It’s no surprise that cats love being outside. Sunshine, tweeting birds, tumbling leaves and shady nooks are exciting and stimulating for cats. Cats gain amazing benefits from spending some time in nature, but with traffic buildup in even the quietest suburbs, and the threat cat’s pose to our local wildlife, not to mention those vet bills when our sweet cuddly pies get into vicious fights with the neighbourhood cat, makes allowing cats to roam freely outdoors problematic.
Cat netting enclosures comes with several real benefits to both responsible cat owners and outdoor loving felines. Even the smallest amount of outdoor space can be converted into an exciting outdoor cat enclosure, and you might be surprised how easy it is to do.
An Overview of Cat Enclosures
Keeping cats indoors makes sense in our modern world, but you might be worried that your cat can’t be really happy if it doesn’t get any outdoor time. Having time in nature is very stimulating for cats and provides amazing mental and physical health benefits.
An outdoor cat enclosure is an area that you create from whatever outdoor space you have available, which is secured with strong, specially designed cat netting that lets in light and air, but keeps the dangers out.
You can enclose your entire backyard, attach a stand alone structure to your house, net the side of your house, or enclose a patio, balcony or window space. It only depends on what you have available to you.
The best outdoor cat enclosures are those that allow cats to move easily from their indoor cat enclosure to their outdoor cat enclosure. Cats need the freedom to follow their natural instincts, and differentiate between where they eat and sleep, and where they toilet and play. It also means your cat won’t be left out of any outdoor fun you and your family might be having, and can enjoy the time spent outdoors with its favourite humans.
Types of cat enclosures
There are no limits to the kinds of cat enclosures you can have, as cat enclosures are custom designed to fit your home and lifestyle.
Most commonly, cat enclosures in Perth utilise the following main areas:
- Whole Back Yard – To keep your cat safely in your own backyard, specially tensioned cat netting can be fastened from fences to the walls of your home, providing a completely enclosed area. Cat netting is very light gauged, and its dark colour means that it is very unobtrusive and airy, and does not feel like you are closed in. Another method is to use cat fence extensions, which add height and angle to your fence which stop your cat from being able to climb over it. Usually, a combination of netting and cat fence extensions are used.
- Side of house – A rarely used side of house area is ideal for your outdoor cat enclosures. The side of your house cat enclosure can be fitted with overhead netting secured from your fascia to your fence line, and a vertical wall of net with a zipper door to close off the area but still be able to access it.
- Window Catio – A window catio is a framed space that sits on the outside of the window and is accessible from a door or opening in the window screen. For houses with limited outdoor space, this can be a great way of giving your kitty access to some quality sunshine.
- Balcony enclosures – If you live in an apartment, enclosing your balcony with cat netting can be a great way of giving your cat a bit of outdoor space where they can hang with you and the family. Balcony Cat Netting is a great option as it is very discrete, tends to disappear against the sky, and does not block visibility or the flow of air.
- Veranda or Patio – These areas can be easily converted into outdoor enclosures with the addition of vertical panels. Access into and out of the space can be achieved with specially fitted zippers in the netting.
- Free Standing Outdoor Enclosures – To be honest, these are our least favourite outdoor cat enclosures, because they are usually isolated from the main property and cats are not free to enter and leave as they please. A free standing cat enclosure without free access is really just a glorified cage that doesn’t provide the same benefits as a stimulating and safe outdoor enclosure where they can relax and feel connected.
Key Benefits of Cat Enclosures For Your Cat
A well-built and sturdy cat enclosure can be a positive addition to your cat’s life, which can benefit them in a number of ways. Some of the key benefits of cat enclosures for your cat are as follows;
1. Safe outdoor access:
Giving your cat free access to roam will expose your cat to many risks that can cause injury and shorten their lifespans. Research by the National Animal Supplement Council shows that cats who roam are at an increased risk of diseases and parasites, traffic accidents, poisoning, getting into fights and getting lost. An outdoor cat netting enclosure is a great way of indulging your cat’s instinctual behaviours whilst keeping them safe from risk.
2. Physical exercise opportunities:
Providing your cat with a space to run, climb, and play is another great advantage of an outdoor cat enclosure. Playing and relaxing in fresh air and sunshine provide stimulating and sensory-rich experiences for your cat, which can encourage physical activity, fight obesity, enhance sleep and mood, and improve overall health that can add years to your cat’s life and save you thousands on vet bills.
3. Mental stimulation and enrichment:
The outside world is sensory-rich, with sights, sounds, and smells that will have your cat twitching its nose and ears in delight. Being predators, cats have enhanced senses and active minds that require stimulation. They can suffer mentally when bored and start to develop behavioural problems, such as urinating in the house.
4. Reduce escape attempts:
If you have a cat that likes to make a dash for the door every time you open it, providing a cat netting enclosure may be a way to satisfy its need for adventure and reduce those escape attempts.
5. Improved sleep patterns:
Exposure to natural sunlight produces melatonin and serotonin, which reduces anxiety and promotes healthy sleep patterns.
6. Territorial satisfaction:
Cats need to have a defined territory, which helps them feel safe and secure. Since an outdoor cat enclosure can not be accessed by nuisance neighbourhood cats, your cat won’t be threatened or get involved in territorial battles.
Benefits of Cat Enclosures for Cat Owners
Cat enclosures, or catios, come with several advantages for cat owners, enhancing both the safety and well-being of their pets. Here are the key benefits;
1. Peace of mind:
Knowing your cat is safe from danger and has a great life that includes safe outdoor enrichment is very satisfying if you are a cat-loving owner.
2. Reduced veterinary expenses:
Cats that roam get into fights, increasing the risk of injury or infectious diseases. Cat enclosures lead to longer and healthier lives and substantially less vet bills as a consequence.
3. Improved neighbourhood relations:
Outdoor cat enclosures not only prevent your cat from becoming the target of neighbor complaints—such as when they inevitably poop in a cherished rose garden or spray unpleasant scents on nearby walls—but they also keep other cats from causing mischief on your property and around your pets.
4. Feeling positive about your environmental contribution:
It’s no secret to cat owners that Kitty is actually a ruthless, skilled killing machine, so when you choose an outdoor cat enclosure for your property, you can feel proud that you are doing your bit to help preserve that native wildlife.
5. Separate toileting from the home:
Nobody wants to eat their dinner with litter tray smells permeating the air. Having an outdoor cat netting enclosure means you can move your cat’s toileting to the great outdoors, just as nature intended.
6. Happy cat, happy life:
Cat that enjoys the enrichment of the outdoor world will be happier and have less problematic behaviours. An outdoor cat enclosure can help create harmony between the human and feline worlds and enhance your relationship and enjoyment of your cat.
7. Add value to your home:
With 33% of pet owners owning cats in Australia, adding a cat enclosure to your home can make it more attractive to potential buyers or renters.
Consequences of Not Having a Cat Enclosure
Cats that are allowed to roam have significantly shorter lifespans than their indoor and cat enclosure companions. Allowing your cat to roam can increase the risk of injury or death. Whether fighting over territory or getting hit by a cat, the roaming cat is at a much higher danger than a contained cat.
Roaming cats can also pick up diseases and parasites from soil, plants, other cats or other animals. And as you can’t control what others do in their own backyards, a roaming cat is at more risk of ingesting food items, plants or poisons that can make them very sick.
When cats are able to safely access natural outdoor spaces through cat netting enclosures, they are less likely to experience boredom and understimulation. Bored cats can start to develop problem behaviours such as peeing outside the litter tray, scratching at furniture, or climbing curtains. Understimulated cats may also experience more anxiety and depression, which may make them overly clingy and demanding, even waking you up for a 2 am play session because they need some company.
While indoor cats can be quite happy as long as they are provided with lots of stimulating toys and you spend a lot of time playing and interacting with them, the addition of an outdoor cat netting enclosure gives your cat access to the naturally sensory rich outside world of smells, sounds, and sights, so that when you can’t spend a lot of time with them, they are still able to get enough enrichment and physical activity to keep them happy and healthy.
Choosing the Right Cat Enclosures
The right cat enclosure is the one that suits your space and circumstances. As every home is different, the outdoor cat enclosure needs to be customised to your space, your needs and your cat’s needs. Here are some main points to consider:
- Available space: Cat netting is extremely versatile and can be used to contain small or large areas. So whether it’s your whole backyard, or just a patio area, or maybe the side of your house, any amount of outdoor space will be a great addition to your cat’s life.
- Your Budget: If you have a limited budget, you should consider netting a smaller area for your cat, which can still provide them with access to all those wonderful outdoor smells, sights and sounds. Budget is usually affected by the number of attachment points required, so look for spaces that may already have effective barriers and only require a few panels of netting.
- Area use: Ensure that whatever part of your outdoor space you choose, you understand how that space is used by yourself and your household members and that access into and out of the space does not interfere with your ability to continue using it.
- Access points for humans: Cat netting enclosures can include zipper doors to help humans enter and exit as required. If you are considering putting a vertical wall with a zipper door in a high traffic zone it can get quite annoying, especially if you often carry heavy shopping bags or laundry baskets through the area.
- Access points for cats: Outdoor cat enclosures are fantastic for cats. Glorified kitty cages are not. For an outdoor cat enclosure to be beneficial, your cat should be able to access and leave the space as it pleases.
- Your cat’s needs: Older cats can be very happy with a small sunny area, while younger cats will thrive with room to run, climb and play. If your cat is a jumper, enclosed overhead netting might be important, whereas the more laid back cat might be easily contained using fence extensions. And if you have multiple cats, they may benefit from a larger space where they can play and climb and run around together.
- Your neighbours: Fences are shared between properties, so it just makes sense to ask your neighbours permission before you go attaching anything to it. It’s just good neighbour manners.
Transform Your Cat’s World: Explore Our Custom Enclosure Solutions!
With so many things to consider, it is always a good idea to get some advice on the best design for your outdoor netting enclosure. With over three years of experience designing and installing enclosures for cats, and specifically experienced in cat enclosures for Perth, Kitty Safe can help you avoid common traps and pitfalls to ensure your cat netting enclosure is a beneficial addition to your home that you and your cat will enjoy for many years to come.
Kitty Safe will consult with you to understand your budget and needs, and will use satellite imagery and your photos to get an in-depth understanding of your home and the type of attachments that will be required to ensure you get the best outdoor cat enclosure customised to you.
Check out our website gallery for inspiration, and then read our abundant 5 star reviews which attest to our professionalism, high quality of work, our customer service, friendliness and clear communication. Kitty Safe are dedicated to providing exceptional work and ensuring your experience is as stress free and easy as possible.
Contact us today to start the ball rolling and find out how Kitty Safe can create a transformational outdoor cat enclosure for you and your beloved kitty cat.
