Re: [NN] Re: healthy diet for a cat?

Outdoor cats on average have shorter lifespans, due to the dangers they
encounter. Many people these days who want their cats to have outdoor
stimulation in a safe environment are building cat enclosures. There are
some quite elaborate ones out there, enclosures built off of apartment
balconies, and enclosures built even in rural areas.

Here are some pics of cool enclosures that people have built themselves
(there are kits as well).

This first uses the cat run as outdoor bench seating:
http://www.geocities.com/holmescathy/outdoorenclosure.html

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-enclosures.htm - in this link, the top
half shows an enclosure that spans two levels of an apartment, as well as a
great rural enclosure complete with kiddy pool, tree, and playhouse.

http://www.xmission.com/~emailbox/catrun.htm has links to many other pages
and pics

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/9857/enclosure.html is a shelter
some folks built for feral cats they save.

Also, there are fence toppers to make your yard cat safe:
http://www.purrfectfence.com/

We are in a mostly rural area and have coyotes (found a print yesterday 10
feet from a bedroom window), bobcats, hawks that carry off chickens and
small dogs, and a neighbor with 8 greyhounds next door - far too dangerous
to allow cats to roam outdoors. Our solution has been to build a run for
our cats, and to walk them on harnesses. Our cats grew up with a friendly
family dog and when they got out one night, they both wandered into the
greyhound yard, having no idea that some dogs aren't friendly, and one was
attacked by all eight. She survived and we continue to try to keep both of
them safely inside. Even in the old days when just about all farms had barn
cats, the cats were nabbed by prey and were replaced. Even cats who are
used to living outside and have "street smarts" have higher rates of disease
and being caught by predators. Indoor cats certainly face hazards (dental
floss, thread, essential oils are toxic) but these are more easily
controlled.

--
Shannon
www.kirkwoodrentals.com
www.midnightmoondreams.blogspot.com
twitter: moonrisefm

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