Cat Access To The Outside World And Outdoor Confinement

It is always used to be common practice to put the hose cat out at night, so that it could carry out its rodent extermination duties, and to avoid mess in the house. Effective rodent control and the availability of litter trays or pans have made this unnecessary.

Now a cat’s freedom is more likely to be dependent upon human work patterns. However, unless you have pedigreed cats which you keep for exhibition and show, or your living space necessitates an indoor lifestyle, you can allow your pet various degrees of access to the outside world.

Some cats automatically confine their territories to the back garden. Others may develop an awareness of the traffic in their area, and avoid rush hours, for example.

However, it is difficult to be sure of their abilities, and even quiet streets can be dangerous because of the occasional, unexpected vehicle. For these reasons, and the risks of territorial fighting and exposure to infection, it is worth exercising some form of control over your cat’s freedom to roam.

Indoor living can be safely supplemented by a secure outdoor area. Areas of a garden can be fenced in with wire or plastic mesh like a fruit cage, or a purpose built shed or pen can be provided.

Climbing plants can be trained to cover the sides to soften the appearance, but take advice on which plants to choose, some are poisonous to cats. A pen can be constructed in the garden or as an extension to the house with access via a cat flap.

It should be sturdy in structure with wire or plastic mesh stretched between a solid wood frames, and roofed. Features could include a covered shelter and an outdoor play area with logs, shelves and playthings to keep the cats amused.

Such pens are commercially available. In extreme cases, or with very small areas, whole gardens are secured around the perimeter to prevent cats from escaping and, more importantly, other cats from getting in.

You can make a framework of stout posts to a height of say 9 feet and attach wire netting between the,. If the netting is loosely fitted the cat will not be able to climb up it and there will be no need to roof in the top. The base of the wire should be buried or well secured.