Do you keep your feline buddy indoors? If so, that’s great! We strongly suggest keeping cats inside. Fluffy may look cute chasing butterflies, but she’s actually in some very serious dangers when she goes outside. Cars, traffic, weather, gators, and stray animals are just a few of the hazards your pet faces. However, you can let your furball have the best of both worlds, by giving her a catio. A Seminole, FL veterinarian discusses creating a catio in this article.
If you want to give your furry friend a little taste of nature, set out some pet-safe plants for her. Boston ferns, Spider plants, and Prayer plants are all great options. Many palms, such as Areca palms, Ponytail palms, are also safe. You can also incorporate fresh herbs, such as lavender, basil, thyme, and rosemary. Cat grass and catnip are also purrfect choices. The ASPCA site offers a full list of safe plants on their website here. Just be careful with how you arrange things. You don’t want your kitty accidentally pulling something down on top of her!
Don’t forget to add a few fun toys! If your catio is screened-in, pick things that are easy to rinse off, as they may get dusty.
Cats aren’t really picky about furniture: they’ll sleep on anything they can fit on. (Actually, Fluffy has been known to nap on things she doesn’t really fit on, but that’s a whole other post.) That said, a catio is a purrfect place for a cat tower. Your furball may also appreciate a window seat, a pet tent, and/or catwalk, as well as a cardboard box or two. Of course, you’ll want to add a few things for yourself. Your pet’s playroom can also double as a good spot for you to read, sip coffee, or listen to music.
If you have a fenced yard, you can go a bit further with this and offer your feline friend her own little kitty enclosure. This will let Fluffy enjoy some fresh air and sunshine, while keeping her safe from predators. There are plenty of design options online. Many use windows as access points, so you don’t necessarily need to add an extra kitty door or window.
As your Seminole, FL veterinary clinic, we’re dedicated to offering great veterinary care. Please feel free to contact us anytime.
