AIBU to move cat into 5th floor flat with terrace?

BadActingParsley · 21/10/2025 09:29

Cats aren't daft. I don't think he'd fall. But could he try and climb to another terrace from it?

You can get catios built - but probably not worth it for a few months.

Maybe get some kind of notice that you have to move in order to unlock the doors.....

Original poster

OffTheLawn · 21/10/2025 10:04

BadActingParsley · 21/10/2025 09:29

Cats aren't daft. I don't think he'd fall. But could he try and climb to another terrace from it?

You can get catios built - but probably not worth it for a few months.

Maybe get some kind of notice that you have to move in order to unlock the doors.....

Thanks. Yep there are other terraces next to the one that would be ours. I guess I could let the neighbours know he’s ours, in case they ever find him…

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Original poster

OffTheLawn · 22/10/2025 08:49

Bump

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Original poster

OffTheLawn · 22/10/2025 08:50

Bump

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capybaraforlife · 22/10/2025 08:51

I live overseas in an apartment heavy place and let me tell you cats fall from balconies all the time! I would get a Catio or netting installed for sure.

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 22/10/2025 08:53

I would be very anxious about this. I think if there were other realistic options I would look at those first, but it largely depends on your individual cat. If your cat enjoys staying in it might be fine. My cat definitely wouldn't cope.

Istanbol · 22/10/2025 08:53

I wouldn’t move an outdoor cat to an indoor only setting. It feels cruel to take away their freedom when they are used to having free roam now.

Gingercar · 22/10/2025 08:54

I get a catio or netting too. I just couldn’t risk my cats. My friend’s cat moved from a ground floor flat to a first floor flat and jumped out of the window. Thankfully was ok.

Shedmistress · 22/10/2025 09:01

I'd just keep the terrace doors locked to be honest.

TwitTwoodiniEscapeOwlogist · 22/10/2025 09:03

Many years ago our ginger cat climbed up into the tiny open bit of an upstairs window (the whole window wasn't open, just the little upper section of it to let air through). The cat then launched himself into the air hoping to catch the swifts sitting on the telephone line.

Obviously he plummeted straight down, Luckily he landed in a bush and was absolutely fine and didn't have a scratch. But after that we had to keep the upstairs windows closed at all times even in the hottest weather.

Never underestimate the ability of cats to be randomly mad as a hatter and to totally underestimate the danger of heights.

HostaCentral · 22/10/2025 09:04

As an outdoor cat already, I wouldn't risk it. Either net the terrace or leave him with family or friends. I looked after my mum's cat for 6 months every year when they went abroad for the summer. And I had other cats. Never an issue. The cat settled with me, and then happily moved back to them every year.

Original poster

OffTheLawn · 22/10/2025 09:06

TwitTwoodiniEscapeOwlogist · 22/10/2025 09:03

Many years ago our ginger cat climbed up into the tiny open bit of an upstairs window (the whole window wasn't open, just the little upper section of it to let air through). The cat then launched himself into the air hoping to catch the swifts sitting on the telephone line.

Obviously he plummeted straight down, Luckily he landed in a bush and was absolutely fine and didn't have a scratch. But after that we had to keep the upstairs windows closed at all times even in the hottest weather.

Never underestimate the ability of cats to be randomly mad as a hatter and to totally underestimate the danger of heights.

Yes - that’s the sort of thing I am worried about. He is lazy most of the time, but sometimes goes mad. As cats do.

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TY78910 · 22/10/2025 09:06

Second the netting.
I think it’s very good of you not to leave him behind and include him in your life plans.

Twelvetimes · 22/10/2025 09:08

It's high risk, I wouldn't do it unless you can create a catio type arrangement. Cats definitely can be daft, one of mine jumped/fell off a second floor balcony (fortunately he had a soft landing and survived with minor injuries). We always kept the window onto the balcony locked after that.

MissAmbrosia · 22/10/2025 09:24

We had the same scenario, moved with an outdoor cat who was quite elderly to a 5th floor apartment. We had to keep him indoors and only let him sunbathe outside when someone was with him. He still managed to climb and sit on the ledge a couple of times! He wasn't happy though being indoors and died after a year. He was 18 mind, but I think he was bored rigid the last year of his life. Friends did point out it probably would have been more stressful to rehome him at the point we moved, but I am not sure to be fair.

Rosa · 22/10/2025 09:47

A wooden frame with chicken wire if the terrace is large its cheap to make - or netting - Our cat has netting but she decided that she liked to get on the wall and chew it - Despite having cat grass and catty friendly plants - Now she has chewed a big hole we pulled it all back as worried about her eating it and now she is happy on the terrace and doesnt go on the wall !!!

Original poster

OffTheLawn · 24/10/2025 08:29

Thanks everyone, really helpful input. A friend has since offered to possibly take him in while we are abroad, so that could be another option. I hope he doesn’t forget about us, if we do this!

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Linguist1979 · 24/10/2025 08:42

If you do take him, I would keep the doors locked with a key in a drawer so that you have to make an effort to get the key out, which means no one will forget about the cat.

SunnieShine · 24/10/2025 09:05

BadActingParsley · 21/10/2025 09:29

Cats aren't daft. I don't think he'd fall. But could he try and climb to another terrace from it?

You can get catios built - but probably not worth it for a few months.

Maybe get some kind of notice that you have to move in order to unlock the doors.....

Cats ARE daft. Its a real risk.

BadgernTheGarden · 24/10/2025 09:09

OffTheLawn · 21/10/2025 09:27

Posting for traffic.

Due to work reasons we will be moving abroad (Europe) for several months next year. Our outdoor cat is coming with us, but will have to be indoor only for the time we are abroad, due to it being a busy inner-city environment.

He is a sleepy homebody, so think he will cope. But: the apartment we’ve been allocated is on the 5th floor and has a large terrace. I think I trust myself to keep the terrace doors closed to stop him from getting out, but DH tends to be a bit complacent. Visitors might also occasionally forget.

If my cat fell off a 5th floor terrace and died I would be heartbroken. The apartment itself is lovely and absolutely perfect (location, size etc) otherwise. AIBU to risk keeping my cat there for a few months? Or should I look for other options? TIA

You could net the balcony to stop the cat trying to climb out. Not sure how much it would cost or who you would have to ger permission from. Would seem a shame to not let him enjoy the terrace.

BadgernTheGarden · 24/10/2025 09:12

SunnieShine · 24/10/2025 09:05

Cats ARE daft. Its a real risk.

Show quote history

I would sat adventurous and optimistic about their climbing/jumping abilities. And some are just really daft.

Whyherewego · 24/10/2025 09:17

Depends on the cat. My dsis has a cat that was an outdoors cat but is now indoors. He has access to a small balcony which he is always supervised on and she's put netting around to prevent any accidents.
He loves my dsis and is far happier actually in the new flat than he was before (as he had a lot of territory stress when she had a garden flat given so many other cats). But he's a lazy chonk and frankly spends all day snoozing. Would be different if it was a young active cat I'd say.
It's not that hard to supervise the patio doors. Visitors tend not to randomly open up doors and you can just tell them anyway in the summer

Larrylobstersrollerskate · 24/10/2025 09:17

Is there a friend of family member that could possibly take the cat for the time you’re abroad? Our cat stayed with a friend for well over a year when we had a home emergency, sadly our previous home was seriously flooded so it took that long to fix up and sell. He then came back to us after we had moved to our new house and he was very happy.

SleepingisanArt · 24/10/2025 09:42

Are there quarantine requirements to deal with? To bring a cat back into the UK from the EU there's quite a bit of paperwork (your cat will be put into quarantine if the paperwork isn't correct) so worth researching the requirements for both countries. Some cats cope well with quarantine whilst others do not. Good luck.