How do I keep our remaining cat safe (and sane)?

[TwigTheWonderKid]

We live on a residential road with a supposedly 20mph speed limit. Last year our beloved 7 year old cat was run over by a driver taking advantage of the lack of traffic in lockdown to drive at a ridiculous speed down our road.

This morning one of our 1 year old kittens was run over too. The road is not busy but it is wide and straight and some people just don't seem to care that it's a street where families live.

I just don't know what to do with his surviving brother. My first thought was to rehome him but we love him so much and our DC would be even more heartbroken. Our house is quite large (2 floors) and our garden is very small; is cat proofing the garden a realistic option and woudl that give him enough stimulation, especially now his playmate is gone?

Just don't know what to do for the best 😥 and am so angry that someone's decisionthat speed limits don't apply to them is casuing us so much misery.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that twig. How awful for you. I'm afraid I don't have much practical advice on catproofing the garden.

I'm so so sorry for your loss. I also experienced a loss of my cat and for my second cat, we built a small catio. If you're on Facebook you can find cat enclosure group in the UK with lots of tips on either how to catproof the garden or how to make a catio - mine really enjoys it and I don't worry I will loose him.

Thanks chaps.

@meadow89 is your cat content in the catio? We live in London so cats' territories here are quite small anyway but I just worry he'll feel hemmed in. I just feel so sad for him losing his brother, they were such lovely playmates and now being imprisoned.

Cat proof, he’ll be ok. I’m so sorry you lost them.

I'm so sorry to hear about your cats, that's so sad.

The same thing happened to us a couple of years ago, we had two cats run over within 18 months. We live in a rural area on a fairly quiet road but people drive too fast. Two of my neighbours cats were also run over during the same year.

We did decide to enclose our garden for the rest of our cats. The garden is huge and it was logistically/financially impossible to enclose it all so they have an enclosure which is 'town garden sized'. We got Protectapet to do it for us, they were brilliant.

Are they happy? Well they aren't as happy as they would be if they could roam anywhere they liked, but roaming was no longer an option. I wish I didn't have to keep them enclosed, but I want to keep them alive.

If I had a town garden I'd probably use the Katzecure system - the rolling poles - as it looks effective and not too unsightly.

I am so sorry for your loss ! We have lost 4 cats in the last 16 years on local roads and we live in a quiet village. I have just got 2 new kittens and have decided they will be indoor cats (I know that some people won't agree with this) they have the run of the whole house, lots of toys and climbing opportunities. I may eventually let them out in the garden supervised but could not bear to lose another in an accident. I hope you little boy isn't too lonely.

Cat proof the garden but then add lots of stimulation into the garden for him. Climbing frames etc

Then maybe look at getting him a friend

Oh that is so sad. I hope you find a way to keep him x

My friend cat proofed her garden she has these roller things that they can't jump over -doesn't seem to have done her kittens any harm for the last 5 years. They love it. Maybe get a new kitten as well (get advice )from cat people about this though! for company1

@TwigTheWonderKid

Thanks chaps.

@meadow89 is your cat content in the catio? We live in London so cats' territories here are quite small anyway but I just worry he'll feel hemmed in. I just feel so sad for him losing his brother, they were such lovely playmates and now being imprisoned.

I think he is very happy. He has a lot of space in terms of ladders and shelves and a good amount of toys. He doesn't want to escape and he is genuinely very happy to sit outside. Best decision I ever made after loosing a cat. Or like others have said, if you can catproof the whole garden then that's good idea too.

Here are some photos. We keep adding and improving and for the scale - he is about 4kg now so he's average size and I think the catio is a good size and he really enjoys it. We built it ourselves so it's a bit wonky but you can get it made professionally etc.