How to Keep Your Outdoor Cat Close to Home
75If your cat spends a lot of time outdoors you may be concerned about his safely and the ever-present possibility of him wandering off, never to return.
Cats are naturally curious and fiercely independent creatures, but they're also smart. If you provide a comfortable outdoor space for your cat, one that he feels is his to own, he'll be more likely to stay close to home.
Creating a Cat Garden
Similar to a dog garden, cat gardens contain areas where your cat can be a cat. You don't actually need a garden to keep your cat happy outdoors. Patios and porches make ideal spaces for a cat play area as long as you provide a litter box.
My cat loved her kitty porch especially during the warmer months of the year. She never destroyed any of the potted plants and she loved to nap in the pine straw.
To Keep Your Outdoor Cat Close to Home....
Provide a comfortable place for your cat to nap both in and out of the sun.
Place special cat toys and scratching posts in your outdoor cat play area. If it rains and they get wet, bring them in to dry or they can get moldy.
Consider installing a small fountain in the garden where your cat can take a drink.
Show your cat where it is appropriate for her to do her "business" so she won't be digging up the rest of the garden. If you mark off an area with small stones, dig a shallow pit and fill it with a mixture of kitty litter and potting soil (or play sand) she'll get the message.
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Great Grasses Cats Love
Plant some cat grass (Dactylis glomerata) seed in a clean litter
tray and place a layer of chicken wire over it so it's not used as a
'potty'. The grass will sprout through the wire and kitty will enjoy
playing with a mini lawn of her own. Cats really do enjoy cat grass and
it's harmless if they eat it in moderation. Some pet experts believe
the fiber helps with digestion as modern domestic cats have either very
long or very fine hairs that can cause hair balls and other digestive
problems.
Other cat friendly plants include catnip,
lemongrass and mint. Cats love the fragrance and some cats love the
taste! They are also very effective at keeping fleas, mosquitoes and
ants away from the garden. The herb, valerian is another plant option,
but it smells like dirty socks. It's no mystery why cats love it, but
why not stick to those herbs you can also harvest for your kitchen.
If you are uncertain as to which plants in your garden are toxic to cats, check out the ASPCA's list.
Introducing a Kitten to the Outdoors
If you have a new kitten, do not let him outdoors until he has had all his immunization shots, then show him where it is safe to play, but never let him go unsupervised. Teach your young cat where to find the door to the house. A cat door is a must if you plan to allow your cat the freedom to go in and out.
Remember....a neutered cat will not go looking for a good time in the neighborhood. Have your cat neutered at about six months.
All cats, both young and old should first become familiar with their home environment before they are allowed to go out.
It's the Cat's Dinner
Feed your cat the foods he enjoys and he's sure to return home for his dinner. Don't allow neighbors to feed your cat. This can be tricky without putting a sign around his neck, but if you suspect someone is doling out too many treats, take action to stop it.
If your cat brings you home "presents" in the form of birds, mice, ect., don't punish her...she's just being a cat and you do want to encourage her to return home.
Play Outside Together
Cats respond when you create special areas for their own enjoyment outside the house and when you have fun together on the porch or in the garden. Avoid the driveway for obvious reasons.
Our cat was a true outdoor cat because of allergic family members and she rarely begged to come inside. She loved to go on long walks with us each evening and she didn't mind if the local squirrels shared her dinner bowl. Most importantly, Kitty never roamed far and at night she returned home to her own bedroom tucked away in a warm storage space in the garage. Although the neighborhood was her territory, I somehow feel that her favorite place was her front porch garden complete with cat friendly plants.
© Copyright Green Lotus, 2011. All rights reserved.
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Christine - So nice to meet you here. I too had a cat in a city apartment once so I know what you mean :) Perhaps she can go for a day out in the country sometime :).
I love your hubs, Hillary, I always learn new fascinating facts. Like creating a cat garden (although I am cat-less) and the really important fact that my dirty socks smell like valerian. Or is it the other way around?
Voted up for cat-lovers and everyone else, too.
Hi drbj - Funny I did know a cat who was addicted to smelly socks. It drove his mistress crazy. Why she didn't do the washing more often, we'll never know. Thanks for the vote and the encouragement :)Cheers.
You know I had to visit this one Green Lotus! My life is my cat so I have done some of the things you so appropriately suggest but I love the "place in the sun" just for kitty! "Baby" is more an indoor cat (because of the 15 homeless ones lurking in the garage no doubt) but she loves the sun and creating a space just for her on the patio complete with healthy greens is a great idea! Very well done- Rate up and awesome.
You know, I don't have a cat but thought about the same thing for my dogs! Just yesterday I told my fiance that we need to do something of the sort.
Great hub!
Oh my Gosh honey, what a sweet Hub!! I have 4 cats all outdoor cats. Nala is 20 years old and she still loves going out and sleeping on the front porch in the sun. Manny the only boy, loves to sleep on the front porch swing. Miranda (we call her the b***h) but she is beautiful (figures right?) and she loves to sleep in our huge extensive garden or on the soft hood of my beemer. Jordan is the all black cat and she is NEVER in the house in summer except to eat. She loves to sleep in the garden as well and often hunts in the yard in the woods. I was "gifted" again just this morning. I find that since we have a huge woodland garden filled with ferns, grasses, flowers, you name it, they love to putter around in there. The whole property is natural woodsy and perfect for them. Fortunately they never ever wander off our 1.5 acres. I love this HUB it is very helpful for new cat owners. They should all read this hub!!
Chatkath I think one of your comments to an earlier Hub of mine inspired me to write this one. Now tell me you don't really have 15 kitties in the garage!
Cardisa- If you are a dog lover you will enjoy my canine hub "Creating a Garden for Your Dog". Enjoy!
Moonchild - Wow! You have a happy feline family..how lucky you are :)! And I'm so glad you found this useful. I will most definitely add a tag for new cat owners. Thanks!
I love the suggestion about planting grass in a litter box. We grow cat nip and mint and our cats LOVE it but we never thought to do it your way. Great! You've contributed to the well being and good care of our feline friends and for that, I thank you ! Up Useful Awesome and Beautiful because you care about our feline friends.
Lucky Cats - It is kinda weird, but any tray will do as long as Kitty doesn't use it as a litter box :) Sooooomuch thanks for the ups!! Nice to meet another feline lover too!
Well... what an informative hub. My home is an open house for cat visitors - they come for love and leave - wonderful, isnt it?! They are so adorable.
Rated up and shared the love x
Shaz - Hello again from one cat-lover to another. Thanks for the love too :)
Lotus, you are soooo smart. I can't wait to share your hub with my neighbor who has a wandering cat. These are great ideas as always. Way up and very useful.
Fay - With age comes wisdom, or at least a few time-saving devices. Cheers and thanks for the Up.
What fun Hillary, you always decorate your hubs with tasteful and useful garden spots. I think your cat would feel at home in this one. Dactylis glomerata....I knew that.
What a great idea to put chicken wire over the grass. I just have to figure out how to put my lawnmower on tall. =:)
Winsome - Thanks! Yes Gactylis is quite wild and invasive so don't go planting any in the garden or else you will need a machete! Cheers.
Green Lotus,
This is a really unique topic to write about! I've never thought about creating a garden for an outside cat.
I wish I'd known all this when my cats were kittens. I know that your advice is right because I've learned it all the hard way - through experience.
This is a good Hub and I've voted it up.
Miss Lil' - After writing a hub about creating a garden space for dogs, I wrote this one for cats. Why not? Cats are people too :)
2patricias - You just have to get another kitten! :) Cheers and thanks for your vote.
There is no fear of our cat wondering off. She has a taste for a particular brand of cat food and will not even eat freshly cooked fish. She stays out all night and comes home during the day to eat and to sleep. Then at night time it's dinner and a night on the town :-)
De Greek - Hi and thanks for the visit! You have a fine feline my friend. I trust that she has been neutered unless you like kittens :)
Hi, we have always had cats, even when I was small, I remember a time when my dad, who always said he hated the cats, got into a right panic because the cat had gone missing! he decided, in his wisdom, to search the coal shed, full of coal I might add, and stood there throwing all the coal out onto the grass, he couldn't understand why we were laughing so much, because without him knowing it, the cat was sat on the wall behind him, and I am sure it was laughing! lol we never let him forget it, he couldn't say he didn't like cats after that! great hub, and great ideas, cheers nell
A cat garden...what a great idea! I don't have any cats at present, but will keep these ideas in mind for the future.
Nell - You always have an amusing story to contribute. Also funny to think about having a coal shed on the property :)
L.L. LOL -You never know when cat fever will strike! Cheers.
Hi, the coal shed was there when I was little, I am not sure if they still have it, we left about 20 years ago, it was old fashioned then! lol
I've had my cat for 11 years and it terrifies me when he escapes mostly because I've lived next to some busy streets his whole life. My solution was to harness and leash him, and I'm always supervising when he's out. For places where it might not be safe to let them wander without their people, I find this is the safest option. But I love the idea of a kitty patio- hopefully I can try it someday when we live away from busy streets!
Nell - Schwew..I feel better now :)
Sneaky- I understand your concern, living on a busy street! Our porch garden had a gate so that really helped. Good luck with your kitty patio and thanks for the visit.
Beautiful picture of your cat. I like the cat garden idea. They do like to soak up the sun, don't they?
I've tried some of that cat grass before, though, and my cats won't touch it. I'm not sure why.
workingmomwm -Not all cats like cat grass. Try some of the other suggestions, or just set out a nice place for a cat nap! Cheers.
I never though of it. Cats can be anoying to neighbors and we should be responsible. Good hub.
HealthyHanna - I pity the neighbor who finds a cat an annoyance. They are such sweet creatures, but yes if anything we need to protect them from neighbors who are not hospitable by making their home environment as safe and friendly as possible. cheers!
Awesome write up. I love cats. I agree they are sweet. I really love baby kitties. :)
rorshak sobchak
rorshak - Nice to meet you and thanks for your kind comment. Cheers!
I love cat very much. Thanks for writing this valuable information. Well done, my friend. Rated up!
Hi Pras - Thanks for the visit and for your kind words.
I'm sorry I missed this one earlier. These are excellent suggestions. My cats love to go outside, but I don't really have a spot for them. This gives me some really good ideas to try in the yard. Thanks for this: useful awesome and beautiful! Take care.
PrairieP- Always good to see you! Glad you found this helpful. Porch or yard, a kitty garden is a natural and your cat will thank you too:)
Nice hub. I'm a cat lover. Long ago I had a tom-cat while I was staying in a flat. In the late evening, the tom-cat used to beg all of us to let him go out. My kids teased him, pulled his tale but he continued his pursuit. Finally, someone opended the door to let him out. Early next morning, the cat returned and licked feet of each and every member of the family one after another. In the meanwhile, I brought a fresh goat lungs and heart. Having a hearty break-fast, he would sleep for hours.
You hub has brought back old memories. Thanks
hafeezrm - Always happy to hear I have brought back some happy memories. Much thanks.
ChristineLR 12 months ago
Great ideas! Love it! I wish I could allow my cat outdoors, but I live in an apartment in the city.