Most cats love to go outside, and with lots of for them to explore, the outside world offers cats the opportunity to express their normal behaviours.
However, International Cat Care estimate that a total of 10% of cats in the UK are indoor cats and reasons for keeping an indoor cat can include:
- Living near a busy road
- Cat’s health problems
- The cat is elderly
- Those cats with pedigree status (Ragdolls, Siamese etc)
- Living in an area with a high cat population
If you choose to keep your cat as an indoors it is important to ensure they are still able to exercise, are provided with enrichment, and given the opportunity to express their natural behaviours to prevent behavioural problems.
Catios
One option for indoor cat owners are catios. A catio is a secure outdoor enclosure which is often attached to the house and acts as an extension.
They allow cats to exercise and get fresh air without roaming freely. As they are not considered permanent structures you usually do not need planning permission, however, if you are planning to build a large catio it may be worth checking with your local council and speaking to your neighbours.
A catio offers your feline friends a secure outdoor enclosure where they can explore different sights, sounds, and smells safely. This allows us to offer our cats both mental and physical stimulation.
Ideas to include within your catio are:
- Water bowls to ensure your cat stays hydrated
- Different levels
o High perches
o Climbing structures including cat trees and ledges - Places for your cat to scratch including scratch posts, tree trunks, and scratch mats
- Resting areas including cat beds, hammocks, and shelves
- Hiding areas where your cat can feel safe and secure
- Access to go in and out of the house as they please
- Safe plants to smell!
Cat Friendly Gardens
For cats who have access to the outside, some will spend a lot of time in their outdoor environment. There are things we can do to make our gardens safer and more enjoyable for our cats.
- Avoid lots of open spaces – provide lots of places for your cat to hide
- Provide places where your cat can seek shelter from the weather and to feel secure, such as a kitty cabin or outdoor cat house.
- Provide a place for cats to spend time with their owner outside, such as garden tables and chairs.
- You can build shelves and trellis’ which can be attached to walkways and fences for cats to climb and play on
- If you would like to avoid your cat going to the toilet in your favourite flower beds you can create a latrine area for them to relief themselves. This is a purpose-built area which can be filled with sand or soil. This should be placed somewhere where the cat will feel safe and secure.
- Ensuring only cat-safe plants are planted in the garden
- Be mindful of hazardous chemicals such as weed or pest killers which should be avoided in the garden and outdoor surrounding area.
Cat Friendly Plants
Whether provided as an addition to your garden, home, or Catio, plants can be a great way to provide our cats with extra stimulation and enrichment whilst reducing their stress and anxiety levels.
Here are some examples of great pet friendly plants:
- Catnip – Catnip often promotes excited behaviour, play, or relaxation.
- Barley grasses – Is often used as cat grass! Chewing grass can provide our pets with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins promoting a healthy diet as well as reducing risk of hairballs by stimulating digestion.
- Valerian Root – Can help relieve stress and anxiety. Furthermore, it can promote play and exercise in housecats who prefer to lay around all day.
- Silver Vine – Alternative to catnip and can stimulate play.
- Cat Thyme (Teucrium Marum) – Can have antiseptic qualities for sores and skin. It is sometimes used in cat toys. It opens your cats’ olfactory receptors (scent receptors) which can cause excitement and curiosity in our cats! Note some cats dislike the smell.
- Cat friendly herbs – rosemary, thyme, and sage – These cat friendly herbs can make a good edition to your Catio as well as your cooking!
Toxic Plants
Cats are naturally curious so although they only need meat in their diet, they may still sniff, eat and chew plants. Therefore, when planting in our garden or getting house plants we should also be mindful of what plants are toxic to our cats to ensure the safety of our pets.
Here are some examples of toxic plants for our cats:
- Lilies of any kind
- Hyacinth
- Cabbage palms
- Dragon Tree
- Poinsettia
- Tulips
- Yucca plants
- Daffodils
- Iris
- Amaryllis
Symptoms of plant poisoning can include:
- Drooling
- Not eating
- Low energy
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Drinking more
- Urinating more
- Rashes or red skin
- Ulcers in the mouth
- Pale gums
- Twitches or seizures
- Collapsing
Always do your research before getting new plants. If you think your cat may have ingested a poisonous plant ring your vet for advice immediately.
