Indoor cat/outside space

[beccahamlet]

I have decided to keep my cat as an indoor cat. She's been injured on the road.
I've never considered it before, but roads are so much busier now.
Has anyone got advice about keeping indoor cats?
Any recommendations for catios/safe outdoor spaces?
Anyone had success with harness training?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Bump

I'm would say good idea. We did this for the same reason. You might get an exercise wheel though make sure it's big enough for your cat so that they don't compress their spine. I have an outdoor area - we built it ourselves and our cats are very happy. They have the run of the house and the catio is built around a patio at our back door and is completely fenced in. They have ladders and shelves to run around, wooden piles to scratch on, and can watch the birds, enjoy the sun and rain and chase moths at night. I never worry about them not returning home at night.

All my cats are indoor ( for various reasons) I have had a catio in the past and now have my garden fully netted ( small garden with full height fencing) using netting and wooden L bars I got fitted. There are many commercially available catios/netting systems. They can be expensive so if you get an idea of what you would like it can be much cheaper to give a handy man a plan and ask them to fulfill it. Very much depends on your garden.
My catio was only tiny and assessed off a kitchen window but it makes a lot of difference to their quality of life.
I have a friend who lives in flat with a cat box off a window- just big enough to allow the cat to sit outside in fresh air and watch the world go by.
Inside I would look into decent sized cat trees or wall mounted cat beds/shelves etc to allow the cat to explore.
Invest in some extra cat toys and rotate them.. basic things like cardboard boxes with scrunched up newspaper and a handful of dreamies thrown in helps them ‘hunt’..

Oh and yes exercise is an excellent idea. All of my cats use mine.. it helps them when they get ‘zoomies’
I have the Cazami one, it’s now six years old and still going strong and was a very good ( expensive) investment

I have three indoor cats and we cat proofed our back garden which was the best thing we ever did, can leave the door open in summer and they love being in the garden

Jackson Galaxy on YouTube is good for advice on indoor cats.
I suggest:
A Feliway plug in for stress relief
At least one big litter tray with litter she likes - if you don't currently use one, trial different types. Clean it promptly every time she poos and it won't smell too bad.

Check calorie guidelines for cat food and stick to daily limits - they can't burn it off as fast as outdoor cats so can get podgy quite fast

I also have/had:
A really sturdy cat tree with different levels including up high, with lots of scratching posts, placed near a window for watching birds/foxes/other cats.
A play tunnel for hiding/ sleeping/playing (and an igloo or other dark hideyhole) .
A cat water fountain - Tempcat sits by his and stares at me to turn it on
Lots of toys, especially balls and wand ones for chasing, and play with cat as often as you can. Not just for exercise and getting rid of the excess energy but for mental stimulation.
A large cardboard box
Silvervine sticks for chewing and playing
Catnip toys - if she reacts to it.
Claw clippers (good luck!)
A brush or mitt - luckily TempCat loves being groomed
A bed or padded mat on the window sill (if wide enough) for lounging.

TempCat has not agreed to a harness so far, I'm still trying as I have hopes of short rambles in the communal garden. However I don't think any are truly escape proof so will be going very very slowly with going outside, if we ever get to that stage.

The main issue for me is keeping him mentally active and not bored or unhappy, so lots & lots of play. TempCat likes being chased up and down the hallway! I would love to have a catio but in a flat and not on ground floor so that's not an option. I hope it goes well for you - having lost a cat to a RTA years ago I couldn't go through that trauma ever again, so now will always have either indoor cats/catio/cat proofed garden - if I ever manage to have a garden that is.

I've just installed some flat cat screens on the windows. They are brilliant!

Our cats have been harness trained due to boat living. Now we are in a house, we have a catio (there are Facebook groups if you want ideas). We got a company in to build it, it has ladders and high shelving, and is easily dismantled for house maintenance (access to roof/gutters etc).
In house we cat trees, cat window hammocks, cat beds and toys everywhere.
windows have safety locks on so they cannot be opened too far - but flatcat panes are on a future wish list.

My two have access to a catio, at first they didn't like it but now I they love it. I've put some logs and cat friendly plants in it, they scratch the logs and chase insects. They have shelves so they can climb high.
I harness trained from a very young age I think if you leave it they won't tolerate it. Both of mine came to me at 8 weeks (mum rejected them) so I started with the harness then slowly added the lead and they are now used to it. As soon as I pick up the harness they sit by the back door ready.
I think a catio will be fine as long as you put things in it to allow for climbing and scratching. You might have to build up the time spent in it so she gets used to it.

@artemis. That is good to hear. I will look into a cat wheel.
@Potentialmadcatlady . I will try the cat treat hunt. That will hopefully keep her busy for a bit!

@1984Winston Thanks for your reply
@TemporaryCatSlave That is a lot of useful info. I have checked out Jackson, and already learnt a few things. I have ordered some silverine sticks.
@Toddlerteaplease I have looked at the flat screens - look good - I had never heard of them before.
@Alphabet1spaghetti2 Thanks for that useful info
@freeandfierce I will persevere with the harnes training and hope it works out.
Thanks everyone.
Any more hints very welcome

I’ve just had my garden kitty proofed. Bought some brackets from screwfix and cat proof netting from Amazon. My cats can’t get out and the nasty bully cat that kept coming into my garden can’t get in. Win win situation and everyone happy, well apart from the bully. This is him giving me daggers from the other side of the netting 🤣🤣🤣