How to Turn a Cat House into a Safe Haven: Helping Stray Cats Feel at Home
You've placed a cozy outdoor cat house in your yard or community, hoping to offer stray cats a warm refuge—only to find them still huddling under cars or porch steps. It's not that the shelter isn't comfortable; it's that trust must come first. For a stray cat, safety isn't a feature—it's a feeling.
Cats seek spots where they're hidden but not trapped. Tuck the cat house near a wall, behind shrubs, or under a raised deck—anywhere that offers cover without cutting off escape routes. Make sure the main entrance isn't facing foot traffic or windy directions. A quiet corner says "shelter." A noisy path says "danger."
New cat houses smell like plastic, wood, or glue—all red flags for cats. Help by scent-familiarizing the interior: rub a soft cloth along the inside, place a bit of catnip nearby, or even sprinkle used (unclumped) litter from another cat. Start by placing food bowls a few feet away, then slowly move them closer to—and eventually inside—the entrance.
Your cat house features not one, but two thoughtfully designed exits. The front entrance gives cats a clear, welcoming access point, while the emergency exit at the back or side serves as a discreet escape route. This dual-entry system allows cats to always have an exit strategy—a crucial feature that helps shy strays feel secure enough to settle inside.
Leave some room for feline customization. A small mat or removable cushion lets them rearrange their space. Some cats prefer to scratch a certain corner before settling in—adding a sisal mat inside can encourage this natural ritual. You might even notice them peeking out from the entrance before fully committing. That's a good sign—they're learning to trust.
Don't be discouraged if they don't hop in right away. Stray cats operate on their own timelines:
Days 1–3: Watching from a distance
Week 1: Snacking near the door
Week 2: Brief explorations inside
Week 3+: Moving in, maybe with a friend
If it's been a month with no success, try shifting the location or style. Some cats prefer houses raised off the ground.
At the heart of it all, you're not just giving cats a place to sleep—you're giving them the courage to trust again. And sometimes, that begins with a square entrance for welcome and a round one for peace of mind.
I bought an elevated 2-door heated cat house fall a year ago. I love it, but strays not so much. It is located next to the house on the deck. Also on the deck nearby I have a plastic dog house, roughly the same size (a bit bigger). The only opening is too large, I insulated it inside and filled it with straw. It is not heated. This year I added a piece to make the dog house opening smaller and less drafty. The clawsable house has to be warmer than the retrofitted dog house. Last year a stray used the dog house, but not the clawsable house. We got that one inside and she is now a house cat. This year a new stray has turned up and he also will use the dog house, but not the clawsable house. I’ve tried propping the main clawsable entrance open in case they can’t figure out how to get inside by pushing the flap. What else can I do to try to get him to use the clawsable house?