Would this house be too hot in the summer in Texas? I fear the feral cat feeling safe it in during winter and then getting overheated in the summer.
1244048
Living in Chicago, I have the Heated version of this house. There is no 'ON' or 'OFF' button, nor can you set the temperature high or low.... During the summer, I won't plug it in. There is a removable front and rear flap that covers the openings and would allow some air flow. If the house is in a shaded area during the summer, it would not be too hot.
1244049
Usually my outside cats don't use the houses during the summer. But they like it now with this snowy winter.
1244050
Just unplugg it or put it on a timer for night time use only. It's not that warm but our outdoor cat loves it we had remove the front flap ( there's front and rear flaps ) for her to go in it at first. It's spendy but well made.
1244051
I don't think it would be too hot - you can take the "doors" off the front and back to allow better air flow, and you can unplug it so the bed doesn't heat up during the warmer months.
1244052
It does have door openings on both ends. I would remove the plastic kitty door so air can circulate. I guess if it was too hot, they wouldn't use it.
796345
Yes, it is awesome. I put one of those snuggie beds inside it and if you reach in you can feel how warm it is, like there is a heater. My cats love it!
962364
We have outside places to plug in the heated cat house. They have a braker on them should something happen.. You need to be careful of weather or water with electricity.
1867667
The cord on our Kitty pad gets wet. It actually is buried in snow right now. We do not have problems. Ours is inside a house but it is partially outside going to the outlet. Our outlet is made for outside use. Our feral cats love it!
1322034
I would not count on it since there are two door openings. The heating pad is just enough to make the cat more comfortable while sitting inside.we have not gone thru cold weather yet plus the cats have not used it yet.
57853
As long as the pad and cord is in good condition, I don't think there should be an issue. I have a plastic Kitty Tube house with foam insulation and bedding. The mat gets warm, but maintains a safe temperature. I highly recommend the mat, it was literally a lifesaver for the feral cat(s). Thinking about buying a second one this fall.
2031098
Most definitely! It is the best. I have had mine for at least 3years and it still looks like new. It is outside all the time. I put plexiglass over it to extend the roof, but it is not necessary at all. Our poor outdoor feline friends are not meant to have to endure these cold harsh winters. I got a heated water and food dish too so that I can give them canned food for extra fat to keep warm. God Bless you for thinking of them.
732248
good point. this will be my first summer using it. it did wonders for the winter. my bedroom and bathroom over the garage hit 80 degrees for the first time since I owned the house. I will definitely keep an eye on the temps this summer. Worst case I should delicately be able to remove the insulation for the summer. Shoot me a message in August. I will let you know if my house burned down. lol
1640346
Our south central Texas climate is very mild, but in winter the temp drops in the teens. That's when I bring my 3 big dogs inside to sleep at night. When the sun is shining they stay outside and I add some pine bark shavings as insulation. That works for us!
473582
We have 3 of the K&H outdoor houses (with the heating pads) and we started by putting their cat treats in them. Once they figured it was warmer in the house they have used them every night. We think you might want to put the blanket on the heating pad since they are used to that. You might also try the cat treat thing since they could feel the warmth on their feet they decided that was a good thing. We hope that helps!
1591846
Cats are skeptical creatures, and it will take longer for some than others. My feral cats are female and took to it immediately. If your cat is a male he may take longer, but having the two exits will help him not to feel trapped. It may be the nights haven't gotten cold enough yet for him, but I'm sure he will seek a warmer place when the temp. drops more. I also have a male feral cat who hasn't made any attempt to go inside yet. But the other three have all made it home. Give it more time, cats have to gain trust. Good luck.
724711
No, I don't believe that would be an issue. Of course there is always so odd chance of something happening. This is our second cat tree. The last one they ripped to shreds because they loved the scratching posts. One or the other and sometimes both sleep on it every day.
2105850
Depends on what you call extreme. I live in Central Texas. They take the hottest summers OK but winter temps? We rarely get below the 20s. Can't really say. They can't take fire ants getting into them. Had to replace mine after 4 years because of heavy rain that drove the ant into them. They took the rain fine until then.
2197297
The Heated K&H Outdoor Kitty House would be the more sturdy of the two and provide sufficient heat. It has an excellent thick heating pad you put inside which is very cushionyyy. I took off the plastic on both sides since the movement of the plastic seemed to scare the feral cats away. Heating pad is warm for them and works with the heat of their own bodies. Keep this out of the rain and wind. Garage would be perfect if for a feral cat, otherwise place it where it wont get wet and battered by wind and where dogs cant get to the cats. I bought this for our feral cat we have had since a kitten when her mother put her up on our wall and left her there. We took her in and kept her in our garage and she has always remained very warm, and that was 2 years ago. She roams the neighborhood but always comes back at night for food and her house.
2234452
Violet: I have not had this house through the winter yet. It is so well built and you can get the heating pad with it like I did and your kitties should be warm all winter. I think with the pad it should be fine in the coldest of temperatures. Getting in and out of it in the snow might be a problem as the opening is right on the bottom. I always clean area's for my birds and will add the area in front of the house for the cat. It is very sturdy and should have no problem at all covered with snow still keeping them warm. Hope this helps with your decision. I really do think this is a great purchase. It's made so very well it will last for years and years. Violet: I have not had this house through the winter yet. It is so well built and you can get the heating pad with it like I did and your kitties should be warm all winter. I think with the pad it should be fine in the coldest of temperatures. Getting in and out of it in the snow might be a problem as the opening is right on the bottom. I always clean area's for my birds and will add the area in front of the house for the cat. It is very sturdy and should have no problem at all covered with snow still keeping them warm. Hope this helps with your decision. I really do think this is a great... » Read More Violet: I have not had this house through the winter yet. It is so well built and you can get the heating pad with it like I did and your kitties should be warm all winter. I think with the pad it should be fine in the coldest of temperatures. Getting in and out of it in the snow might be a problem as the opening is right on the bottom. I always clean area's for my birds and will add the area in front of the house for the cat. It is very sturdy and should have no problem at all covered with snow still keeping them warm. Hope this helps with your decision. I really do think this is a great purchase. It's made so very well it will last for years and years. « Show Less
1423310
Hi! I own almost every kind of heated pet bed & I have never heard of or seen a battery operated one...sorry. I have to tell you, right before I got your question, we were running electricity to an area outside so we could place heated cat beds for our ferals. Maybe you can run some electricity to your garage? Hope so! Anyway, glad to hear you are taking care of feral kitties!
417463
If it gets down into the 30's (Farenheit) or colder, I'd put an electric pet bed heater under this to keep the kitty warm. That's what I've done in both my garage and in a box on my front porch for the two feral kitties who have claimed my property as theirs. I also put half of a micro fleece blanket wrapped in a donut shape around this pad, so the cats have a bit of a "bowl" to snuggle down into.