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Some cats are strictly indoor pets and prefer lounging on a bed, tower, or sofa. However, others split their time between being inside and outside. So, when it comes to finding a safe place to sleep outdoors, where do our furry felines like to curl up?
Outdoor cats sleep anywhere that is safe and relatively quiet. Preferably, food and water are close by. There are a few places that are relatively common for outdoor cats to sleep in though. Let’s go over them just below.
The 7 Likely Places Outdoor Cats Sleep
1. Open Garage
An open garage is, well, an open invitation for a place to sleep, particularly if the caregiver uses the space. The owner’s scent can calm the cat and give them a sense of security they couldn’t find elsewhere. Felines are olfactorily aware of their environment. They use several forms of nonverbal communication, including scent. Somewhere that smells like home is a haven for an outdoor animal. Plus, you can’t beat a sturdy shelter that protects you from the harsh outdoor elements. Garages also have plenty of nooks and crannies to hide and hunker down.=
2. Abandoned Buildings
Feral or community cats will quickly learn the activity patterns in an area. That leaves them open to choosing abandoned buildings as places to sleep. They can explore these structures at their own pace to determine if they are safe. Once familiar with a building, it will likely become part of the feline’s rotation of suitable shelters.
3. Underneath Buildings or Porches
Small spaces underneath buildings or porches provide an ideal hidden spot to sleep and let down their guard. These areas often aren’t used much by people. Wildlife may avoid ones in inhabited places, leaving it free for an outdoor cat to use. The advantage of these types of hideouts is the shelter they provide, with walls all around and limited access in and out of the space.
4. Sheltered Place in the Woods
Our feline companions are in touch with the wild side when it comes to instinctive behavior. That includes finding a place to hide wherever they are. Plenty of places exist in the woods where an outdoor cat can curl up for a nap. They can use an abandoned den, go underneath a fallen tree, or crawl inside a hollowed-out log.
5. Barns
Barns are a natural choice to sleep for outdoor cats. Agriculture helped bring humans and felines together, so it’s only fitting to return to these domestication roots for shelter. The same thing that attracted cats to them in the first place is likely still present in barns, namely, rodents. That means a readily available food source in addition to a comfy place to sleep.
6. Box-Like Enclosure
The ideal place is anywhere a cat can feel secure. That’s one reason these animals like boxes so much. Surprisingly, it’s just the feeling of being enclosed that does the trick. Felines will even sit in an outline of a box, presumably with the same feelings of security. Anything an outdoor cat finds that seems reasonably safe and box-like in its shape will fit the bill.
7. Under Cars
Vets and animal welfare groups will tell you to watch out for cats sleeping under the hood or wheels of your car, especially in colder weather. The warmth of the car engine is attractive, but cats can be hurt when a car is started. That’s why you should scan the car and make some noise to alert any snoozing cats to move on before starting the engine.
The Risks for Outdoor Cats
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the risks for outdoor cats, both to the pets and wildlife. While some may think outdoor access is vital for their pets, it also increases their risk of disease, predation, and road traffic accidents. Disease is particularly worrisome because some conditions, like rabies and internal parasites, are transmissible to people.
While many associate rabies with dogs, cat cases outnumbered canine ones sixfold at 216 in 2021. An infected feline may not show signs for up to a year, making it even more dangerous. It is 100% fatal once the infection is evident. Any mammal, including people, can get the disease, with an equally grim prognosis if left untreated.
We must also consider the impacts on wildlife. According to the Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, cats were a factor in the extinction of 40 bird species, 21 mammals, and 2 reptile species. Another 367 combined species were threatened by feline predation. It’s a global problem, with the Polish Academy of Sciences (PASIFIC) going so far as to categorize domestic cats as an “invasive alien species.”
The issue with cats involves predation on species that haven’t had time to adapt. It’s literally a case of shooting fish in a barrel. And these animals aren’t even the most successful predators, with a kill rate of only 32%. Imagine what the estimated 2.4 billion birds killed by felines would be if that percentage was higher.
Conclusion
Outdoor cats are opportunistic regarding finding a place to sleep. They aren’t picky. However, it must be safe and give the animal a sense of security. Covered spaces with an opening to keep track of the goings-on outside are ideal for them.
Above, we identified several common spots where you might find a snoozing feline taking a much-needed cat nap, although we’re sure there are plenty of others that our outdoor felines are keeping private!
Featured Image Credit: caligari77, Pixabay
16 Responses
Hi. I feed the stray cats that come around where I live. Two female sisters had gotten pregnant. A very good friend of mine has helped me get them inside, because one female had babies outside and her sister one day later gave birth the next day outside. So they all came inside. The one that gave birth first was lucky to have a friend and good enough to let us use his bedroom and the other sister occupied my bedroom.. Now that all the kittens are older and weaned, we are having problems finding homes or other places for everyone. we are out of ideas and need help and advice. I apologize for the lengthy explanation.
Hi Maryann Mendoza, thank you very much for your kindness in helping these cats and their kittens. The best way to help stray and feral cats is by ensuring they are spayed and neutered. Cats are very prolific and some kittens can become sexually active as early as 4 months old. Your best bet would be to get in touch with animal services, a shelter, or a humane society in your area, they can help you with low-cost spay and neutering and some associations will even help you find the kittens a forever home. You might want to take a look at these posts to have a better understanding of the situation:
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/at-what-age-should-you-neuter-or-spay-your-cat/
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/will-sibling-cats-mate/
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-many-stray-and-feral-cats-are-there-in-the-us/
https://www.catster.com/cat-health-care/what-do-you-do-if-you-find-a-stray-cat/
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/ways-kids-can-raise-money-to-help-cats/
https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/is-it-illegal-to-drop-a-cat-off-at-a-shelter/
Best wishes and thank you for reading us.
I have a feral cat that must of been abused, she can't make any meow. she just hisses. I have been feeding her for 3 years and I still can't touch her. I have a bed on my porch and a house below by my house. she uses the house only in bad condition. Will she ever come around? I keep fresh water and feed her twice a day. Marshamorilla@gmail.com
Hi Marsha, feral cats are different than strays, and some associations compare them to wild animals. You can learn some of the differences here: https://www.catster.com/ask-the-vet/feral-cat-vs-stray-cat/
We have heard stories of some ferals warming up to allow some human closeness, but some of them never do. Thanks for reading us, best wishes.
I leave my garage door open about 8 inches. they come in at night. I put out food, beds and toys. I caught two of the females that were bringing litters of kittens every year. got them fixed. haven't seen any kittens since. if it drops below 30 degrees I turn on a space heater for them but it makes my electric bill skyrocket. I'm unemployed currently so unless I can find work i won't be able to turn it on this winter.
Hi Larry, thank you so much for sharing your story, we love to hear about the kindness of so many cat lovers around the world. We are sorry to hear about your current situation. Please consider making a DIY insulated shelter like this one: https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-build-a-diy-insulated-cat-house/
You could even use styrofoam and cardboard boxes as a budget option. We hope prosperity comes your way, we know kind people like you deserve it.
Don't some of the veterinary places and the animal shelters or those low cost spay and neuter places have some kind of info on trapping and fixing then releasing them I know they do that, they use a certain type of trap tho, I looked into it because I have a friend who everyday b4 she goes to work feeds these poor strays in 2 dif areas, I go to the feed store and buy 40lb bags of the dry food. Trapping and getting them fixed then releasing them may sound like a lost cause to some but it's better then having them reproduce and having an overpopulation of them, and where these strays are located, they're not causing a nuisance. Sorry so long, I feel for you, and bless your ❤️
Hi Tracey, you are right, animal shelters, humane societies, and animal services usually have TNR programs to help reduce the overpopulation of stray and feral cats. Thanks for your comment.
I inherited 6 feral kittens about 6 months ago after their mother died. I was feeding the mother because she was nursing. now I feed these cats. 2 became friendly and the other 4 keep their distance. I'm working on creating winter shelter for 4 of them and the 2 friendly ones are going to a friend of mine. I don't have money for spade and neuter and shots. plus I need traps for the 4 of them. anyway I made calls to tnr organizations but $35 to &50 per cat is too much since I'm on a fixed income. so I'll keep trying on my own til I can't.
Hi Lucy, thanks for sharing your story and for your kindness, perhaps some of the ideas in this post are helpful for you: https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/ways-kids-can-raise-money-to-help-cats/. Thank you for not giving up on them and giving them an opportunity.
My cat use to sleep on top of our car under the carport.
Thanks for sharing your story with us and other readers Mary, we appreciate it.
I put a cat flap on my house door and my garage door . I have cushions in the garage on the shelf. I watch the cat leave the house after eating and he goes straight into the garage. I know he is safe.
Hi shona, thank you for your comment. We appreciate your kindness to this cat and we are sure he appreciated it too. ????
some one is dropping cats off 2need to be fixed l have hard time to get help l feed them but they don't come 2 or 5 days home make appointment is not happening l never don't now when are they coming plus I have part time job and CAN not afford panelty and everything else l live in Delaware now help just a promise
Hi Slavica, thank you for caring about these cats, your best bet is to contact animal services or a humane society in your area because you are right they need to be fixed and ideally rehomed. You could try the Brandywine Valley SPCA, you can find their contact information at this link: https://animalservices.zeuslogic.com/detail/13