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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Keeping cat in integral garage overnight

20 replies

spikeytea · 13/06/2016 12:52

I am planning on adopting a cat from a rescue near me, having had cats all my life growing up. However, I am not keen on allowing the cat to roam the house overnight, as I am a very light sleeper.

I don't have a utility room or anywhere that I could easily contain the cat overnight where it could have access to a cat flap, other than the integral garage. I am planning on getting a heated cat bed (igloo type with microwaveable heating pads) and also a portable oil-filled radiator for the garage for when its really cold in the winter.

Is this doable?

OP posts:
justaweeone · 13/06/2016 13:10

I have 3 cats and we don't have a cat flap in our back door mainly due to the fact that we are rural and they would bring in all sorts!!
However we have a detached garage as well as a brick outbuilding that is used for the dogs to sleep in come boot room , both which have cat flaps
The cats get put out at night and alternate between the two
Most nights all the dogs and cats sleep in the boot room
Normally 2 cats snuggled up together and 2 dogs and the other cat
All animals in during the day, one on the sofa as I type

Keeping cat in integral garage overnight
Original poster
spikeytea · 13/06/2016 13:40

Thanks. Just looking at getting one cat so he/she won't be able to snuggle up for warmth! Are they OK in the garage even when it is really cold in the winter? I'm worried the rescue centre will refuse to give us a cat if I say it will sleep in the garage overnight!

OP posts:
grounddown · 13/06/2016 13:43

My cats sleep in the garage as I have noticed a big tom cat on the prowl recently and I don't want them to fight.
They are fine, I provide a litter tray each and there's an old sofa and lots of old carpet in there. It's quite dark so they come out in the morning all blinky and confused, so cute.

Original poster
spikeytea · 13/06/2016 14:35

Thank you, you are really putting my mind at rest! Would be interested to hear any more opinions!

OP posts:
user1465823522 · 13/06/2016 14:41

Soooo...you want to adopt a cat and then banish it to the garage so you don't have to deal with it at inconvenient times.

My advice - don't get a cat.

Wolfiefan · 13/06/2016 14:43

I think it's unfair to shut a cat in the garage overnight. Really off. And one cat. Lonely.
Have a door put in to shut downstairs and upstairs off?

letthefundusbegin · 13/06/2016 14:49

It's a long time overnight, particularly as cats are very active at night. It would be different if the cat had access to other space/ outside as well as the garage I think.

How much noise do you think one cat makes at night?

maamalady · 13/06/2016 15:03

My cat lives in the garage. There's a flap through to the kitchen, but she chooses to stay in the garage for most of the time. She has a bed by the sunny back door in the kitchen, but her heated igloo bed in the garage is clearly too much of a draw!

It was a bit cold for her over the winter, so we had the thermostat in the kitchen up a bit higher. However, she is quite old and skinny so probably feels the cold more than a younger cat would.

If you can make a cosy space with no draughts for your cat I imagine it will be fine :)

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/06/2016 15:24

I wouldn't keep my cat in a garage overnight. It's cold. If you heat it and there's a fire it might not get out.

Too risky for me.

Original poster
spikeytea · 13/06/2016 15:34

I did explain that the cat would have access to a cat flap in the garage...

We can't put a door in to separate upstairs and downstairs due to the layout of the house. Anyway, how would that be less lonely for the cat?! I work from home so it would get lots of love and attention from 7am - 11pm!!

I have past experience of cats allowed to roam around at night scratching at bedroom doors, miaowing in my ear and jumping on top of me in the middle of the night!

As explained, the cat would have a heated bed and I would put an oil radiator in the garage for when it is really cold. As the garage is integrated it doesn't get as cold as a detached garage.

OP posts:
letthefundusbegin · 13/06/2016 16:06

I did explain that the cat would have access to a cat flap in the garage...

Sorry, I apologise. I read your OP as the cat flap connecting the house to integral garage which you would lock shut at night to keep the cat out the house, rather than a flap from garage to the outside. This makes sense now!

I have past experience of cats allowed to roam around at night scratching at bedroom doors, miaowing in my ear and jumping on top of me in the middle of the night!

Think that depends on the cat, as well as the age and breed. My DP had a cat as a child which would ambush people and attack them, however our current cat is nothing like this.

Good luck with your cat adoption anyway, there's loads of kitties desperately in need of a loving home especially one with someone home in the daytime.

usual · 13/06/2016 16:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/06/2016 16:14

We do this for exactly the same reasons, we tried to keep him in over night but he yells the house down and wants to play/go out! He has his bed in there, water and food and a cat flap if he wants to go out. He's much more settled doing that than trying to wake us up to play!

viviennewestood · 13/06/2016 16:17

My 2 rescue cats are locked in the basement at night. Sounds harsh but they love it down there, full of old furniture and things to climb/sleep on.

Original poster
spikeytea · 13/06/2016 16:25

Sorry for not being clear. I am worried that the rescue centre might not like the idea though! I really can't see any other option though.

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/06/2016 16:26

Don't tell them OP.

usual · 13/06/2016 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

viviennewestood · 13/06/2016 16:29

There's no need to tell them.

YesYABU · 13/06/2016 16:40

The rescue we used just asked about previous cat ownership and they checked our address on google maps. They didn't ask about sleeping arrangements directly.

justaweeone · 13/06/2016 17:40

The cat will be fine
One of ours used to sleep on a old prism we had in the garage
Our garage never feels freezing
The boot room has a radiator but it's generally not on
I think often in the summer mine sleep somewhere on the field behind us

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