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

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

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? 🤔

Protecting wildlife from being caught and killed, and protecting cats from being run over, picked up as a stray (my local FB pages are full of pictures of perfectly fine cats "Does this cat belong to anyone? It appeared in my garden and looked hungry so I fed it"), not to mention the occasional sicko who will pick up any random cat they find and torture it or something equally as awful 🤷🏼‍♀️

I’m sorry I’m another one who think cats should be allowed outdoors, but I know that not everyone thinks the same as me and that’s their prerogative. There are sometimes good reasons (FIV positive)that it’s best they stay indoors.

You don’t say why it’s an indoor cat, but please look on the Blue Cross website at the Indoor cats section. They have some good advice on how to provide for their natural behaviours.

And yes an ugly catio might be your only choice.

Goodread1 the answer is that those of us with happy indoor cats can't risk them being outdoors and being run over if we live in an urban environment. My Zelda (aged 8) is more than happy browsing from the window when it's windy or sunbathing when it is sunny. Currently she is curled up beside me on the bed. HTH.

Happy indoor cat Zelda keeping my sweater warm!

Cats that have disabilities
Old cats who are rescued who have always lived inside and wouldn't adapt to living outside
Cats with FIV
Cats with other health issues
Cats that you're fond of so might not want run over???

We've recently acquired indoor cats. We're having a catio made which will be outside the main window we open and having a pet proof door made to allow ventilation but both will have fly screening on the outside of them.

My cat is a rescue who was treated very badly / abused by her previous owner and as such is not able to go out (she is on a specialised diet due to these health issues related to her treatment) plus is very nervous. We have given her a safe home and a loving environment which is what she needed. Not everyone can let their cats out unfortunately…

OP, my catio is not ugly. It's a lovely natural wood with bottom panels and blends beautifully with my garden. It actually sits where my shed used to and certainly looks nicer than that ever did.

And to the people berating others who have indoor cats, I adopt kitties with disabilities or are otherwise hard to home. One of my old girls had had both her eyes removed so it wasn't safe for her to free-roam and one of my current kitties is FIV+ so try not to judge too quickly...

It a nightmare imo.

Our cats were kittens ( born April), the first summer with us, too young to go outside. We let them out from around 1 year the following spring.
Ours were constantly trying to get out of doors, and dh and I had to be really careful to close doors and move then to certain parts of the house when door needed to be open. That was 5 years ago so before Ds was born. With child it would be impossible.

Despite being kept inside a year, 1 cat now really hates being inside and she only comes in in the evening to eat. She would honestly prefer to be fed outside and never come in I think, even in deep winter. In summer both cats prefer being outside as much as possible.

Safer for wildlife, significantly safer for cats. Plus some cats have health issues and cannot go outdoors (for instance if they are FIV+).

I only have indoor cats now for the above reasons.

I don't find it a nightmare in the summer at all BTW, mine are both too stupid for any serious jumping and if the window is only open a crack they can't push it open any more and they can't get out. If we want the patio doors wide open we simply shut the door to the kitchen diner.

Had them for 10 years, never had an escape and tbh neither of them are fussed about going out. One will now sit by an open door and not go out.

I have four cats who for the past five years have only allowed into an enclosed garden (due to two previous cats being run over). An enclosed garden/catio would solve the problem of the french doors - you could then leave those open.

But you would still have the issue of the other ground floor windows which would need mesh screens and/or window limiters. The mesh screens are brilliant, we have them on two windows and they have been stress-tested by the cats trying to climb them and failing. I don't have the Flat Cat ones though, the ones I have are from

www.streme.co.uk/pet-screens

But I have to admit - it's all a right pain. And even more of a pain is the front door. Do you have an 'airlock' like a front door plus porch door, if not how will you stop them getting out when you come and go? We now use our side door as the cats can't access that.

I'd much rather let them roam - except that I don't want them run over.

As you have a child it will be much more of a pain, I don't envy you trying to keep a cat in, honestly I would be really impressed if you can!

@Goodread1 - my cats have always been indoor cats. They're pedigree bengals. They have 3 large floors of my house to explore and plenty of interaction.
Bengals are known to wander and I'm not risking them being killed by local wildlife or traffic or being stolen.
They have a lovely life with plenty of enrichment!

There is nothing wrong with an indoor cat

Which ones have you gone for please

My cat Eric would sit on a mat by the open door and look out. He made the choice that he preferred the indoors.

I feel if your cat chooses not to roam fine but to actively curtail their natural instincts isn't very kind. Don't have a cat op, we have a large garden and it's cat proofed. One likes to lie in the grass sniffing the air all evening the other chooses inside most of the time. We won't have any more after our two, it doesn't feel fair to prevent them from doing what is natural for them.

Well as a cat owner don't you feel you also have a responsibility to wildlife and other people's gardens as well? As well as to your cats to keep them safe from being hit by cars/attacked by dogs? I certainly do, hence why mine have access only to our garden. And they're both rescues, we didn't buy them.

We built a catio on the side of the house - luckily we have two entrances so that solved it for us! Not helpful though if you don't have two entrances!

Mine stay away from the front door unless the post arrives then they run at it like dogs

Try to leash train if you can I left it a bit too late for mine one is utterly terrified of the outside he is interested but flees if given the chance to go

Please can you share a pic of your catio - thanks

I live in a flat with no direct access to the garden for our cat, he has a cooling mat which he likes to sleep on and any cold surface he likes

Though in the heat this week he has been laying in the sunlight that streams in

My new catio and cat proof front door guard.