Definition of "cathouse"

Do you know how he spent years watching the droopy chicks in cathouses, listening to his cellmates moaning low behind the bars […] ?

1946, Milton “Mezz” Mezzrow, Bernard Wolfe, “Don’t Cry, Ma”, in Really the Blues, New York, N.Y.: Random House, book 1 (1899–1923: A Nothin’ but a Child), page 5

Alot[sic] of great work is being done all throughout blog land in terms of raising the money to build a cathouse for homeless kitties here at the daily dose.

2012, Chrystal Parker, Daily Dose of Dogs (Aka Cats with Your Coffee), page 490