Great outdoor options for your indoor cat

Today cat owners are spoilt for choice with so many options available allowing cats to enjoy outdoor spaces while keeping them safely contained.

Regardless of your living situation, modifying your home to allow your cat natural light and fresh air can be easier than you think.

In fact, many outdoor enclosures can be done as a DIY project or ordered online as a pre-assembled kit. If you’re not sure where to start, here are some ideas.

1. Catios

A catio is simply an enclosure that provides your cat with outdoor space whilst keeping them safely contained. Often catios are custom built and attached to the property.

There are many options for this type of cat enclosure! They can be free standing or incorporate a patio or balcony. Made of a mixture of netting, mesh, steel, or timber, they have multiple levels for play and sleeping and can be built large enough to provide room for you to sit with your cat.

For an easy solution, you can add cat proof mesh to an existing pergola or patio or fit a roof over a small and enclosed area, such as a path between the house and fence.

2. Cat runs

A smaller option if you lack the outdoor space for a catio are cat runs. A sturdy, tunnel-like structure usually made of galvanised mesh, they can be installed around the side of the home, through your garden, or even across your roof. Your cat enters the run via a window or a cat door into the tunnel. Cat runs are great for apartment dwellers and cat owners lacking in backyard space.

3. Cat netting

Cat netting provides an unobtrusive and cost-effective enclosure. It’s great for small areas such as balconies or narrow spaces along the side of the house.

It can even incorporate a zipper gate to section off the portion of the outdoor area you want to keep enclosed.

4. Cat proofing your fence

Cat proof fencing is a good option for owners wanting to keep their cat contained to their backyard, providing the fence is at least 1.8m height and there are no trees close to the fence line providing adventurous cats with an alternate way out!

There are several affordable options only needing shelf brackets with nylon mesh to create an overhang along the top of the fence. The Oscillot DIY kit is an alternative option, with panels that spin when your cat makes contact, preventing them getting any leverage and instead dropping safely back to the ground.

There are a couple of things you will need to consider before installing cat proof fencing:

• If your cat will still be able to access the house through a cat door
• If there is no access, you will need to provide a weatherproof sleeping area and a supply of fresh water
• Ensuring there are no dangerous items in the yard or sharp edges used in the fencing
• Checking for any gaps in the area you are cat proofing to ensure there is no way for your cat to escape or be injured.

5. Portable cat enclosures/runs

Free standing portable cat enclosures are great for renters. Multiple enclosures can be joined together to create the length or shape you want.

Image from Catnets

Other portable enclosures are made of soft netting and although not as sturdy, they can be easily stored away when not in use.

With any cat enclosure, it must include:

• Shelter from sun, wind and rain
• Areas for sleeping, exercise, food and litter tray
• Good ventilation
• A scratching post and at least two platforms at different heights
• Areas to hide if there are multiple cats

Cats are all different - some are very active and love to move around and keep watch over their territory, while others are very happy to laze all day in the sun.

Other options

If you don’t have the time, space or money to invest in cat proof fencing or an enclosure, there are still ways to keep your cat safely inside and entertained.

One alternative is to get a cat bed you can attach to the inside of your window; this will give your cat a great vantage point of the outside world while keeping them inside.

You can also create some high spaces and hiding places for your cat to explore throughout the day. You can leave an occasional treat in these areas as a little surprise, helping to keep the environment interesting and fun.

Installing cat proof fly screens can also allow you to open the windows and allow your cat to experience the sounds and smells of the outdoor environment.

Keeping your cat contained might take some adjustment but, in the end, it’s all about keeping your cat safe, happy and healthy – and who doesn’t want that?