in large supermarkets of the relevant type.

DIY house

A house for a cat can be made from anything. The only limitation is your skill and imagination - you can sew, knit, weave, build, glue, cut, etc.

Houses made from boxes

The most commonly used and affordable material for building cat houses is cardboard boxes. It is a natural material and cats love it very much. The only negative is its fragility. But you can also find a positive in this - you can change house models quite often. And you won’t be bored and the cat will have something new.

Despite the fact that the shelves of many stores are now full of all kinds of houses for cats, you can make one yourself. Having decided on the appropriate material, you can begin manufacturing. It will be very easy to make a cardboard house from an ordinary box - you can decorate it according to your taste, cut a hole in the right place or make doors.

You can use things you no longer need to create a house.

Cardboard construction is the simplest version of a house for self-production

You can easily make a house out of your T-shirt

The simplest house that you can make with your own hands is a house made from cardboard boxes - it is so simple that even a schoolchild can make it. Every home will probably have everything needed for the job: a cardboard box, fabric and glue.

First you need to decide on the size of the animal’s future housing. To do this, boxes of the required size are selected, a fabric suitable in color is selected, as well as additional elements of facade decor, and preparations for “construction” begin. Before starting work, it is advisable to make a sketch or drawing that will simplify the process of assembling the house.

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First of all, take the main box and cut out the bottom and top of it. After this, all the parts are painted in the color you like. The frame obtained from the box will serve as the walls of the house, so openings for windows and an entrance are cut out in it. The roof is assembled from the cut parts, fastened and installed. Additional decoration is limited only by your own imagination. In the future, you can add additional rooms to the finished house.

Thus, you can always choose a suitable home for your pet or, if possible, make one yourself. There is nothing complicated about this - just get the necessary materials, find instructions on the Internet and, according to them, make a home that your pet will definitely like.

How to choose a house

When choosing the best house for your pet, you should think about both your pet’s comfort and your convenience. Please note the following factors:

• age - an open house is suitable for kittens, with enough space for games and active movements. To choose a house for an adult cat, you should watch her and understand her character. If your cat tends to be alone, then choose an enclosed house, such as a kennel. If your pet prefers to spend more time with you, then an open house will suit him, for example, a bed in the form of a basket, from where the pet can watch everything that is happening,
• characteristics of the breed. If the cat has long hair, then it will be especially important to choose a house material that can be easily cleaned of hair. For short-haired breeds, such a house will also be useful, but this factor is not so important,
• structural stability. It must be able to withstand the weight of your pet and its jumping,
• size. The cat should move freely inside the home, but at the same time not feel in too spacious conditions,
• availability. The cat must approach its home without obstacles. Here you should take into account the different characteristics of your pet: age, preferences. For example, if the cat is active and likes to jump high, then a structure on which it can climb and jump is suitable. And for older animals, houses located low or even on the floor are preferable,
• the material for the house should be without an unpleasant pungent odor that can scare away the pet. It should also be suitable for easy cleaning.

Criteria for choosing houses

Choosing a home for a cat becomes a real challenge as there are many factors to consider. Convenience for the animal, size, color, etc. are taken into account. It is almost impossible to understand what exactly a cat needs, and it will be possible to determine whether it will use the home or not only after purchasing it. But there are still some recommendations that will help please your pet.

• The first thing you need to pay attention to is the age of the animal. Kittens with their irrepressible energy need a lot of free space, so it is best to provide them with a play set. The main thing is that such houses for kittens are safe for them to use.
• When the animal grows up and acquires its own special character, it will be necessary to adapt a new home for it. The kennel house is ideal for cats who do not like strangers and spend a lot of time in secluded corners.
• For sociable animals, an open structure with beds or hammocks is best suited.

To choose the perfect home for your pet, you need to pay attention to all of your pet's possible habits. To determine the size of the future home, you should pay attention to where the cat likes to rest. If most often they choose cabinets and the top shelves of the walls for sleeping, then the house is made high, with several levels.

And, of course, you need to pay attention to the safety of the materials from which the house is made. Since cats have an exceptional sense of smell, their new place of residence should not have the smell of glue, paint, or wood.

The finished product must be securely connected, there should be no sharp protruding corners or irregularities that could cause harm to the animal.

In addition to functionality, there are other important criteria. In particular, the owner needs to pay attention to the material from which the product is made. It must be non-toxic, strong and durable. For example, a wicker cat house made from natural wicker will last a very long time.

You can also buy a house made of fabric for cats. The main material in the manufacture of such a house can be one of the following elements:

1. fleece;
2. plush;
3. tapestry;
4. velvet;
5. velor, etc.

Fabric houses are soft and practical. They are very easy to keep in order - wash, wash and dry. There are also houses on sale in which the frame is made of plastic, wood or thick cardboard, and the place to sleep (mattress) is made of padding polyester or foam rubber.

The shape and size of the house also matter. Therefore, before you buy inexpensive cat houses in one of the online stores, you should ask the manager to send measurements. The house must fit into the interior of the apartment, taking into account the available free space, so its size must be appropriate. It is also important to take into account the build of the cat himself - the house should be spacious and comfortable for him.

It is also worth paying attention to the appearance of the product. For example, in the assortment of the Trixie company, you can choose a cat house in a wide variety of styles. The appearance of such a house will please the eye and will successfully complement the interior of the room.

• The design of a cat house depends on your taste and financial capabilities. Sometimes entire apartments and residential complexes are set up for purrs, with many levels, connected by tunnels and equipped with small toys hanging on strings. Some of these house complexes even have heated beds. But, in principle, a purr can comfortably fit in an ordinary cat house.
• It is important that the bedding in the house is comfortable for the cat. Also, the litter should be “washable” and practical, because the cat can scratch the litter or stain it.
• When choosing a place for a house, keep in mind that cats catch colds quite easily, and in old age they can develop arthritis or rheumatism. Therefore, the house should be located away from drafts and, of course, not in a damp, cold room.

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How to house train your pet

To quickly accustom a cat to being in your house, you need to take its interests into account. To do this, you need to choose a place for the house that suits the cat. Problems can usually arise with older cats. By following certain rules, you can quickly accustom your pet to a new personal corner:

1. Make sure the cat house is well secured. Otherwise, she will feel unsafe in the home and approach it as little as possible.
2. Arouse the cat's interest. If she loves toy mice or rustling candy wrappers, place them directly in the house.
3. Change the location of the house and monitor the cat's reaction. For example, some pets will be comfortable sitting next to a radiator or near a window. Experiment.
4. Do not force your pet into the house.

The use of special sprays containing catnip has worked well. You can spray the bedding and the house itself with them.