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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

If you have an indoor cat, what do you do in the summer?

49 replies

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 13/03/2023 07:14

We're hoping to finally get a cat this year, it will be an indoor cat. But a thought has been niggling at me, our doors and windows spend most of their time thrown wide open as soon as it's warm enough in the year. What on earth do you do about that if you have indoor only cats? 🤔

OP posts:

QuintanaRoo · 13/03/2023 07:16

Never have the doors open, but our windows are open. They are top openers so can’t imagine a cat getting out, neither have ever tried.

Dotcheck · 13/03/2023 07:16

We put screens on - the kind that attach with Velcro

Sunflowersinthewind · 13/03/2023 07:17

You can get window locks that allow windows to be open about 5cm or so, but obviously not wide open. You see these nets things online but I would never trust my chonky boy not to smash straight through them. He goes out now, but I used the locks when he was a kitten over a summer

lalaloopyhead · 13/03/2023 07:20

This is why our indoor cats are no longer indoor cats. They stayed indoors for about 2 years I think, but in the end it was too difficult keeping them in and not being able to leave back door/windows open in the summer got too much.

They have been fine outdoors, though they don't go out for that long really and we only let them out when we are in. I was really worried about a nearby busy road but they just seem to stay in surrounding back gardens and don't venture out the front at all.

Original poster

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 13/03/2023 07:23

Sunflowersinthewind · 13/03/2023 07:17

Luckily we already have catches on all of our upstairs windows, our DD was very small when we had them fitted so we had the catches put on so she couldn't fall out (she was in a climbing phase when they were fitted 😅)

It's downstairs I'm more concerned about, we usually have the back door and the french doors open. And our french doors are pretty big 🤔

OP posts:

Indecisive2023 · 13/03/2023 07:28

We got these flatcats.co.uk they have been a game changer (for doors and windows). Work very well!!

AllTheOtherCats · 13/03/2023 07:28

About 13 years ago, when I lived in a flat, I used Flat Cats to order window screens online. They were excellent and I think they're still going as a company. Now I've moved, I have windows that can lock into a position that a kitty can get out of. I've also recently invested in a catio attached to the house so they can be out there with me

AllTheOtherCats · 13/03/2023 07:32

'Can't get out of' that should read (obviously!)

Allergictoironing · 13/03/2023 07:33

Was coming on to say Flatcats, but I see I've been beaten to it!

Added bonus that they keep the larger insects out, but let the breezes in. Don't know if I would have survived last summer without them.

12roundsofwhitelowfatspread · 13/03/2023 07:34

I had shutters (internal) fitted to patio doors. We have the slats tilted open, so the open patio doors behind can let all the air through, but the shutters themselves have a lock on.

Allergictoironing · 13/03/2023 07:36

Forgot to say - you can get them tailor made to fit any door/window, but I couldn't afford Flatcats for the french doors. So I rigged up a mix of cat netting and some chicken wire. Not the prettiest solution, but stops other cats coming in as they can't barge through the netting (as one did once) as the chicken wire stops them, and they can't jump over the chicken wire (as a different local cat did) as the netting stops them

saraclara · 13/03/2023 07:38

Do you have children who are going to want to go in and out of the garden?

Personally I wouldn't have an indoor car. I don't think it's fair to them, and I don't think it's practical (for me and my family anyway) to live that way. I have a south facing living room with a big patio door which is open got much of the summer.

My daughter fostered an indoor car, but she has a cosy cottage that doesn't get hot and just has normal doors. She has a screen for the back door, but as it's in the kitchen it doesn't detract from normal access, and she doesn't have kids.

TeaStory · 13/03/2023 07:43

Also came here to say FlatCats screens. They work really well - keep bugs out, keep the cat in, and can even take her weight when she climbs up them…

FlounderingFruitcake · 13/03/2023 07:44

We do have plantation shutters on the windows which the cat can’t get through but mostly the cat isn’t interested in exploring the outdoors so if we leave the patio doors open and he comes downstairs, which would be unusual as he sleeps most of the day, he’d just eat some food and wander back upstairs again.

romdowa · 13/03/2023 07:44

Could you build a catio outside? There are loads of DIY videos online. It's what we are thinking of doing as we live on a main road and dkitty would get flattened.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 13/03/2023 07:47

Why would you want to keep a cat locked indoors?

itstrue · 13/03/2023 07:52

ZeroFuchsGiven · 13/03/2023 07:47

Why would you want to keep a cat locked indoors?

I used to think like you until 5 weeks ago when a speeding driver came down my normally quiet road and took out my 8 month old kitten.

Now I realise I cannot keep my remaining kitten safe and a indoor cat really is the only option. It's been so traumatic I cannot risk it happening again.

We are using a catio and working on securing our property to make sure this will never happen again.

Livebythecoast · 13/03/2023 07:56

Yes, I think the screens are a great idea. We don't have a cat flap so our cat only goes out when we're here and she doesn't leave the garden. She lays on the wall, like she's a lion in the Serengheti, looking at her Kingdom! 🐱🦁

JJ456 · 13/03/2023 07:57

Do flatcats work with naughty cats who are liable to try and break through them?

Livebythecoast · 13/03/2023 07:57

@itstrue - oh that's so sad 💔. I'm so sorry 💐

Justmeandthedog1 · 13/03/2023 08:05

How big is you garden and how tall is the fence? You can cat proof a garden.
protectapet.com/products/protectapet-cat-fence-barrier-kit?variant=37756016820401&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInIj-97jY_QIVdWHmCh0o0wDrEAQYAiABEgIejPD_BwE

WelshWondergirl · 13/03/2023 08:06

I would work on cat-proofing your garden instead to be honest. It's a real chore to be have to be so conscious about not letting the cat out, especially in hot weather. And what when you have builders in, or friends over or the kids do? You'll constantly be worrying about the cat escaping the house.

Toddlerteaplease · 13/03/2023 09:14

My garden is completely enclosed. So they go out. They can't jump. So quite safe. If it wasn't I'd have those flat cat screens.

Original poster

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 13/03/2023 10:25

It would be pretty difficult to cat proof the whole garden, it's about 100ft long so not exactly small. We own one side and the back, but the left side is the back fences of 3 different houses. We have a couple of trees that overhang, plus a log store at the bottom of the garden.

Maybe a catio is the way to go then 🤔 they are a bit ugly though. I'll have to see what I can get DH to agree to 🤣 it'll be a bit awkward though, our french doors open out onto a patio that's a few steps down. So the catio would have to be about 9ft tall to clear the doors when they're open 🤣

OP posts:

Goodread1 · 13/03/2023 10:33

Why have a cat 🐈 in first place,?
if your cat has no space to run outdoors in a enclosed garden especially in summer time???

News flash,!!!
Cats love like fresh air and seeing wonders of nature in a safe environment outdoors garden,

This question is for everyone who has indoor cats ownership, on here,

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