Keeping outdoor cat warm with DIY Cat House WEATHERPROOFING! Canadian winter

[@themaplebeat]

NEW 2022 update video on how the cat house is doing one year later! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqxoK1taZyBrtU -Thanks again everyone for all your helpful comments and sharing your ideas and tips! Please subscribe for more videos from our channel about local news and events, art, music, food, toys, DIY and more :)

[@happyinparis]

Great job!!!!! You have a heart of gold!

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks so much 😀!

[@jfk64kennedy95]

whatever you use as a sleeping pad, be careful it doesn't wick up moisture. Cotton blankets, clothing not real good...

[@bwktlcn]

I have a feral cat that started showing up about 2 years ago. Won’t let you touch him, but a good boi (and fixed). We got down to 7 degrees last winter, and I got one of these houses with an outdoor warming mat. I spent about 125 bucks, and had already decided I would donate it to the SPCA if he didn’t use it. He LOVES his little house. Nothing like seeing him charge out of his house when I put out breakfast.

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for sharing that heart warming story!

[@djosbun]

I’m wanting to make one of these for the stray cat that visits my deck every evening to eat (I feed her). My only issue is that I have a dog door (which I close for a couple of hours every night) and I’m afraid my Australian Shepherd will cram his head inside of the cat house and cause my stray kitty to have a heart attack!

[@shac9131]

​@@djosbun if not scratch your dogs face! Try placing the cat door facing house with only a foot to enter, or put obstacles by door way. I built a fort for a homeless cat and kittens on my deck. I had a bit overlapping entrance to block off cold air and winds. They ruined a $600 mohair rug I had, but when I saw the situation and it was the only thing I had to help... I made them a cardboard box house and put towels over it. The kittens ruined the rug going to the bathroom, but everything I done in the smoky mountains during winter kept them alive

[@toad4ever103]

You're a good person. He was lucky to find you.

[@zyxvwu]

❤

[@nangel270]

You are wonderful people providing a beautiful safe home to ease the struggle of our furry creatures. Thank you.

[@AB_Gemini]

👏👏 I'm sure your cat appreciates the fact that you care enough

[@laescandy3387]

*God bless you!* The labour of love you put into this for a cat's wellbeing is truly admirable and commendable - if only everybody were like you two, toward animals and children, this world wouldn't be so fraught. Take good care. Thank you

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging comment ! 😊

[@eednarb]

So happy to hear that you did something like that for a stray kitty. I wish more people would do things like that

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for your lovely comment!

[@SuperSaltydog77]

Very nicely done. The world surely needs more generous and caring people like you two

[@themaplebeat]

aww thank you!

[@hildachacon001]

Okay all kitty needs is a Ring video cam, fridge, smart tv & remote. LOVE THIS!!! 🫶🏼😻❤

[@maureen14]

The house looks great glad the kitty likes it! I would protect that outdoor extension cord by putting a pool noodle around it. Just an extra layer of protection.

[@themaplebeat]

That's a great idea, thank you! 😊

[@petersterling5334]

Very interesting. Thanks for taking such Great Care to make Sure Kitty is Warm and Dry during the Winter!

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for your kind comment !

[@jeannette4879]

Jesus! CAN WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU TWO in the world???? ! I so wish there was at least 1 couple like you guys in every block, here in LA people is so ignorant towards to animals, even one bowl of water will go in the trash, it's so hot and they still have the heart to throw it away, I do TNR and feed colonies of cats from midnight till 3am so the cats eat in peace, I wish they all have shelter like that. thank you❤ you guys so deserve to becalled humam beings

[@themaplebeat]

Aww thanks so much for your wonderful comment, (and apologies for the late reply!) Happy belated New Year, and that's amazing all the kind work you do too.

[@tcoladonato]

What a lucky kitty. 😻

[@mochasweet4966]

Blessed kitty has two guardian angels 😇😇

[@andreascool3041]

You can make these on your own even better ones. I am thinking to build few of these and put them a cross from my place in an abandoned house big yard that belong to an older woman I know, and since there is feral cats and kittens I am sure they will enjoy it this winter

[@useyourbrain6937]

I want t0 do that

[@themaplebeat]

That would be a fun and worthy project! They would love it!

[@ignaciaforteza7731]

Everything you do for cats to survive cold winters I think is most generous of you. Thank you. I love ALL cats and people who loves them! Bless you ❤

[@nattayawongrakmitr1025]

Thanks and respect.

[@Marella2024]

My dad and I made a simple version of this outdoor cat warming house when I was a kid. Our cat used to have to fight off other cats who wanted to sleep in it too. We eventually just let the cat sleep inside the house.

[@themaplebeat]

Yes that's a good point! There was another cat who wanted to sleep in it, but Kitty claimed it as his own and thankfully there hasn't been any others so far!

[@YourCapyFrenBigly_3DPipes1999]

Lol why can't they all share tho?

[@mommabear7981]

Love this!! Another thing you could possibly add for a little extra insulation is straw underneath the cat house. We add straw underneath our chicken coop for our wicked cold winters here in Alberta (-50°C at times🤮) and it really helps keep the heat in the coop. Love that you sealed it all and coated it to keep it nice and dry. 👌🏻 We have to build something for all the strays that seem to come around our property here in the country. We currently have 6 cats of our own that come and go in the house or the heated sheds, but now we have another pretty little one that’s been hanging around. They know where to go for food, that’s for sure. We feed them and they never want to leave…lol! We spay/neuter and vaccinate them, deworm them every so often, and they are living their best lives here! LOL! They get plenty of cuddles and love from us too, so hopefully this new kitty will warm up to us soon. 🥰 Thanks for the awesome video! It gave me so many great ideas and tips! 👌🏻❤️

[@themaplebeat]

Hi Momma Bear, I loved reading about your cat shed setup. Thanks for the advice. Seems like a good idea to add some straw underneath. I would have added some straw to the inside had it not been for the heating pad. That's great you can get a hold of the cats for treatments. Ours gets a little freaked out and runs at the sight of the cat carrier, probably from his first visit to the vet. I will try to capture him again. Glad you liked our house. I'm sure you can agree that they are fun to build and maintain! Have a Happy Halloween!

[@BST-lm4po]

Ya, animals love straw. I've seen people fill their outdoor cat houses with straw, the cat crawled in and made a nest.

[@A2D4]

Everything I’ve seen online about outdoor houses for cats says that you shd never use blankets bc they get moisture and hold it once it’s cold. They all say to use straw ( definitely NOT hay). But this house is so well insulated, maybe that won’t be an issue. I’m thankful to these folks for going to all this work etc., for the homeless kitty. He now has a beautiful home! This kind gentleman really paid attention to many extra details. Beautiful job!!

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks so much for your comment! We will try to stuff some straw around the heating pad this year! By the way if you haven't watched it already, this was our 2022 update video on the cat house: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqxoK1taZyBrtU

[@scubadiver007]

Please do NOT use HAY, if the Hay gets wet it can produce mold and its bad for cats, Please use STRAW even if wet its safe. @@themaplebeat

[@augusta8901]

@@themaplebeat Hay absorbs water- STRAW wicks it away and dries out. Do not use hay!

[@santay5479]

Should be straw not hay.

[@themaplebeat]

Oh yes sorry mis-typed it, will use straw

[@wildonemeister]

I would recommend leaving some more ways for air to enter, or rather yet - leave. When breathing moisture is created and that has to go somewhere. I had a similar setup, but it simply was to airtight and mould started to grow.

[@kawythowy867]

Man this is so awesome. You guys rock!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤thank you and the warm kitties thank you too. 😊❤

[@themaplebeat]

Aww thanks for your lovely comment! 😍

[@AlsanPine]

i have a stray cat that lives in my barn and helps control mice. i feed him so he stays here. i have been thinking of making him an insulated home. i got some good ideas from you 🙂

[@dcwatashi]

The K & H heated pet bed really works wonders

[@muskokamike127]

one of the best heaters to use is a waterbed heater. Double insulated, isn't affected by wet, and is a low slow heat source.

[@karenmontez613]

What we pet lovers do for our own , and for the less fortunate! Bless you for this.

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for your kind comment !

[@karmenletourneau9574]

I took a down comforter and then a water resistant tarp and covered my cat house like this, but definitely going to do this as well and read that straw absorbs moisture and keeps cats warm the best but I love the self heating pad as well. I also read that if you place the cat shelter close to a wall it prevents larger animals from being able to gain access to it. (5 to 6 inches I believe I read) My cat has been missing for our a year, we bought a home last year, and he snuck out a window we forgot didn't have a screen after 2 nights of being in our new home. My daughter was sick with a fever, so my husband opened the window, not even thinking. It is his cat. We have had Beckum since he was 6 weeks old. He is an orange tiger who has always had outdoor access and is an avid hunter. We have several cat's and out of all of them we have always said he would be the one to survive outside if he had to, never thinking he would have to. 😢 We have always brought our cat's in at night, and now when they go, they're supervised. After 8 months being at our new home, Beckum showed up on our security camera at almost 1am one night, we were sleeping sadly, so he proceeded to try to spray/mark by our front door and left. (He is neutered but I've read they can still mark their territory) He was a wanderer, not knowing what has happened to him has been the hardest part. Knowing he survived a brutal winter last year and was alive 8 months after going missing, my husband strongly believes he is still out there looking for us. Please keep our sweet boy in your prayers and that we are reunited again soon. I just want to make sure if he tries to come back home this winter, he has somewhere warm to rest, this looks incredible and we have the same pre-made cat house so excited to add onto it and make it weather proof and toasty warm for him. Hopefully, our neighbors cat doesn't take up residence in it as he seems to frequently come around our home at night. Sadly, his owners let this cat stay put all hours and in all weather conditions. Our neighbors have all said he probably got taken by a predator, however, they don't know our cat, he grew up deep in the woods in Vermont, any wildlife here is not even close to what we had in Vermont as our old home was in a much more rural area. Beckum is super fast (hense his name, we named him after David Beckum) extremely smart, and like I said previously, an avid hunter. This cat would bring trophies all day in the warmer month's, it got to the point where we tried to save many of them and I told him he needed to eat them if he was going to kill them, weirdly enough, he started doing this after I told him this lol. We have gotten some calls throughout the past year. He is on our local papers and online as well, sadly none of the leads have panned out so far. We have questioned if someone may have taken him in because he is such a sweet boy and loves to love, and someone may have thought he was a stray after months of being outdoors. (He is posted at shelters as well around where we moved from and here as it is a 30 mile radius to our old home) I hate to think someone stole him, but that has crossed our minds as well with the way they world is today. (We have some neighbors we have questioned who may have taken him also) We have offered a reward or reimbursement for his care to anyone who may have taken him in thinking he is a stray. Cats have been known to return home after long, unexplained absences, some even years later from when they went missing. We may have a solid lead, so we have been checking this area every night, we call to him and walk around looking for him and bring his favorite treats with us. We also have hiked around our and our neighbor's properties searching for him, please do not give up hope. (They say a cat usually stays within a circular mile and a half radius of your home, and they have some kind of way of putting their scent on things to find their way home and scientists are starting to believe cats are able to use our earth's magentic field to determine where they are going, so amazing to think about, it is amazinf to see how cats/animals have traveled hundreds of miles to return to their home) ❤️ If you are a cat owner and have a missing cat, please keep your faith strong and exhaust all possibilities before giving up. Most cats that aren't reunited is because their owners went into avoidance grief and gave up too soon. Some cats will find their way home on their own, even a new home, like Beckum showed us is possible, but many need some help, I pray you are reunited with your loved one. Also if you find a cat you think may be a stray, please make sure you check every avenue possible before claiming them as your own, you never know if that cat has a family heartbroken, devastated and waiting to be reunited with them. Thanks again for all these tips and great tips and ideas for keeping your cat or stray/feral cats warm in the winter. We need more humans like you in this world. God bless you 🙏 🌎 ❤️ Happy Holidays!!! 🎄

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you so much for your long comment, and sharing that tough story with us. It is very true all the advice you shared, hoping all lost cats find their way home :(

[@TheMintyMelon]

It’s been a year ago since you left your comment so I’m thinking Beckham may have hopefully already found his way home.🙏However I have seen advertised a Geo locator tag that goes on a dogs collar, but it’s rather big, about the size of half a Snickers bar…They wern’t suggesting it for cats but I thought you could perhaps try an Apple AirTag. Which is alot smaller, like a big coin that people would normally put in a suitcase in case it goes astray..You could keep track of him like that maybe in the future…Would love to know if you have been reunited with him since..??? ❤️🌸

[@MultiSweener]

I recently did something similar. But the feral cats I sponsor, if you will, are about 2 miles away from my house. They reside on a small patch of woods behind a car wash. I added an extra loft, built a platform about 20 inches high, and mounted the house onto it also allowing a 5 gallon bucket auto dry food feeder. I caulked all joints and screw holes, and since I cannot provide solar or battery heat, they have self warming blankets which I found online. I feed them well once a day in the early morning.

[@themaplebeat]

That's wonderful to hear, amazing job with caulking the joints and screw holes! Have they become friendly / familiar with you ?

[@MultiSweener]

@@themaplebeat one let's me pet. But most recently a raccoon the size of Texas hits their food. He isn't shy of me as I get a few feet in front of him. I don't injure animals so I may have to feed them in the afternoon when most coons are sleeping. My first strategy was to stand there while they ate, but the aforementioned is in place. Its a trial and error approach now.

[@tjtampa214]

Great song, great project, great people.

[@joeschmo622]

Noice! NYC doesn't often go below freezing, so I have a few inverted styrene-foam coolers as "igloos", where the lid becomes the floor and the tub becomes a dome with a 'U'-shaped cutout for the door. My #3 (of 4) used to sit in the one out front 'til I lured him in. I've tried straw (from a pet-store; used for hamsters) as bedding, but have never seen a cat in those igloos I've used it in.

[@loridavis5699]

What a lucky spoiled cat!😻

[@SkySim]

My outdoor cat house door is made of clear vinyl carpet protector made to look like a cooler or freezer strip door. It doesn't freeze in the winter and always returns to the vertical position after the cat passes through plus it allows them to see through it.

[@themaplebeat]

perfect! thanks for the info

[@DrJJ001]

Wow! This is the best cat house I've seen on KZbin. Thx

[@themaplebeat]

Wow, thanks!

[@bettyboop1524]

My outdoor kitty has had a PetsKit outdoor house going on 5 years now. It's a two story and this will probably be it's last year (2022). It has been outside all that time in snow and rain and survived. They make a good product.

[@154g]

Does he use it nightly? Or just sometimes

[@themaplebeat]

That's great to hear! Welcome to watch our 2022 update video if you haven't already! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqxoK1taZyBrtU

[@jessethepersiankitty2377]

What a good man you are. Thank you

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks so much for your nice comment! 😊

[@carolnimitz1317]

Very nice! In 2002, I had a Doberman & a Newfoundland and I built them a large 4’ x 5’ insulated doghouse (walls, floor & roof) with an asphalt shingle pitched roof & 4’ x 2’ covered porch, it has a 250 watt heat lamp situated on the ceiling with the cord hidden so the animals can’t chew the cord. The dogs passed away years ago but I now use the huge doghouse as a cat house for the 3 cats somebody dumped here 6 months ago and they love it!

[@themaplebeat]

Aww nice I'm glad it's still being used and that the cats love it!

[@patricklechner1]

This is adorable

[@adoptacat2877]

THANK YOU YOU ARE A ANGEL FROM HEAVEN

[@michelled4042]

Love it and love knowing there are people like you out there. ❤❤❤ What an adorable little cat.

[@themaplebeat]

Aww thanks for your kind comment Michelle! 😊

[@YourCapyFrenBigly_3DPipes1999]

You did some fantastic lovely things to improve the cat house that the company sent you. Thanks for all your work. I'm sure the cat will love it. You know what you could do- you can just put a tarp over the top and secure it, or build a little adorable gazebo or hard overhead to cover it so snow doesn't even fall directly on the unit. Something to consider maybe! Also don't know if you've thought of it but you should consider contacting the company and letting them know the improvements you made. I imagine for a perhaps modest price increase (if it's even necessary) they could do all those things at the factory like you mentioned. I think they should. At a minimum they could manufacture an upgraded "extreme weather" version. I'm sure many would choose it.

[@marjoriehoglund8754]

You are very caring people to God’s Creatures! Thank you ! Blessings from Michigan

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks very much! (apologies for the late reply), and belated Happy New Year! :)

[@lindaeddinger-to6hn]

I have 3 houses for cats. I insulate roof as well. Have heating pads. I put comforter and fleece blankets. I change them every year. I have leather doors with tongue depressors glued on them . Also made vestibule before sleeping area. Made another doorway after that. Then there's no draft. Have the roof on hinges so easy to check on cats and clean.

[@themaplebeat]

Oh wow, that is awesome! Very clever and crafty! We just got a wool sweater from a thrift store, to put over the heating pad. It's a thin layer of fabric so he can still feel the heat from the pad.. and if his fur is wet from the snow, the wool should still keep him warm probably. What materials did you use to make the vestibule and extra doorway? (What does it look like?) Thanks!

[@williamhancock8065]

Straw is preferable. Blankets tend to absorb moisture and lose insulation value.

[@ramilmontesena2674]

You should put some lights inside and outside. That's a great beautiful house for your cats.thank you for giving your cat a nice cozy house.❤❤❤

[@themaplebeat]

We actually have put some lights this year! :)

[@steeltulsa2]

Built 3 heated cat houses, complete with pet doors, plexiglass windows ,digital reptile thermostat, 100watt heat emitters, completely insulated with Styrofoam and rolls of reflectix.reflection. cut holes in top of the box and used those silver clamp lights minus the clamps, metal screen so they can't get their nose or paws burned. Also have ring cam in each box to monitor temperature as well as comings and goings. Not to mention the catio I built for them, misting system for summer, clear plastic for winter. As long as the sunlight comes in even on 20 degree days it will stay in mid 60s.

[@themaplebeat]

Oh wow!! Amazing, thanks for the detailed description! that sounds super comfy for your cats!

[@rosazepeda3270]

Do you have an instruction guide or video ? I would love to see it !!

[@freespeech8996]

What a great idea for the Great White North!

[@RGC217]

Best video on KZbin! Instantly liked and subscribed! All the cats thank you!

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks so much !

[@Newjedi-g5l]

This is a very nice house for the cat. Good to have the insulation but would be good to add same to roof. Would be good to throw some old towels or blankets in to give the cat a soft and warm bed. Starting from scratch it would have been better to have made it smaller so there is less surface area to reduce heat loss from walls. We made one out of an extra carrier, covered it to make it water proof, and placed an old down vest inside to act as a bed. Old "Rufus" loved it.

[@AnnWright-jb2dw]

He is a very lucky kitty.

[@annessafranco3144]

Love it. You guys are awesome!

[@themaplebeat]

Aww thanks!!

[@elysiataylor2097]

Your a great human, bless you!!!!!

[@coolaideevens8678]

You two are so sweet ❤❤. God bless !

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you so much for the lovely comment! 😍

[@x2malandy]

Did this. Racoons like it also. They cornered kitty and tore some hide off of her. Elevated cat house until door/landing was 4 feet off of the ground so she could jump up. Racoons had trouble climbing at that height, so she was safe.

[@themaplebeat]

omg!!! thanks for sharing that advice

[@lisaenglert3202]

Great house. They have a chicken heater that is safer than a pad and you can keep it upright or rig it off the roof like I did.

[@markm.9590]

Oh, Very good video ! Thanks !

[@robbiewilliamson357]

Thanks for the video. I love this. We have 4 outside cats that were all strays.. (we live in the country) they even moved with us. I want to do something like this for them.

[@themaplebeat]

Welcome to watch our 2022 update video if you haven't already! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqxoK1taZyBrtU

[@Welsch.GF01]

Late to the party but in case it helps someone else: consider placing straw bales around the perimeter of the house if it’s very elevated like this one: Having it elevated is great for keeping out rain and snow, but the height creates a wicked draft underneath and chills the house from the bottom. Bales will both keep other things from nesting under there and will add another layer of insulation, cutting the wind draft and helping to retain the warmth.

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you that's a great suggestion!

[@brunirodz1333]

This is a real influencer 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@bonnienichalson5151]

My house isn't as well insulated:) lucky 🐈 kitty Thank you for your care ❤️👍🎀

[@lyndahamme3572]

Thank you

[@themaplebeat]

Welcome to watch our 2022 update video if you haven't already! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqxoK1taZyBrtU

[@markm.9590]

That's a nice thing to do for your wild cat ! You may want to run the electric wire in another covering, "wire loom" like is used in automotive industry. It comes already split so u won't need to cut end off of cord to get on. I use it on extension cords a leave hooked up cause I have a cat colony living in my yard that I feed

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for the tip!

[@leylibedekova2677]

Harikasınız arkadaşlar. Allah sizi ve ailenizi korusun 🤲🏼🤲🏼

[@bretfaulkner]

awesome.God bless everyone.

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you! 😊

[@maureenmunn7262]

I would also add insulation to the roof, as hot air rises. 😻

[@themaplebeat]

Good idea! I might make a new video update for the house soon, cleaning and prepping it for winter again. Will add insulation to the roof!

[@themaplebeat]

Hi Maureen, we took your great advice and added a bit of insulation to the roof! Check out the video we just uploaded, hope you enjoy watching! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXqxoK1taZyBrtU

[@F-N-C]

That is awesome

[@TempestIsa]

You should start a company making cat houses for people like me who aren't talented carpenters!

[@stephenmorton8017]

Great work. The cat might enjoy little miniature paintings of dogs and fish markets. The walls are a bit bare in there. Seriously plush.

[@MNChiqqie]

Super nice. Best replace that wool with straw. Else the retained moisture will freeze in sub zero temps

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for the tip, we thought about using straw before but just haven't looked into where to buy it. From the pet store ? And do you change it every couple months ? Do you know if it's soft enough (not prickly) to sleep on for a cat? Thanks for your advice! :)

[@Katesharpandvoice]

I have heard of tiny houses, but this is a micro house! Nice job.

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you so much! :D We'll be making a new video about it in the coming weeks, to spruce it up before the cold weather hits, and making some small improvements hopefully!

[@KellieEverts-h5o]

Nice!

[@kan-zee]

You did so much Tweeking on this outdoor cat shelter...your a pro by now..and can start up your own business..lol

[@fishhaulergreatlakes8208]

A cat uses my 12x16x12x2 inch flat roof house I made with a porch from plywood using 1.5 inch styrofoam for lining. And for heat, a 25-watt incandescent light bulb has constant warmth, even with a 5-inch round opening to ingress/egress.

[@fredperry523]

Thank you kind people !!!

[@h.rutten2187]

I would add a blanket for him to crawl into, but a great place for an outdoor cat, nice and warm.

[@leemary4833]

Very nice. Some old piece of sherpa blanket or clothes would be nice for it to sleep or cover with.

[@Boogeyman1435]

Good job!

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you! 😊

[@bobbyshroyer440]

Spoiled little brat. I love it!

[@donnaleveron6511]

Great little house.

[@Gromit801]

You need to load it with straw (not hay). Cats like to burrow in, it’s very warm, and dries out faster than the bottom wool. It also provides insulation.

[@amyhedrick4395]

I wanted to see the cat sleeping inside. Meow

[@RacerX1971]

Nice

[@twosiameseandarescue]

We approve. If we were outdoors we know our pet would buy the same stuff. We think this is awesome!!! lol 😂

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks so much ! 😀

[@jlfa4720]

Add straw, not only is it warmer than that piece of wool, but he can nest and curl in it as cats like to do! If you add atlst a foot of it height wise, more probably better as they love to be nestled in it, he will Matt it down to his own needs and you won’t need anything electric, which is healthier bc there then wouldn’t be all the EMFs n him sleeping in them which is pretty heavy duty emf concentration in the little house. STRAW the way to go n it’s cheap n u can change it out seasonally n reuse it in compost or garden etc

[@togglebutton3312]

When I was in Jr. High back in the late 70's I told my wood-shop teacher I wanted to build a "Cat House"...he couldn't stop laughing...later in life I realized why he thought it was so funny.

[@saveriobiasutto4296]

Great job, in any sense, also the size. With a simple partition, it can accomodate two cats, one per door. The partition because cats are territorial. I noted that cats loves narrow spaces, such us under cars or beds, then i would lower the roof to 1 ft from floor, that will help also to keep the warm. To exceed with floor insulation, may be with a mat made filled with packaging expanded chips or the straw that Sally said.

[@tailsnclaws]

I think straw gives off a smell that cats don't like. Clean soft bedding is the solution. They smell everything before lying down.

[@thedbcooperforum]

The insulation is great, the reflective power is zero and meant for reflecting sunlight. Also, should protect the power connection , I wrap mine with a plastic bag and duct tape it to keep moisture out from tripping the GFI.

[@aaronjennings8385]

Ventilation for moisture control will prevent mold. Breathing produces vapor.

[@kelcritcarroll]

This is really nice..good job 😁

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks! 😀

[@paradiselover7580]

Bring the cat inside!

[@themaplebeat]

Unfortunately it didn't work out! Sometimes we feed it inside our front door in the entryway, but we have to keep the door open so Kitty doesn't feel 'trapped'. He runs out right after eating

[@RebeccaTreeseed]

A mylar blanket is warm without electricity. Mine is the sturdy kind, $11 at Walmart.

[@jimbeekman4863]

I'm sure that the mice will love it!

[@tonynewman777]

This line of thought comes from roofers they say that all of your ceiling holes need to be sealed heat rises and finds a way out through the roof if it's all sealed up there is a lot less loss.

[@themaplebeat]

Hi Anthony, thanks for watching! Great point about the ceiling holes. My neighbour had mentioned this too and I can't remember if I did it or not. Will go outside and check. Thanks for the reminder and good advice!!

[@kiauni6818]

You did good. I personally dont want to do anymore work on cat houses trying to make them warm. They have houses for other animals so I dont know why outdoor cat houses arent more common and done right.

[@vickie30]

You are right the insulation you put in is much better..if you have heat then the wool beding would be better because straw could catch fire..Goid job!

[@themaplebeat]

Thank you! 🥰

[@terryrussel3369]

Imagine this another foot taller with a raised platform for the bed inside and larger enclosed porch areas outside using clear plexi with flaps of durable clear plastic sheet.

[@themaplebeat]

Those are good ideas! Maybe we'll try to attached a longer covered entryway, so the wind doesn't blow in the front door as much.. Do you know how could we enclose the porch area? You mean attach some clear sheeting to the roof overhang, and have them drape down?

[@kimcoweld278]

Might want some conduit for power cord. Cheap way is use drip irrigation supply line.

[@bambinaforever1402]

We made our garden cat a garden house - he went there one time. Neighbour’s cat sits there sometimes. Our cats sit on top of it sometimes. Cats never use what u build for them

[@serenityviolet1304]

In Australia, we would call that an oven.

[@fitodaking16]

The star pins are for the front door flaps. I just received mine and it came installed

[@themaplebeat]

Ohh cool good to know! Thanks!

[@fitodaking16]

@@themaplebeat I appreciate the video. I took a lot of your ideas and applied them to my feral cat house. I'm still not done with it. It takes forever to make it as good as yours.

[@MultiDriven]

I once knew a stray that used to work a cat house similar to this one, but they kept had a doorman at the door.

[@themaplebeat]

Lol

[@mariaodonnell8220]

Keep your cats and dogs inside

[@gjurczyc]

That is cool mean warm. Maybe add a lose blanket that he can bunch up. My cat loves making head rests, maybe yours is getting a soar neck?

[@themaplebeat]

We've bunch up some fabric in there now! Thanks for the advice

[@rlivermont]

Use straw for bedding

[@themaplebeat]

thanks we might try that this year! Our only worry was for the heating pad, if it's under the straw he might not feel the heat too much (it's a low wattage pad and mostly direct contact is needed to feel the heat). But maybe we can stuff some straw around it, and in the corners. Do you know how often straw should be changed?

[@ulflyng]

Could you make it 15x15, install a wood stove, a bed, small table and deep arm chair. Id' for sure take it

[@themaplebeat]

Haha coming right up!

[@johndemore6402]

Ceder chips for bedding Controls fleas and dries Doesn't go moldy

[@yemarican]

Thank you so much for doing that for a cat. They too are a living thing and indeed in need of some help. I have a question though.. wont the cat eventually try to chew on that power cord? just wondering because they're always curious and want to discover everything ..and also .. that heating pad .. does it get hot or just warm enough?? The reason I'm asking is because I have two little kittens and I built a home for them outside and they love it ... I was thinking of adding some sort of warming element but didnt know what.. I was gonna buy one of those lights used for birds but then I thought NO.. they can get really hot and cats can tolerate temperatures as cold as about 45 degrees. Thanks again for sharing this.. I appreciate it.

[@themaplebeat]

Thanks for your comment! For the power cord, nope our cat has never wanted to chew it, nor the neighbors cat. We live in the suburbs so there's lots of cords outside in the winter, with Christmas light up decorations of all kinds. So maybe they're used to it? :p For some reason, none of our cords ever get chewed up, not by any rodent or animal. Another detail for the cord of the heater: the first 2 feet of it (which lays inside the house) has a protective metal winding around the cord. The heating pad is actually very low wattage, it regulates based on the heat between the pad and the cat (so it turns off once a certain warmth is reached). It never gets too hot, so actually the inside of the house will still feel quite chilly in winter. The contact point where the cat's body is on the pad will be warm. Our cat can sleep on it overnight and all day without getting overheated, it's quite low wattage but will still keep their body safe from freezing temperatures in winter.

[@yemarican]

@@themaplebeat Thank you for taking the time and explaining .. I appreciate it very much. I think I will buy a heating pad. You have convinced me :) Its not very cold yet here in NC, but I must prepare them for the very cold nights and days.