Our suggestions Things to consider Disclaimer

Our own cats have adapted very well to living indoors and in an enclosure, particularly the ones that we have had from a young age. Even adult cats that we have provided a home for, that used to roam outside, have had no difficulty in adjusting. However if this is not the case for you, please consult your vet for advice.

We also suggest that you desex your cats as this can also reduce their desire to roam and help prevent behavioural problems such as frequent marking and aggression.

When we design an Enclosure for you and your cat, we highly recommend that your cats will also have regular access to the house as well as this separate exercise area in the enclosure. The size of your enclosure will depend on the number of cats you wish to house, and also on what their social structure is. We highly recommend that the enclosure must be at least 4 metres long x 1 metre wide with a minimum height of 2 metres, plus tunnels and auxiliary enclosures and that it has some ramps and platforms within.

If they do spend some time alone in the enclosure, it is vital that they have shelter from sun, wind and rain, but access to sunshine should always be available in the enclosure.  They must also be provided with a weatherproof sleeping compartment  with a raised bed which must be kept in a clean and hygienic condition. Accommodation should be kept clean, as this is vital to prevent build up of odours that can cause respiratory problems in cats.
 
If an outdoor litter tray area is needed, we will ensure that this is dry and easily cleaned area well away from the cat's eating and sleeping areas. You must ensure that Litter trays contain an appropriate litter material and be cleaned daily, otherwise your cats will soil elsewhere in the enclosure. Hygiene and odour shouldn’t be a problem as long as your cat uses its litter tray and the tray is cleaned regularly. However, in the event of your cat soiling the ground in the enclosure, you may have to consider adding some type of flooring which we would be happy to provide.

You must also provide ongoing maintenance to your enclosure by ensuring it is kept in a clean and hygienic condition.  Disinfectants containing phenol must never be used around cats.

Please remember that to prevent disease, your cat must be regularly wormed and vaccinated (as per veterinary recommendations), and flea control must also be undertaken.

We at Advanced Cat Enclosures believe that it is vital to enrich the environment of cats inside enclosures, to prevent them from getting bored or developing behavioural problems.  Your cats needs come first!

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Things to consider when keeping cats in enclosures:

1          Any cat owner will tell you that cats like to spend a lot of time sleeping and resting in quiet areas where they feel safe and secure. We can custom build Cat beds for you, to which you can add blankets, towels and pillows etc. High-sided cat beds and cathouses are also a great way to give your cats a sense of ‘privacy’.

Cats love to utilize elevated areas as vantage points from which to observe their surroundings. We feel that these are essential, and we can build various elevated platforms and aerial tunnels, shelves and  climbing posts. We feel that a minimum of at least two platforms at different heights should be provided so that your Cats also have access to climbing frames and an interesting visual outlook. We can connect these platforms in a variety of ways such as static planks or swinging walkways.

Some cats love to watch birds and insects and you can provide this entertainment for them in a manner that is safe by placing a bird bath/feeder outside the enclosure and by planting shrubs around the enclosure to provide both a habitat and privacy for your cat.  We can also install a water feature for your cat to be entertained using grey water.

Cats can also be given fresh grass to chew (non toxic varieties such as oats, wheat, rye-grass) and we can also provide you with some instant lawn which is ideal for this.  We suggest you consult a nursery to acquire some ‘cat friendly’ plants to be placed inside your enclosure.

Cats have an excellent sense of smell, and many cats love catnip, which can be supplied as a dried herb or grown fresh in pots.  One note of advise is that when first placing a pot of catnip into the enclosure, please keep an eye on the behavior of your cat, as some cats do tend to overindulge on this treat, and you might need to monitor their intake.

2          Remember to exercise your cat through play for its psychical and mental well-being.  Cats enjoy a wide variety and range of toys that move or make noise, toys they can roll, pounce on, capture and bite and remind them of prey such as mice, birds, and insects. A simple way to keep their interest is to rotate the toys in use regularly to prevent boredom.  Toys can be as simple as some crumpled paper balls or cardboard boxes to explore. Many cat toys are now available such as furry toys in a variety of shapes and sizes, toys that make noises and can be rolled, colored balls or balls that can be filled with food or treats.

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