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.

3          When keeping cats in an enclosed environment, it is important that they have access to their own ‘personal space’.  This is especially important if you are housing more than one cat, as this availability of a ‘time out space’ can alleviate the problem of aggression in a group housing situations. Each cat needs to have its own area that will provide it with all the vitals, such as food, water, bed, resting places, and a litter tray.

4          When you have a cat that lives inside an enclosure, you have to be aware that it does need access to a Litter box, or an area specifically designed for this.  If you are housing more than one cat, you may find that each cat requires its own litter box, which is large enough for the cat to have easy access.  This needs to be located in a safe and private. Cats are very clean animals and they do not like using dirty litter boxes, so you will need to scoop the litter box daily, and clean it with water and non-scented soap once a week. You can also try a thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the litter box to help absorb odors between scooping.  We are happy to discuss these needs with you and if you require an additional litter tray compartment with easy access for you and your pet to be built, we would be happy to do so.

5          Please ensure that your cat has access to Food and clean water available at all times. Ensure bowls are located away from the litter tray.

6          Scratching is a natural behavior for cats; it sharpens claws, stretches muscles and leaves scent marks. Your cat will need a scratching post, which can be horizontal or vertical, and we can build one for you to suit your individual cat using carpet or wood. You can encourage your cat to use the scratching post by putting catnip on it.

7          Cats require plenty of social contact with their owners. We suggest that providing access to the house through a cat door can easily do this.  It is also great if you can set aside some time everyday to interact with your cat, playing with it or grooming it or just to have a cuddle.

8          We advise that you should find out as much as you can about cat behavior and how to care for your cat. There are many useful books and websites available that will help you with issues such as cat care, behavioral problems and general indoor housing requirements. Also talk to your vet about health and nutritional requirements for cats and to discuss any concerns that you may have.

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Disclaimer
The content of this document is provided for information purposes only. Information is considered to be true and correct at the time of publication.
Advanced Cat Enclosures does not warrant or represent that the information is free from errors or omissions or that the document is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes.
A person using the information should conduct independent enquiries to verify the accuracy of the information. To the extent permitted by law, Advanced Cat Enclosures, its employees and agents shall have no liability (including liability by reason of negligence) to any person for any loss, damage, cost or expense (consequential or otherwise) incurred or arising as a result of any of the information, whether by reason of any error, omission or misrepresentation in the information or for any action taken by any person in reliance upon the information.

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