The Author's Cat Enclosure

Cat Enclosure

As Seen in
March 2008 Issue

When my husband and I first found the land where we would eventually build our home it seemed like paradise to us. The property was tucked away in the woods and was visited by a large variety of wildlife and many species of birds. We invited a landscaper to help us create a bird sanctuary in our yard so our feathered friends would have food, water, nesting materials and safety from predators throughout the different seasons.

It was several years later before our doggie, Jake, found the litter of kittens under the deck and decided to bring them in and raise them as his own.

I immediately fell in love with our little felines, but I was certain this had to be some great cosmic joke! Here we were, with a yard full of birds building their nests and raising their young and four inside cats that sat at the windows chattering, determined to get outside even if it meant using power tools to make their escape.

We decided to build our kitties a screened in enclosure attached to our home where they would be safe from the coyotes in the woods and the birds, chipmunks and squirrels would be safe from the cats.

Star in the birdhouse

An outside view of the enclosure

We envisioned an area that would go down off the deck, wrap around the house and would allow two large birch trees to grow through the roof. Eventually we wound up with a kitty playground that had perches, ladders, runways, trees to climb and access from the house so they could come and go at will. The enclosure is screened in with ¼” hardware cloth, a heavy duty wire that is cat proof but was still easy to work with.

The 100 ft. long rock retaining wall just outside the enclosure is home to many critters, and we have witnessed quite a few staring matches between the cats on the inside and the creatures on the outside, just a few inches away.

Although we have done our best to plug up as many holes as possible there are still little pockets that outside creatures have crawled through. I have caught the kitties playing with snakes, chipmunks and an occasional bird, mouse or mole. We have been able to rescue almost all these little guests, and always suggest they go home and tell their friends and families this is NOT a good place to visit!

The enclosure is only a few years old so the wisteria on the outside is still growing and the plants on the inside are still maturing.

Star strolling along one of the kitty decks

Molly lounging in the birdhouse

We have painted the climbing structure with bright colors which are cheerful to look at during the rainy winter months. When the weather is good the cats are out there all day and night.

I’m not sure who gets more enjoyment from this creation – me or our kitties. But when I go out into the enclosure with a cup of tea the little furballs all come and gather around me, and I am certain I hear them telling me how grateful they are that they can be outside cats, too….and everyone is safe.