Indoor cats to free range?

[BBP]

My cats spent the first year of their lives as housecats and then went to an animal shelter at which point I rehomed them. The road outside my house was a super busy rat run and many people in the village lost cats to the road, so we created an amazing ‘catio’ and cat walkway out to a pen further back in the garden. I never used my front door so it was easy keeping them from escaping to the road.

They are now 5 years old and have no street smarts. We have just moved to a house in a bigger village but with a slower quieter main road that I am a block away from. My front door goes straight out into the cup de sac and has no ‘air lock’ for preventing them from escaping. The back garden has fields and a stream behind. Neighbour to one side likes his birdwatching and isn’t a big fan of cats in his garden. Other side has a dog.

I’m trying to decide if I should try to cat proof my garden or just toughen up and let them out to free range. One of them is the type to go adventuring and I worry she wouldn’t come back, but cat proofing this garden is a whole lot harder and there is a real likelihood they will make a run for it out of the front door anyway. We have always had free range cats before but I guess I worry more as these guys have never had the opportunity.

Any ideas, what would you do? GPS collar recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[BeckyFlowers]

I would cat-proof and keep them in your garden. I would be worried that they would get themselves into difficulties after five years of being kept in and in catios. Especially with your neighbours either side not being cat-friendly places. If it were me I would either build them a massive bad-ass catio or make overhangs on my fencing so that they can't climb out, whilst also proofing the bottom of the fence. Are you able to add an air-lock to the front door? They sound like they landed on their feet with you

 

[Teajack]

I would definitely catproof the garden I'm afraid if they don't know about cars.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Definitely catproof the garden. I rehomed 3 house cats who had no idea about traffic and still don't. They are old now and never leave the garden so are no longer in the run except at night. I used a company from America to create mine called Purrfect Fencing (I think) but it is pretty basic. I love the sound of your proper catio and run, I have seen pictures of some fantastic ones from Australia with high walkways, holes through windows into rooms and even growing trees for scratching on. Sadly I wasn't able to replicate them as I am rubbish at DIY 😁

 

[BBP]

This was their last one. With the new garden I will have to try to cat proof the whole perimeter, tricky due to shrubs and flat roof and pergola areas.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

They look much more professional than mine and worth it for peace of mind. Take a look at the Purrfect Fence system, you can do whole gardens with it either freestanding or using the arms they provide to attach to existing fencing. They now have a UK website as well.

 

[splashgirl45]

why couldnt you do the same at this house? i always thought you had done a great job with your enclosure and if the cats have been happy there is no reason why they cant be happy in the same type of scenario....it would be lovely to do the whole garden but this is a good alternative to being run over or disappearing for good...if i ever didnt have dogs and wanted a couple of cats i would have the same sort of arrangement or make my garden secure as i am quite close to a main road and wouldnt want to lose them or have them bothering other people.....IMO if people want cats they should cat proof their gardens and keep them under control and away from roads, other peoples gardens and birds...my dogs are not free range so why should cats be allowed everywhere?

 

[Fluffypiglet]

I would love a cat proof garden, our cat is getting older and still goes out and fights. We got him as an adult cat who would not be happy to be kept away from his neighbourhood (he was a neighbours cat who moved in with us as he didn’t get on with her other cats). If I had another cat or kitten I would do my best to make it happy about being a homebody. Not nearly as much to worry about. Stops mess in others gardens, allows you to keep a much better health check on it and avoids the worry of where they are, what they’re up to and who they maybe interacting with.

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Definitely cat proof the garden rather than let out your old catio looks fantastic so if you can recreate that and ensure they have stuff to do in the home it's far safer as there will still be cars around even in a quiet area plus unfortunately, nasty people. Not saying your area is nasty but unfortunately you never know, I follow a cat rescue on Facebook and see some awful stories and would rather know mine were safe. My families last 3 cats have been house cats as there is a nasty road at the end of the street plus 2 are ragdolls so not supposed to be out due to no perception of danger. They have supervised garden time in the summer. Even when I get my own place I dont think I'd ever have free roaming cats ever again. I like knowing where they are! Plus yours have always been house cats so it's not like they've had free roaming and now you're stopping it

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

I think the rescue I follow (Bradford cat watch rescue kittens) used protecta pet? To cat proof their garden as they have cats with various conditions who cant be rehomed but this allows them to go in the rescues garden

 

[Mule]

I'd definitely wouldn't let them go free range. It sounds too risky when they aren't used to traffic.

 

[BBP]

I think I agree with you all, cat proofing it is. Just have to keep the little monkeys from escaping long enough to do it all! They won’t be impressed that hay making is taking priority this week.