17 cardboard cat house picks (for your kitty to call home sweet home)

We know your feline friend’s already got a roof over their head, but have they got a cardboard cat house? It may seem a little unrefined for your precious puss, but a cat cardboard house is the paw-fect paper palace for your furry feline to call home (well, home number two). 

With a theme to match any kind of decor and every season, pet parents can choose their favorite style even if fur babies are unlikely to appreciate the sentiment. A good cardboard cat house will have a cozy area for cat naps, scratch pads to relieve those claws, and windows so your furry feline can keep an eye on what’s going on (but we’re sorry, no humans allowed). They’re easy to assemble (especially if furry felines lend a helping paw), and can be moved around depending on your puss pal’s purr-ferred spot that day - under your desk, next to the cat tree, or on top of a cupboard. While these cardboard cat houses may not last fur-ever, they can be simply recycled once they’ve been “redecorated” one too many times. 

Home is where your feline friend is, so take a look at some of our favorite cardboard houses for cats, or if you’re feeling crafty, skip to the bottom for some DIY cardboard cat house ideas. 

The best cardboard cat houses

Frisco Greenhouse Cat Cardboard House

It’s home sweet home! This cardboard house for cats provides green-pawed kitties with the perfect little greenhouse sanctuary. Your furry wallflower can hop inside to tend to their claws on the scratch pad or nurture their bodies with a luxurious snooze. 

Frisco TV Set Cardboard Cat House

Is your feline friend a bit of a couch potato? We’ve got news for you! Kitties can broadcast their meows from the comfort of this retro TV cat house or perhaps channel their energy into shredding the corrugated cardboard scratch pad. Why not treat them to a TV dinner by placing their favorite food just outside the cat house? 

Furry Masterpieces Cardboard Cat House and Scratcher

Have a laugh with these artistic cardboard cat houses as your fur baby sticks their head through famous painted faces like the Mona Lisa, the American Gothic farmer, and The Scream. Your kitty’s paw-trait will never be the same again!

Boots & Barkley Crystal Shop Deluxe Cat Scratch House

Your hippy kitty can purr-use the high street from the perch at the top of this cardboard cat house before heading to the shop downstairs for a spot of crystal healing and a paw reading (find out more about your kitty's healing powers here). 

Tiger Tough Farmhouse Cardboard Cat Scratcher House

Turn this durable cardboard cat house into whatever you want it to be - whether it's leopard print or Hello Kitty themed, this blank slate is the perfect opportunity to get a little bit crafty. A cat toy hangs from the ceiling, a mouse is tantalizingly placed like a boxing bag, and catnip is included to encourage your puss pal to make themselves at home.

Hyde & EEK! Boutique Halloween Clock Double Decker Cat Scratcher

It doesn’t have to be spooky season for your kitty to get their claws into this double-decker cat house. Is your feline friend a bit of a night owl? Pet parents can easily move this lightweight clock tower as far away from the bedroom as possible before the witching hour strikes, and scaredy cats will love seeking refuge in this cozy cat house. 

Sekam Cardboard Cat House with Scratcher

Let your fur baby make their house a home in this cute forest cabin. Strong connectors hold this sturdy cardboard house together, and you can even customize it by adding your feline friend’s name tag at the top. Worried about the durability of cardboard? Sekam is so confident with the design that they offer a 180-day money-back guarantee. 

Boots & Barkley Single Level Birthday Present Cat Scratch House 

Got a special day coming up? Brown paper packages tied up with string are fun for you and your fur baby, so why not treat them to a safe space to curl up in? Plus, your furry feline will love testing their shredding skills on the interior scratching board. 

Petique Tippy Peak Eco Cat House

Give your furry feline a cool new spot to camp out in! Kitties can hop in via one of two entrances, and scratch and stretch to their heart’s content on the exterior scratchboards. For extra peace of mind, this cardboard cat house is made from 100% compostable, non-toxic materials.

Sun Squad Shark Cat Scratch House

Still not “shore” which cardboard cat house to choose? Fur babies will climb (a little too happily) into the mouth of this shark for a little “sea-esta”.

MSBC Big Cat Scratcher Cardboard House

Mogs can enjoy endless games of hide and seek in this sturdy cardboard cat house before chilling out in the cozy condo or reclining on the lounger on top. Ahh, there’s no place like home!

Midlee Castle Cat Scratcher House

Your furry feline can act like a king from this protective fortress, where royal duties include lazily batting the hanging cat toy and taking long and luxurious cat naps. Hopefully the strenuous activities won’t result in any “heir” balls.

Frisco Holiday Christmas Tree Cardboard Cat House

Treat your mog to their very own Christmas tree next festive season, the purr-fect hideaway for when things get a bit much. Kitties can get to work sharpening their claws on the corrugated cardboard flooring, or wait patiently for their next present from Santa Paws from the comfort of this cozy holiday home.

Petique Feline Fortress Cat Scratcher Toy

If you’re living in a multi-cat household, go for a cardboard cat house with two storeys or more so that they can get a little bit of quiet time even if they’re having to share. Put an end to catfights with seven reversible scratchers for mogs to manicure their nails and three separate chill-out zones. 

ScratchMe Cat Condo

Your furry feline will look like the cat that’s got the cream as they nestle their way into this cardboard box. It gets top reviews and pet parents say it's easy to assemble and pretty sturdy. Our only question is: why don’t all milk cartons come with cats inside? 

SEKAM Donut Cardboard Cat House

“Do-nut” judge your fur baby as they while away the day in this colorful hideout. This sweet design takes just a couple of minutes to assemble, simply fold the cardboard and insert the tabs, pop the scratching mat inside and close the roof (no assembly tools necessary). 

The Kitty Kingdom

Ok, this one might be a little OTT for your average pet parent, but if you’ve got a whole room dedicated to your furry feline, this is the cardboard cat house for you! With towers, bridges, tunnels, scratchy pads, connector pieces and free goodies included, you can build your own kitty kingdom!

How to build a cardboard box cat house

If you don’t want to buy a cat cardboard box house, or perhaps you’ve got a surplus of cardboard boxes you want to use up, why not have a go at making your own? Pet parents and cat sitters can show feline friends just how much they love them by testing out their crafting skills with our homemade cardboard cat house ideas. 

Here’s what you’ll need:

• One (or more) cardboard boxes big enough for your furry feline to fit in comfortably
• A cardboard sheet for the roof (this can be taken from another old box)
• A box cutter or utility knife
• A metal ruler 
• A hot glue gun
• Decorations - coloured paper, paints, pens, ribbons and patterned tape all work well, but avoid anything your puss pal might accidentally digest!

Cardboard cat house DIY instructions:

1. Use your knife to cut off the two long flaps from your cardboard box. 
2. Cut the shorter flaps into two triangles to make the roof.
3. Cut your cardboard sheet to fit the roof, leaving a little extra on either side for the overhang. Fold the roof in half and attach it to the house using your glue gun.
4. Cut out windows and doors using your knife, and make sure your furry feline has at least one entryway they can easily fit through.
5. Get decorating! You can get inspiration from Pinterest and cardboard cat houses that are already on the market. We like the idea of adding your furry feline’s name or paw print to the house to really make it their own! 

9 of the best cat puzzle toys to keep your furry feline busy

Next up, encourage your feline friend's playful streak with our list of the best cat puzzle toys.