Pets: 12 Ways to Help Your Cat Safely Enjoy Your Garden
Make sure your cat is safe and happy outside this summer with these purr-fect ideas and some feline-friendly advice
Watching your cat sunbathing on a warm terrace or tiptoeing along the garden fence is one of life’s simple pleasures, but did you realise there are green-fingered moves you can make to ensure your furry friend has an extra enjoyable time outside? From planting cat-pleasing plants to minimising hazards, you can treat your feline to a cat-friendly garden, so he or she is safe and happy outside all summer long.
Keep them healthy
Ensure your cat is fully vaccinated against parasites and diseases before allowing her to explore outdoors. Make sure she’s up to date with flea treatments, too, which you typically need to apply once a month. Neutering is also vital to prevent unwanted kittens and to reduce roaming, so that your cat stays closer to home.
Ensure your cat is fully vaccinated against parasites and diseases before allowing her to explore outdoors. Make sure she’s up to date with flea treatments, too, which you typically need to apply once a month. Neutering is also vital to prevent unwanted kittens and to reduce roaming, so that your cat stays closer to home.
Provide shade
Just as fair-skinned people are more prone to sunburn, the same is true of cats with white fur, including those with only white ears or noses. They are especially susceptible to sunburn during the hottest summer months and sun exposure can also be a trigger for a certain type of cancer in cats.
Rather than slather your feline in factor 30, the best option is to keep him indoors during the hottest time of the day. Make sure your garden contains some shady spots, too, created by plants or trees.
Just as fair-skinned people are more prone to sunburn, the same is true of cats with white fur, including those with only white ears or noses. They are especially susceptible to sunburn during the hottest summer months and sun exposure can also be a trigger for a certain type of cancer in cats.
Rather than slather your feline in factor 30, the best option is to keep him indoors during the hottest time of the day. Make sure your garden contains some shady spots, too, created by plants or trees.
Choose cat-friendly plants
Some plants have a scent that’s appealing to cats. Adding a few of these to your garden is a nice move for your moggy, and some – such as mint – can be useful for you, too. Try also planting catnip (Nepeta cataria), cat thyme (Teucrium marum) and lavender.
Some plants have a scent that’s appealing to cats. Adding a few of these to your garden is a nice move for your moggy, and some – such as mint – can be useful for you, too. Try also planting catnip (Nepeta cataria), cat thyme (Teucrium marum) and lavender.
Take care with planting
Equally, some plants are dangerous to cats. Lilies, for example, can kill a cat if she brushes up against the flower then ingests the pollen that has attached to her fur. A full list of plants that are toxic to cats can be found on International Cat Care’s website.
Equally, some plants are dangerous to cats. Lilies, for example, can kill a cat if she brushes up against the flower then ingests the pollen that has attached to her fur. A full list of plants that are toxic to cats can be found on International Cat Care’s website.
Grow your grass
If you have space in your garden, let a patch of grass grow longer than the rest. This provides a soft bed for your cat, and he might also like to nibble on it to help cough up hairballs.
Discover the design rules you can learn from cats
If you have space in your garden, let a patch of grass grow longer than the rest. This provides a soft bed for your cat, and he might also like to nibble on it to help cough up hairballs.
Discover the design rules you can learn from cats
Let there be logs
Logs provide excellent outdoor scratching posts and if your cat uses them, she will be less likely to scratch your furniture. Chunky tree trunk sections can also double as seating.
See how to make the most of a tiny garden or pocket patio
Logs provide excellent outdoor scratching posts and if your cat uses them, she will be less likely to scratch your furniture. Chunky tree trunk sections can also double as seating.
See how to make the most of a tiny garden or pocket patio
Lock up the toxic stuff
Remember that many sheds and garages contain poisonous substances, so make sure your cat can’t access these spaces. Antifreeze, disinfectants, and insect and pest killers can all be lethal to cats and should be kept well out of reach.
Remember that many sheds and garages contain poisonous substances, so make sure your cat can’t access these spaces. Antifreeze, disinfectants, and insect and pest killers can all be lethal to cats and should be kept well out of reach.
Secure your fences
Although cats can climb and escape from even the best-fenced garden, it’s a good idea to make sure your boundaries are secure. This is not to keep your cat in, but to ensure neighbouring dogs stay out. If next door’s dogs can squeeze through the fence, they may end up surprising your cat while he chills out on home turf.
Although cats can climb and escape from even the best-fenced garden, it’s a good idea to make sure your boundaries are secure. This is not to keep your cat in, but to ensure neighbouring dogs stay out. If next door’s dogs can squeeze through the fence, they may end up surprising your cat while he chills out on home turf.
Make ponds safe
If you have a pond, your cat may be tempted to drink from it, which means there’s also a risk of her falling in. If possible, spread some wire mesh securely over the pond, or make sure there’s a low edge so it’s easy for your cat to scramble out if needs be. If you have a water butt in your garden, make sure it has a secure lid, too.
If you have a pond, your cat may be tempted to drink from it, which means there’s also a risk of her falling in. If possible, spread some wire mesh securely over the pond, or make sure there’s a low edge so it’s easy for your cat to scramble out if needs be. If you have a water butt in your garden, make sure it has a secure lid, too.
Steer them in the right direction
If there are birds’ nests you want to protect or sections of the garden you don’t want the cat to visit, use safe deterrents to keep him at bay. Cats don’t like the smell of citrus fruit peel, so scatter some around the area. They can also be deterred with chicken manure or pellets of lion dung, available from pet shops. Cats will also be put off by any surface that’s uncomfortable to their paws, such as broken eggshells, stone chippings and prickly plants.
If there are birds’ nests you want to protect or sections of the garden you don’t want the cat to visit, use safe deterrents to keep him at bay. Cats don’t like the smell of citrus fruit peel, so scatter some around the area. They can also be deterred with chicken manure or pellets of lion dung, available from pet shops. Cats will also be put off by any surface that’s uncomfortable to their paws, such as broken eggshells, stone chippings and prickly plants.
Plan for night-time
There is some debate about whether you should keep your cat in at night. Whatever you feel is right, be aware of the risks of night-time exploration. Cats are natural hunters in the wild and night-time is best for this, so both domestic and any feral cats will be out hunting at night and will defend their territories.
This can lead to fights and injury, not just from the skirmish, but from a panicked exit, with all the scrambling over fences and through bushes this involves! Feral cats may also be carrying viruses that they can pass on to your cat.
TELL US…
Do you have any advice for keeping your cat safe and helping him or her to enjoy your garden? Add your suggestions to the Comments below.
There is some debate about whether you should keep your cat in at night. Whatever you feel is right, be aware of the risks of night-time exploration. Cats are natural hunters in the wild and night-time is best for this, so both domestic and any feral cats will be out hunting at night and will defend their territories.
This can lead to fights and injury, not just from the skirmish, but from a panicked exit, with all the scrambling over fences and through bushes this involves! Feral cats may also be carrying viruses that they can pass on to your cat.
TELL US…
Do you have any advice for keeping your cat safe and helping him or her to enjoy your garden? Add your suggestions to the Comments below.
If you’re going to let your cat outside, make sure he is properly identified. A collar with a name tag is one option, but collars can become loose and fall off. Cats Protection, Britain’s biggest cat charity, recommends microchipping your cat instead. Smaller than a grain of rice, the microchip is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades, and is a safe, permanent way to make sure your cat is identifiable if he wanders too far.