Essentially a cat house, unlike a cat kennel, should serve as play area additional to your cat’s environment, and it shouldn’t be treated as a cage or confinement device. Therefore, as well choosing a cat house based on its security potential as you would with a cat kennel, you should also consider how well you pet will be able to interact with it.

As all cat owners know, cats love to seek out there own private spaces and make them their own, and this is what makes cat houses so good for cats and cat owners alike as not do they offer your cat the ideal personal space, but as an owner you will enjoy the peace of mind of knowing exactly where they are.

As well as exploring, cats also absolutely thrive on play. In order to optimise your cat’s experience, you could incorporate a cat run into your cat house set-up, which will give your cat the freedom of movement afforded by a cat run alongside the places to explore of a cat house.

A cat run provides the safest environment for your cat to play in and can be made to provide hours of entertainment with ramps, chew toys and so on. Cat runs come in a variety of shapes and sizes so there is sure to be one that will fit in the space in your garden. For example, if you have a smaller back garden and do not want it all taking over with a cat run, then we have double storey cat runs which take up minimal floor space whilst still providing a good sized area for your cat to play in.

Many of our cat runs can come accompanied with cat kennels, allowing both an indoor and outdoor area for your cat to occupy. This is a great idea for those families who lead very busy lifestyles and are out for the majority of the day as your cat will have the freedom to be either inside or out without you worrying about their whereabouts.

We stock a variety of cat products for all of your cat’s needs.

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 !!

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 !!

I have spoken to an ideas-4-pets customer this morning who has purchased an outdoor cat kennel for her cat.  She informed me that her other cat was killed on the road outside her house 6 months ago and so she desperately wanted her remaining cat to be kept safe but still wanted to let him have a taste of the outdoors.  She had seen ideas-4-pets’ outdoor cat kennels on the web and bought one as she thought it would be the ideal solution to her problem. 

Cat kennels / outdoor cat houses are a brilliant idea, if like this customer, you live on a busy road and you have a cat that loves to be outdoors.Your cat can have the best of both worlds as she will have the warmth and comfort of the cat kennel area and the freedom of the cat run.

The kennel consists of a large roomy area featuring a sleeping bench about 2 feet from the floor that has a ramp leading through a cat flap into the cat run area.  Cats love the sleeping bench because it places them quite high up from the floor and away from any draughts and the beauty of the bench is that you can place a cat bed on there with food and water as well, keeping the cat litter tray under the sleeping bench out of the way.

Alternatively, you can place the cat bed under the sleeping bench where it will be cosy and dark for your cat to feel secure and you can place the cat litter tray outside in the cat run area, leaving the bench as a place for your cat to stretch out and relax on.

The cat run is a great way to allow your cat the freedom of the outdoors but having peace of mind that your cat is contained and safe. You can put tree branches in the cat run so that your cat can climb and keep his nails down, or you can fill the run with your cat’s favourite toys including a cat scratcher.

Your cat will very soon view his outdoor cat kennel as “his place”, a place he can call his own, where he feels safe and secure but still has the joy of watching things going on around him, smelling the air and running around – how much better than being cooped up in the house all day whilst you are at work !! Just remember to leave your cat plenty of fresh, clean water and some of his favourite food and you will have one happy, healthy cat.

Cats who like to be out at night can also benefit from an outdoor cat kennel and cat run as again they can feel the pleasure of the outdoors but you can rest easy in bed knowing that your cat is safe and secure and will be waiting to see you next morning.

You very often find at this stage that you kitten will want to scratch with her claws and this could be anything – the curtains, the furniture, your clothing, your knitting – anything with a bit of texture.  Sometimes this is just for fun and other times it is to keep her claws in trim.

If you cat is left alone all day whilst you are at work she may long for the fresh air but of course there is always the dangers of her getting out of your garden and into someone else’s who maybe doesn’t love cats the same way as you do or she may even venture into the road.  How can you encourage your cat to stay in your garden, so as not to upset the neighbours?

It is impossible to stop your cat’s natural desire to explore but it can be curbed.  You can  encourage your cat to stay in your garden by making it as interesting as possible so she won’t want to leave it but this is not always possible or 100% guaranteed.  Alternativey you can buy her a cat kennel or a cat house with a cat run attached.

This is an ideal “home from home” for your cat.  She will have her very own space to sleep comfortably and warmly under cover in the kennel area or she can play to heart’s content in the run area.    Just place her favourite cat bed in the cat kennel area and her litter tray somewhere she will use it – either in the kennel area or in the cat run area and fill the cat run with her favourite toys. 

Place a cat scratcher, or a cat activity centre in the cat run or even put large tree branches in there and hang catnip toys from the branches so that she can climb and play as much as she likes.  Don’t forget the essential bowl of clean, fresh water each day and some of her favourite treats !!

An outdoor cat kennel is also cheaper than  trying to enclose your back garden using a fencing kit which is not always 100%effective.

Cats are natural hunters and will tend to be more active at night time when their nocturnal prey are also active.  Some cat owners put their cats out at night as they won’t settle in the home at night because they want to be outside hunting, but there is an increased chance of road accidents when cats are out in the dark.  Again, another good reason to purchase a cat house or a cat kennel. 

A cat kennel with an attached can prevent cats that are used to being out and about at night from becoming restless and stressed because they have to be kept in but their owner can rest easy knowing that although their feline friend is outside smelling the night air and watching for little visitors, she is also safe and secure and will be waiting for her breakfast in the morning !!