I have had numerous enquiries lately about keeping cats in outdoor cat kennels. This seems to be a topic of great debate.

On the one hand, some people feel that to have a cat cooped up in the house all day is cruel as cats like the outdoor life. On the other hand, people think that living in a kennel for much of the time is cruel.

Our cat kennels at ideas-4-pets are made specifically for cats. They feature a large sleeping are which contains a shelf. Bedding can be put on the shelf so the cat is not at ground level and therefore out of draughts. Alternatively there can be blankets etc. put on the shelf with an insulated katkabin underneath the shelf for the cat to sleep in.

A ramp leads from the shelf down into the run area which is roomy and can be built to your own specifications (within reason). If you fill the run with cat nip toys hanging from the roof, activity centres to stimulate and amuse your cat and maybe put in a tree branch for your cat to climb, then your cat will not be bored when he is left on his own.

The cat kennels are large enough for you to put 2 cats in together (provided they get on !!) and they will create their own play between them.

My own opinion is that provided the cat has human company for a number of hours during the day and then goes into the cat kennel in-between times and has plenty of stimulus whilst in there, that this is an ideal situation.

I have spoken to one person who suffers from allergies and she has been advised that a cat kennel would be suported by the RSPCA provided she did as we recommend above. Many customers have bought the cat kennels for when they are out at work because they feel that their cat would enjoy fresh air rather than being in the house all day. There is also peace of mind for their owners knowing that their cat is outside but contained and safe and there is no risk of the cat being involved in a road traffic accident, straying too far from home or even fighting with the local feline bully !!

There will always be arguments for and against using a cat kennel but they are very popular in the USA and I feel that because our roads are getting busier and busier that they will take off here in the UK as well.