Who says dogs are the only ones who love playing in the yard?
If you own a cat or two, you know that they make great pets. And sure, some of them can be aloof and even more of them love knocking stuff off of counters, but that’s just part of their charm. Keeping your cats safe and the sound is pretty easy if they never go outside. However, if they do venture out, you’ll want to make sure they are protected. Here’s how you can create a safe, yet fun environment.
1. Install a catio
If you’re a little squeamish about sending your fur babies out into the wild, there’s a way to keep them inside but give them the feeling of being outside. Building them an enclosed cat patio – or “catio” – will give everybody the best of both worlds. If you’re handy with tools, you can construct one yourself, and it can be as big or elaborate as you want it to be.
2. Use the right fencing
Keeping a cat in a yard can be difficult, but it’s not impossible, and one of the best ways to do it is by cat-proofing your fence. There are a number of approaches you can take, but one of the most effective is to use an inward angle of about 45 degrees; this will deter any jumping.
3. Avoid harsh chemicals
If you use fertilizers, weed killer, or other chemicals in your yard, you need to make sure that they won’t hurt your cat. Read the labels of these products for any warnings. If they could be harmful, you may want to think about switching to other options that are pet-friendly.
4. Be sure you only have “good” plants
Cats love munching on plants and flowers, and this is fine, as long as they are the right ones. Things like roses, violets, and lavender are perfectly safe for cats. The same is true for herbs like sage, rosemary, and basil. And, if you want to give your kitty a special treat, consider growing catnip. However, there are some plants that you will definitely not want to have in your yard, as they can cause cats to get sick. These include tulips, lilies, and azaleas.
5. Create hiding spots
Cats love to hide, and they’ll appreciate having some places where they can hang out unnoticed. Even if you don’t have a lot of bushes or other natural components for your cat to hide in or under, there are still things you can do. Put some large pots or lawn decorations around your yard to offer some kitty seclusion.
6. Add entertaining elements
Dogs aren’t the only ones that enjoy playing with toys in the yard. Getting some weatherproof cat toys and sprinkling them around the yard will give your cat things to play with. You can also tie some toys to low tree branches. In addition, wrapping sisal rope around the bottoms of trees will immediately give your cat places to do their scratching.
7. Make it mosquito-proof
We all know how dangerous mosquitos can be to people, but they can also be extremely harmful to our pets. Dogs can get an assortment of nasty illnesses from mosquitos, and the same is true for cats. And while things like heartworm medications are effective, the better option is to avoid mosquito bites altogether.
You can do this by having a mosquito control system installed. With an automatic mosquito misting system, you will vastly reduce the possibility of these pests biting you, your family, or your pets. For more information, get in touch with Platinum Mosquito Protection.
