How to encourage cats to use cat house

missmimz · Nov 27, 2015

I bought one of these heated cat houses on Amazon for my stray/ferals and they aren't using it

I've had it outside for a few weeks and so far not much interest. I've tried putting treats inside, putting food inside (they go inside and eat the food/treats and then leave) spraying it with catnip, and finally I moved it near the beds they sleep in and they still aren't using it. Anything else I can do to encourage them? It's not that cold here for the most part, but it's going to be in he 30s for the next few weeks at night and I know they'd be warmer sleeping on that heated pad.

shadowsrescue · Nov 28, 2015

You have tried all of the usual tricks. If the cats are large and the heated house is small, they may not like the cramped space. I would just continue to leave it there and continue to place a few treats and some dried catnip on the heat pads.

missmimz · Nov 28, 2015

ShadowsRescue said:
You have tried all of the usual tricks. If the cats are large and the heated house is small, they may not like the cramped space. I would just continue to leave it there and continue to place a few treats and some dried catnip on the heat pads.

Thanks! I guess I'll just keep encouraging them to use it and leave it where it is. If they want to use it, they will.

secabeach · Dec 6, 2015

I've learned that what's seemingly cold for me...isn't cold for my feral cat (Shadow). I have a sheltered bed area that gets used a lot, even when my cat is sunning himself on the nice days.

I bought a "Kitty Tube"on line a few yrs. ago because of the cold winters here in NJ. and concerned that he wasn't using it..but..when I have checked it in a few days to add more straw...I see that he has made a "nest" in it...so I'm very releived and just let him do his thing, knowing that he's happy!!

Do you have straw in the house?? I would recommend it...lets air flow thru and IS very warm..

missmimz · Dec 6, 2015

secabeach said:
I've learned that what's seemingly cold for me...isn't cold for my feral cat (Shadow). I have a sheltered bed area that gets used a lot, even when my cat is sunning himself on the nice days.

I bought a "Kitty Tube"on line a few yrs. ago because of the cold winters here in NJ. and concerned that he wasn't using it..but..when I have checked it in a few days to add more straw...I see that he has made a "nest" in it...so I'm very releived and just let him do his thing, knowing that he's happy!!

Do you have straw in the house?? I would recommend it...lets air flow thru and IS very warm..

I don't have any straw in the house. I have a large front porch where their food, water, beds, and cat house are. They use and love their cat beds (which are just basic cat beds) but they just don't seem interested in the cat house. I took down one of the walls so its open to see if they'd just sleep/sit on the mat but they don't seem to be doing that either. I live in the desert so It's really not that cold here, perhaps its just not cold enough for them to need the house.

StefanZ · Dec 6, 2015

One comment re this cat house. Does it have an emergency exit on the backside? Cats prefer to have such extra exit, not to risk and be cornered if a predator attacks them inside the house.

missmimz · Dec 6, 2015

StefanZ said:
One comment re this cat house. Does it have an emergency exit on the backside? Cats prefer to have such extra exit, not to risk and be cornered if a predator attacks them inside the house.

Yes its this one from Amazon, it has two exists.

How to encourage cats to use cat house

missmimz

TCS Member

Thread starter

shadowsrescue

TCS Member

missmimz

TCS Member

Thread starter

secabeach

TCS Member

missmimz

TCS Member

Thread starter

StefanZ

Advisor

missmimz

TCS Member

Thread starter

Latest Posts

Connect with us