I like to let my cat out on the deck to give her some fresh air. She likes to look at all the wildlife around and take in the scenery - but she managed to catch several woodpeckers at the bird feeder last year. I was basically baiting the birds in for her to catch - whoops . So this year I got her a catio - and now she can enjoy the fresh air in a contained space and (hopefully) she won’t get any more birds
The catio was pretty bare when I got it - basically just a cage with a plastic floor and three plastic shelves for her to climb around on - so I had to deck it out a bit…
First, I got some rubber mats and cut them to fit the floor and the three shelves. They make it a little softer and give some more traction. Next, I found a little hideout for the bottom so she can take cover if she needs to - there’s a blanket in it to make it a bit more cozy. I added two hanging toys and a scratcher on the bottom floor, food and water on the first shelf, and another hanging toy on the second shelf. Finally, I found some fake vines to wrap around the top of the cage so she can look out from the third shelf without being spotted.
My neighbor has something like that for her cats, but it doesn’t look like the inside is as elaborate as yours. She does have a couple of bird feeders out there though — probably something your cat would enjoy as long as they’re well out of the way of paw reach.
Thanks for the idea. Do you think roses would keep hey away from the feeders? I’ve tried putting aluminum foil around things we don’t want her to get at - and it kinda works - but now you have aluminum foil all over
I didn’t think about bringing it inside - perhaps this winter I will.
Rose bushes may not stop determined cats. Planting cacti is another option.
Depending on the birder feeder, can you place it higher above the ground?
Another thing you could do is place material like sharp edged gravel or rough pine cones around the base of the birder feeder. Or a motion activated sprinkler or ultra sonic sound deterrent.
Leaving her in all day seems a bit cruel, honestly. Also, the more I think about, the less obvious it seems like a litter tray be good. I believe cats don’t particularly want to be near the trays (for obvious reasons), so it might be a bit disturbing having one there.
Some of those don’t sound very pleasant. I think she’ll be fine. She got the birds before cause I left her out there before by herself. Now, I either sit out there with her, or put her in the catio. So I think the birds will be alright.
Well, I don’t put her out there when it’s a heat wave - or not for very long if I do. On a nice day, she will sit out there for quite a few hours straight - she knows she can meow when she wants to come in - so she must like it out there.
If catching birds becomes a problem, there are also bleep collars which produce a sound to warn birds. Not too sure if these are good for the cats hearing. Then there are bright multi-coloured patterns for a cat collar.
Thanks for the tips I think the catio is gonna work for the bird problem. Although, I’m pretty sure I saw a hummingbird taunting the cat in there today. It just hovered right outside the cage and they stared at each other - like they both knew she couldn’t do anything.
Any tips for training her to do other things - mainly, stay off certain pieces of furniture?
. So this year I got her a catio - and now she can enjoy the fresh air in a contained space and (hopefully) she won’t get any more birds 
Some of those don’t sound very pleasant. I think she’ll be fine. She got the birds before cause I left her out there before by herself. Now, I either sit out there with her, or put her in the catio. So I think the birds will be alright.
I think the catio is gonna work for the bird problem. Although, I’m pretty sure I saw a hummingbird taunting the cat in there today. It just hovered right outside the cage and they stared at each other - like they both knew she couldn’t do anything.