Giving Your Cat Access to the Outdoors

While we can give our cats very enriched lives indoors, the outdoors provide great opportunities for enrichment. There are multiple way for your cat to get in contact with the outdoors.

Windows

The first thing you might do is turn the AC off and open some windows because the outdoors means the sun, all sorts of different smells and all sorts of different sightings: birds, mice, squirrels, people, etc. That can be really enriching for your cat.

You do need to make sure that you’re going to have a very solid screen on your windows. Some window screens are very, very flimsy and cats will not think about the fact that they are on the second floor. They just go, “I’m jumping to get that squirrel that’s really near!!!”, and then the screen buckles and they fall down.

This video shows you an example of how to make a frame for your window. However, I would make the screen more resistant by turning it around all four sides of the frame instead of relying on staples. This will make it sturdier, so your cats won’t risk jumping through it.

Balcony

Another thing you can do is give your cats access to a balcony under supervision. Here also, be careful they don’t jump down trying to catch a bird because they won’t think that they’re on the 2nd floor and or on the 40th floor. Unfortunately, that’s a problem that happens pretty regularly to people and is really sad. No one wants their cat to get broken bones.

Catios

Another option you have is to enclose an area to make a catio. Balconies are great for this. There are different kinds of plastic netting and hooks that you can buy and install so that you might give your cats access to the balcony without having to check on them constantly. There is also metal mesh, which that can be used to enclose areas of your garden or to make tunnels.

This video explains my recommendations for catios.

This video shows you what I have done with my yard using Purrrfect Fence and Habitat Haven products and some DIY. This follow-up video talks about the benefits and challenges I encountered.

What about outdoor roaming cats?

One thing you want to be mindful of, if you have cats roaming in your neighborhood, is that they can cause stress in your cats. Opening a window or giving access to a balcony might be something that is too stressful. If you end up with urine marking (when cats urinate on a vertical surface), that’s generally caused by stress related to other cats.

There is also the risk of redirected aggression. That can happen when one of your cats sees the outdoor cat and gets really amped up. Because they can’t get to the cat outside, they will redirect their anger at the other cat in the home, even if that cat is their very best friend.

These are risks that you should consider.

Why give access to the outdoors

Whatever way you use to give your cat access to the outdoors, this will promote multiple beneficial behaviors.

Sun

We know that, for renal disease, it is recommended for humans to spend more time in the sun. Cats are very much prone to renal disease, and so giving them better sun access might be beneficial.

Resting in the sun is also very pleasant because of the warmth.

If you have a dark cat, because of black body radiation, they will get warm more quickly. You therefore have less risk of them ending up with sunburn because they will go and find shade before they are too hot. But if you have a lighter coat colored cat, like a white cat, then they are more prone to sunburn and you have to be mindful of that because they don’t get as warm as quickly.

Wind

Feeling the wind on you can be pleasant, but it also brings with it all sorts of interesting smells: birds, mice, insects, squirrels, people, groundhogs, etc.

Hunting

We’re going to hope that our cats don’t catch birds, but insects like cicadas and grasshoppers mean opportunities to chase and eat prey.

Sounds Smells and Textures

Cats get to see but also hear birds and all sorts of things that we don’t hear.

They also get to smell all sorts of things that we can’t smell and feel a variety of textures: grass, earth, rocks, concrete pavers, etc.

Plants

Be mindful of the plans that you put in your catio or have in your garden. Look at sites such as petpoisonhelpline.com to get an idea of what plans you should avoid. Lilies and Hemerocallis, for example, are dangerous.

Shade and Water

In the warmer months, cats need to have an opportunity to access shade and water. If you have an enclosed space way from your house, from which they cannot flee, you’ll want to make sure shade and water are still available.

Access

You do not want to let your cat outside alone if they are to be stuck in an enclosure. You’ll want to be with them so you can monitor whether they are comfortable or not inside it. Ideally, your cat should be able to go outside and come back inside on their own. This can be accomplished by propping open the door or using a cat flap. Here’s a video of the winter cat flap that I use in the colder months. If you need to train your cat to use a cat flap, here’s a video showing a very simple way to accomplish this.

Cats love to explore and giving them access to the outdoors is a great way to enrich their lives.