Cat lead or spend a fortune cat proofing the garden?

[stirling]

My kitten is 5 months old and a house cat. I'm not entirely sure what breed she is but supposedly a persian chinchilla, though she looks more like a British Longhair and sometimes even a Norwegian forest.

Anyway, she's doing everything she can to escape and it's getting harder to block the doors. She lies in ambush ready to bolt when you're least expecting it. I've seen her climbing out of the toilet window and now we don't open any windows.
The conservatory is like a torture chamber for her as she can see all the birds etc in our fairly wild garden.

She meows in distress looking through windows and looks so unhappy that I'm feeling guilty.

Would a cat lead help or should I just cat proof which will cost a fortune?

Thank you for any advice

I'd suggest letting her out shortly before a meal time, then she'll come back when you call her. I kept my cat inside for the first 6 months and he was an absolute terror, he was under stimulated. Once I let him outside he was much calmer. He's the same now when it rains heavily and he stays in. I think cats need to go outside and spend time chasing leaves etc, inside the house is just too still even if you give them lots of toys.

Madwife123's link to average life length and the list of reasons to keep your cat indoors are both from the US, which is is a very different environment and society that's not particularly relevant to UK cat owners.

Agree hotpenguin

Nothing to add except to say your kitty is soooo pretty!
I suppose I could add that my friend's cat got pregnant at 6 months, so it is plausible your kitty is on heat....

Op you don’t need to spend a fortune on cat proofing your garden. We had a company who put an invisible wire round the garden.

The system works on radio wave and the cats wear special collars. They hear a high pitched sound when approaching places they could escape from.. it took them a couple days to learn.

They actually purr when they see their collars now as they know they are going out. Works a treat as they have freedom and I have peace of mind.

Farmers use it for livestock, it’s even recommended by the Cat’s Protection League.

@FionaJT Yes the about lifespan is as it’s more much common to have indoor cats there and so this is more easily researched than in the U.K. The study showing trauma is the most common cause of death is from the U.K. however so shows similar.

@ThirdElephant My cats are not bored. What can they achieve free roaming that they can’t achieve in my cat proofed garden? Other than danger and disease? I don’t think cats dying painfully from trauma are thinking what fun they are having!

Ibizafun do you remember the name of the company? Sounds really ideal.

scochran I just wanted to add that I'm so sorry your cat is missing. I truly hope she turns up. Also sorry to posters who've lost their cats to harm outdoors.

stirling I have the rep’s number stored on my phone but can’t remember the company name. If you pm me I will give you his number, he goes up and down the country I think.

The collars are big and I thought my cats would hate them but they don’t seem bothered at all, in fact they purr when they see them as they know they are going out.

Any suggestions on catios for a narrow patio off back door? Thanks.

I'm thinking of adopting an indoor cat, for the same reasons (safer, no risk to wildlife) so following with interest. Supervised garden access might be possible. Our garden has 6 foot high wall but not sure if that's tall enough to prevent escaping! So might need to secure it more.

How is she doing, Stirling? Has she been neutered yet? I agree cat proofing the garden once neutered is the way to go. I have had cats for decades and always let them roam, but I had two run over within 18 months so now mine have an enclosed garden.

@Echofallen there are various cat proofing options, you could look at the fence roller system (it's what I would use if I had fences).

katzecure.com/

To clear up any confusion, outdoor cats are cats that do not have a home they can never go indoors in the warm and sit by radiator or get fed twice daily. Indoor cats never go outdoors. Most cats live indoors with an owner and come and go as they please through a cat flap. The former may only live up to 5 years but the latter lives to a good old age. My last cat died at 18 1/2 and lived indoors but could go out through flap as he pleased. As he got older he tended to stay in our large back garden but when he was younger even though neutered he roamed more but always stayed in overnight and spent about 70 percent of daytime indoors. If it was hot and sunny he would sunbathe in garden.

For every story of someone saying their outdoor cat lives to 18, there’s another of a few months old kitten being killed on the road. It’s a needless waste of life.

Definitely get a catio or cat proof garden. You may also find window restrictors useful for getting fresh air safely.

It’s not cruel to keep house cats. If anything, when I’m scraping up someone’s pet from the road, I think it’s cruel to put them in that position.

protectapet.com/pages/how-it-works?gclid=Cj0KCQjw8eOLBhC1ARIsAOzx5cGla1wj2ppv9a3eAuw9ZnaCQ4PkDe-Ooq03gnbru64LTP0T-cAwUYUaAnajEALw_wcB

This company seems to have everything.

www.omlet.co.uk/shop/cat_products/outdoor_cat_run/

Anyone used this sort of thing before?
I notice not generally attached to houses. We could get one pretty near house on a patio - A long narrow one probably....guess depends on personality of the cat.
We have lots of time to think though as waiting for kitten and not planning to introduce it to the garden til next Spring.
Busy front road a concern though a neighbours cat a ripe old age and uses the garden.
Anyway- need to kitten proof downstairs as a priority!!

www.omlet.co.uk/shop/cat_products/cat_balcony_enclosure/

Narrow one for balconies/ narrower spaces...

Dinky would something like this work for you? Found on eBay.

Thank you, Godspeed June.
That would take away the problem of a gap to get to the catio!
Lots to think about!

I have Katzecure fencing, totally recommend

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm googling now!

@DinkyDaisy

www.omlet.co.uk/shop/cat_products/outdoor_cat_run/

Anyone used this sort of thing before?
I notice not generally attached to houses. We could get one pretty near house on a patio - A long narrow one probably....guess depends on personality of the cat.
We have lots of time to think though as waiting for kitten and not planning to introduce it to the garden til next Spring.
Busy front road a concern though a neighbours cat a ripe old age and uses the garden.
Anyway- need to kitten proof downstairs as a priority!!

As you say it depends on the cat, but honestly I think that would be a bit of a pain to use as the cat would need to be carried back and forth, and it is a bit small and uninteresting for the cat. It would be logistically easier if you could open a door/window/cat flap and let the cat straight into the area. If you can I'd enclose the whole garden, if not I'd get a Catio from Protectapet.

Good thing I have lots of time to plan! Catio off back door with cat flap seems a possibility. Awkward space but think possible and good reason to clear patio of crap!
First things first, kitten proof downstairs...
Been blocking gaps by washing machine etc. Surveying clutter and kitten traps in livingroom aghhh...

[quote Shellingbynight]How is she doing, Stirling? Has she been neutered yet? I agree cat proofing the garden once neutered is the way to go. I have had cats for decades and always let them roam, but I had two run over within 18 months so now mine have an enclosed garden.

@Echofallen there are various cat proofing options, you could look at the fence roller system (it's what I would use if I had fences).

katzecure.com/[/quote]
Thanks for the link I'll have a look.

Super cute kitten OP! Looks like a shaded silver Persian to me