Many of our customers who have house cats have realised that their cats are missing out on the great outdoors but have been reluctant (and rightly so) to just let their cats roam.  Some of our customers own expensive pedigree cats and others have standard “moggies” but all are loved and cared for.  These owners have told me that they are just so very frightened that something will happen to their cats if they let them outdoors unattended.

They can roam far afield and get lost, they can be stolen, they can be injured or killed on the roads, they can be attacked by dogs or foxes and I have even had reports of them being shot at and tortured by cruel people who seem to find it amusing to hurt defenceless animals.  And so these caring cat owners are purchasing cat kennels with runs so that their beloved cats can be allowed outdoors in safety.  

ideas-4-pets have cat kennels with cat runs to suit all requirements.  They can be made in many sizes and are available as a standard pent cat kennel or a chalet type with an apex roof.  The cat kennel areas are large so your feline friends have plenty of room under-cover – just put their favourite cat bed in there and they will be warm and secure and protected should the weather turn.  The cat run areas are also large and can accommodate from 1 cat to probably about 6, dependant upon the size you choose.  Just put some cat toys like a cat scratcher, a cat scratching post, a cat activity centre or even a large tree branch  for your cats to climb and they will be happy and amused whilst in their cat run.

There is easy access to the cat kennels via a full sized door and there is the option of a safety porch on the larger models if you have a cat who thinks he’s a good escape artist !!  There is a cat bench in the sleeping area with a cat flap and ramp to lead into the run area and there is also an access door directly into the run via a mesh door. 

Don’t forget to ensure your cats have access to plenty of fresh, clean water and their favourite cat food and you’ll find that once they’re used to their new surroundings you will have peace of mind knowing that they are outdoors but safe and sound.

Our cat kennels are delivered and fitted free by professional fitters within 7 working days so once you have made your mind up you will not have long to wait and with the summer approaching now is a great time to make arrangements.  All you need is the available space in your garden and a concrete or flagged base and off you go …….  Decking would also be suitable to erect the cat kennel on.  ideas-4-pets also have a smaller version of the cat kennel and run called the Kitty Shack which is ideal if you have just 1 or 2 cats and you intend to keep your cats outside for shorter periods of time.

Take a look at what’s available and give your cat a taste of the outdoors – let him smell the garden and see the sky and breathe in some fresh air !!

Although a cat who has never known the outside won’t miss it, the chance to feel the sun oon their backs and smell the outdoors is something they will love.  They can amuse themselves in the cat run if you provide them with cat scratching posts, cat activity centres and cat climbers or a tree branch that they can climb and sharpen their claws on.  Place their favourite cat beds in the cat kennel area to rest and sleep in  and make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water and your cats will be happy.

You will also have peace of mind knowing that although they are outside, they are safe.  They cannot get themselves run over or bitten by another animal and they cannot be injured or stolen.

Cats are generally inquisitive and curious creatures and so a cat run makes the ideal place for the cats to either hang out on a lovely, warm summer afternoon or evening or a placee to climb about in and chase each other round.  Most of the cat runs and can kennels have shelves for the cats to jump up on and you could also hang a few cat-friendly plants around and of course some catnip to add to their pleasure.

There are some really attractive cat kennels with attached cat runs around and at ideas-4-pets we have one called the Burley Cat Chalet which looks like a summer house or a Swiss Chalet.  The cat kennels and cat runs we have can usually be built to your own specification and can be as large as you can manage in your garden.  You can also have them with a safety porch if your cats are great escape artists !!

Spring is around the corner so why not think about purchasing a cat run and cat kennel for your feline friend so that she can see and feel the sun too!!

It’s always adviseable to do your homework before making the all important decision of what type of cat to purchase.  You might have some preconceived ideas of which particular breed of cat you want or that you must have a kitten instead of an adult cat, but there are many factors involved in choosing a cat and you might not have even considered some of them.

For instance, families with young children are aware of the responsibility that bringing them up takes and a new cat will be much like having a new child in the family.  This means you must be prepared for the costs of looking after a cat.
 
Small children usually love kittens, but if you bring a very young kitten into your home you may find them loving it too much by squeezing it to death -literally.  Alternately, a small kitten could inflict some very painful scratches on a curious child.  If you have small children you may be better off either getting an older cat that’s used to being around small children or maybe waiting a couple of years until the children are older and more responsible.  It’s worth knowing that most older cats tend to make the transition into a new home easier than kittens do and older cats are much more grateful!  The benefit to the older cat is that most of these cats tend not to find loving homes because most people naturally gravitate toward the kittens. 

If your furniture is important to you but you still want a cat, then make sure you have a good scratching post or your new cat will use your furniture to sharpen his nails !!  A good, clean litter box is also an essential item along with the necessary training to go with it.
Make sure your new cat has a quality soft, warm and cozy cat bed to snuggle up in and maybe a cat carrier for if you have to take her to the vet or to the cat kennels when you go on holiday.  Your cat will also need grooming, so you may need to look at a grooming table.   Cats love the outdoors but it isn’t always safe for them if you live near a busy road so look at an outdoor cat kennel with a cat run attached so that your cat can have the benefit of the outdoors sometimes but within the safety of the cat run.
  
Personality-wise, there really isn’t a lot of difference between male and female cats if they are neutered.  Whole male (unneutered) cats will usually fight for territory if they are outdoors and will liberally spray their strong scent on walls and curtains indoors to mark their territory.   Not a good choice if you value your furnishings !!  Neutering will stop this behaviour and will also prevent unwanted pregnancies in the area.

Did you know that whole (unspayed) females will also spray on occasions and will make themselves and their owners miserable each time they go into season with their loud wailing and bizarre body gyrations.  Another good reason for neutering.

After spaying, a cat’s personality will usually improve which means that both male and female cats will become loving and loyal towards their owners.

It’s always a good idea to bear in mind your own age before purchasing a cat.  If you’re 65 years old or older it’s always possible that you will not outlive your cat, so an older cat would be an excellent choice. You might even want to adopt a disabled cat, one that is blind, an amputee, or otherwise “unadoptable.”  These cats can make wonderful companions and compensate for their disabilities with a wealth of love and devotion for their human saviour.

Whichever cat or kitten you decide upon having done your homework, make sure that he is more important than your furniture and be prepared to change your lifestyle somewhat.  It would be terrible to adopt a kitten or a cat only to want to get rid of it because it is too much “trouble”.

Cats are very clean and can make very good companions for many people, but some of them will damage your furniture and your carpets with their claws and not all cats like to be stroked or handled.

However, most cats do love companionship – most of them like to be with other cats or you and your family for at least part of every day.

In return, you have a responsibility to make sure your cat is offered a balanced diet every day and a constant supply of clean, fresh water.  Your cats will also need a safe place to excercise and play every day, away from unsafe, bury roads.  A cat kennel could be the answer to this if you have a garden that is large enough to take one.  A cat kennel will allow you cat to be in the fresh air, but will also ensure that she doesn’t stray or get knocked down. Just place your cat’s favourite cat bed in the kennel area and a few cat toys and/or a tree branch in the cat run area and he will have his own den to rest and play in !!

Wherever you cat is, she will need somewhere warm and cosy to sleep in and there a lot of wonderful cat beds to choose from.  There are faux fur cat beds, cosy little teepees or maybe a fleecy donut.

Your cat’s fur will also need grooming to keep it in tip-top condition. Long-haired cats need to be brushed every day and shorter haired cats on a regular basis. This process will help you to develop a bond with you cat and also ensure that her fur is clean and tangle-free which will make her feel so much better.  

Just like humans, a cat’s teeth can build up tartar so try and help to keep your cat’s teeth clean by either brushing or rubbing her teeth with special cat toothpaste or take her to the vet for regular teeth checks.

Because cats are independent creatures, they like to come and go as they please so purchasing a cat flap is a good idea.  Your cat will also have to be trained to use a litter tray if she is going to be kept in the house for long periods of time.

A kitten or adopted cat should be microchipped in case they stray or get lost or even stolen and cat neutering should be carried out as early as possible in order to avoid unwanted litters. You should be aware that most cats are sexually mature at six months, but some cats have been known to become pregnant as early as five months !! Therefore, the ideal age to neuter your cat is between four and five months old to prevent any “accidents” 

You will be responsible for taking your cat to the vet if she becomes ill or is injured and also to ensure that she has the relevant injections to prevent her catching any serious diseases. Your cat will have to be Wormed and get used to regular flea treatments.

If you go away on holiday, your cat will have to be well cared for whilst you are away – this could be with the cat kennels or a neighbour taking her in for you. 

All cats love to play and whilst some cats go mad for catnip toys, others will love to climb and hide.  A good quality cat activity centre is a good idea but if this breaks the bank, then a cardboard box is just as good !!  Cats also love to scratch, so a scratching post in the house or the cat kennel is a good idea as this can help prevent you cat from scratching the furniture and the carpets.

It’s worth remembering that indoor cats need more entertainment than outdoor cats, so why not make dinner time more of a challenge by feeding your cat biscuits through a puzzle feeder toy.  Again, if this is too expensive, take a plastic drinks bottle and cut biscuit sized holes cut into it – Your cat will soon learn that batting the bottle around will releases the biscuits and he will love having to play and work for his food.

I’ve had cats and have experienced all these emotions with my cats. George loved to be the “boss”. He would lord it over the other cats, jump on the sofa if he wanted some attention and then just when you thought you’d won him over he would scratch and bite just to let you know that he’d had enough !!

Lucy was a darling, she was an old cat but loved to play with her cat scratcher and loved nothing more than snuggling up on my knee (or anyone else’s for that matter) She loved her own cat bed but was sweet and friendly and would happily share her cat bed with George if he wanted to !! She loved being groomed and would let me comb her fur for hours on end.

Mitzi was much younger and came to me as a frightened half-wild kitten who would curl up in the fruit bowl to escape attention !! After much patience, she eventually crawled over and sat on my shoulder and this turned out to be her favourite place. She would sit on my shoulder whilst I did the house-work, cooked a meal or talked to friend on the telephone. If I wanted to take her anywhere she wouldn’t go into a cat carrier, but would happily sit on my shoulder whilst I took her there !!

Sadly Mitzi was killed on the road by a motorist and she was only one year old. If only I’d know about outdoor cat kennels. Mitzi loved the outdoors although she didn’t stray – a cat kennel would have given her some freedom but also kept her safe and secure. Unfortunately I was at work when she was killed on the road and had cat kennels been readily available then, I would have certainly had one for her and my other cats, knowing that they were able to be outdoors, but having peace of mind that they would be safe and unharmed when I returned home.

ideas-4-pets have a selection of cat kennels with cat runs attached and they are ideal for cats who love the outdoors – you can put their favourite cat scratcher, activity centre or other toys in the cat run and even a tree branch if your cats are climbers and their favourite cat beds fit easily the sleeping area so that you know that when they are resting they are warm and cozy.

George lived to be 15 years old and suffered for the last few months of his life with a form of dementia. Again, a cat kennel would have been great because he loved to be outside in the sun, but I had to watch that he didn’t stray too far or he would forget his way back.

Lucy also lived to be 15 years old and she would have been happy anywhere so long as she had some company – the vet said that she was the type of cat he described as “loving to gossip over the garden wall”!! She always had something to say and would spend ages miaowing to anyone that would listen.

Cats are lovely creatures and they all have their own personality. It’s so important to keep them safe and to give them lots of love and attention – the rewards will pay you back triple-fold !!

As cats have a mind of their own your cat will not take kindly to you waving a toy in her face expecting her to suddenly wake up and become interested in playing with you. Unlike dogs, getting your cat to play, jump about and get excited about exercising to a schedule is not going to happen. Cats are very independent and so the key is to get them to think that playing is their own idea. It’s not difficult if you have the right cat play equipment.

Cats will often amuse themselves for hours inventing their own games. Provide your cat with a small ball like a ping-pong ball, a toy filled with catnip or even a tightly wound ball of wool and your cat will amuse herself for ages. If you use a catnip toy remember to replace it when your cat loses interest. Catnip loses its scent after a while and once the scent is gone, so has all the fun !! If you give your cat a ball of wool to play with, make sure that you supervise her play or she may end up trying to eat it and could choke or she may end up wound up in it !!

If you decide to treat your cat with the best then look for a good quality cat scratcher, cat scratching post or cat activity gym. Ideas-4-pets have a great selection to choose from and they suit all sizes of wallets and all sizes of cats !! Scratching is a natural part of your cat’s behaviour and not only is it great fun but it also helps to keep her claws in trim. With added catnip, Scratch Posts encourage cats to scratch the post – not your furniture!

Many scratch post also incorporate little places for your cat to sleep and hide and have little outposts on top for them to sit and survey the situation !!

A new concept in cat play is the activity gym which offers stimulation and exercise for you cat and hours of fun too !! Activity gyms are usually made from a tubular frame covered in both soft material and corded carpet. The design of them allows your cat to lie underneath them and they have little toys filled with catnip hanging from the frame for your cat to play with.

Whatever you decide to purchase for your cat, make sure that the activity is both safe and fun and that if offers the type of stimulation that cats crave.

If you want your cat to spend some time outdoors but are afraid of these things then consider purchasing a large outdoor cat kennel.

ideas-4-pets have cat kennels which are attractive to look at and built for the purpose. They incorporate a good sized run with a roomy sleeping area. There is a ramp that leads from the cat run through a small door with a cat flap to a shelf in the sleeping area. Put some soft, warm bedding on the shelf and your cat is safe, dry and warm and free from draughts.

If you want another ramp putting in the sleeping area for your cat can to walk up and down, then just ask and we can arrange this for you. Alternatively, your cat may like to jump onto the shelf from the floor area in which case a second ramp might not be necessary.

You can fill the cat run with your cat’s favourite toys or even put some tree branches in there and a couple of cat scratchers or cat activity centres to keep your cat amused whilst you are out.

The mesh that surrounds the run is cat mesh so it designed for cats and the roof covers the whole area so he is protected from the weather. You can also have the option of a safety door which allows you to enter the cat kennel but allows you to shut the outer door afterwards before opening the door into the sleeping area so your if you cat is an escape artist he won’t be able to get out !!

Give your cats the freedom they crave for without exposing them to the dangers outside the home with a quality, purpose built cat kennel and run.

A is for Air - Our large Burley outdoor cat kennels are great for cats as they combine fresh air with safety and peace of mind for you

P is for Play – all cats love to play and what better than one of our cat scratchers, cat activity centres or play tunnels to focus your cat’s attention

P is for Privacy – cats love their privacy and our vast selection of beautiful cat beds will offer your cat this luxury

Y is for Young – keep your cat young at heart with one of our cat activity centres for stimulation and endless fun

C is for Comfort – All cats love their comfort, so take the stress out of travelling when you have to take your cat to the vet or the cat kennels with one of our luxury cat carriers

A is for Activity – keep your cat active indoors with one of our cat activity centres or outside in a large cat kennel with a run

T is for Territory - cats are territorial creatures and they like to have their own space. What better than an outdoor cat kennel with a run where your cat can have its own space outdoors without the risk of being invaded by other cats

S is for Security – whether it’s one of our cozy, warm cat beds indoors, or a cat kennel outdoors, your cat will feel safe and secure

Scratching is a natural part of a cats’ behaviour and helps to keep thier claws in trim. A good Cat Activity Centre will have scratching posts, hidey holes and lots of interesting things for your cat to be interested in.

Cat Activity Centres allow cats to exercise, rest and play just as they would in the wild by encouraging natural feline behaviour such as clawing, climbing and sleeping above ground level.

Let your cat can rest, snooze, hide, scratch & play to her heart’s desire without spoiling your furniture with a Cat Activity Centre