Weather changes quickly and can be rather nasty here in Ontario. There were times our cat didn't make it home before lights out and got stuck outside for the night. Being in the rural area, a cat door was not a solution either.

So, we decided to build him a cat house for him to hang out in and give him some shelter. With the weather we had this year, this was one of the better projects we built.

Step 1: Building Box

Since our cat does not like small spaces, we had to build it large. Using several 2x2s to frame the box added the extra support needed to withstand our dogs using the roof as a lookout point.

Our cat house ended up 18" by 26" by 18" tall. Any size would do according to your cat's preference. We used exterior plywood left over from other projects and sealed the wood with waterproof paint. The roof/lid was attached with hinges to allow us to clean the inside. A strip of weather stripping around the lid helped seal out drafts. We had some plastic left over from a storm window repair, so added a small window to give some natural light.

A piece of leftover carpet (which can be easily removed for washing) added comfort A cat blanket from the local dollar store added some extra warmth and gives it that homey feeling.

Step 2: Happy Cat

We were not sure whether our cat would actually use it or how well it would hold up to the harsh weather. It lasted two years outdoors. As far as use goes, we are happy to say that the few times he didn't come home we were glad to find him warm and safe inside his cat house. And that made it well worth it.

update: After 2 years, we brought the house indoors as our street got too busy. The house lasted longer than his freedom.