How much room do cats need??

[Moondog55]

So we are getting a cat or two.
So as I don't like cat boxes inside the house we need to do some sort of run outside.
So how much room is needed?
My local M10 says to get an aviary or small chook house because if it says "CAT" in the description it costs more LOL
Looking at the smallest Cecile thinks they are too small, I disagree and google just adds to the confusion. Cat people say cats need more room than "Non-Cat" folks but costs triple when you get into the larger sizes.
Please help us find some sort of consensus on a reasonable outside box.
This must be the third of fifth time we have asked and I'm no clearer

[chrisp]

So how much room is needed?

Each cat will only require the space of that of a medium sized shoe box - buried deep in the ground.

(Answer provided by our dog).

:)

[Godzilla73]

So we are getting a cat or two.

Mistake #1 ^

Mistake #2 Making them comfortable and happy.

[Moondog55]

Each cat will only require the space of that of a medium sized shoe box - buried deep in the ground.

(Answer provided by our dog).

:)
NOT a cat person then?? LOL

[chrisp]

NOT a cat person then?? LOL

I don't mind them. However, the dog (who is normally quite placid) goes feral around them.

:)

[Cecile]

Obviously not cat people, including my darling dear Moondog. *eyeroll*

[Uncle Bob]

So as I don't like cat boxes inside the house we need to do some sort of run outside.


What the hell is a cat box?
I thought people normally just use chicken wire and a frame and make it as big as they can afford and depending on space.

[Cecile]

What the hell is a cat box?

Cat box = litter tray

[sjt]

Honestly, the only good cat is a dead one. Problem solved :)

[SilentButDeadly]

Honestly, the only good cat is a dead one. Problem solved :)

Actually it's only good if it is skinned, gutted, stuffed with lemongrass, a quartered lime & thai basil and marinated for a few hours in your favourite thai curry paste then whacked in the oven for an hour at 180 degrees. Then it is quite acceptable...

[intertd6]

If you can swing the cat around & it hits the walls then thats the perfect sized room for a cat, but just too small for a human.
regards inter

[Moondog55]

OK fellers I can take a joke, but I would like a proper answer, how much of our budget need we spend to house a couple of cats??
This is all about keeping the boss happy and remember she ( SWMBO ) knows where you sleep

[amiaow]

Why do the cats need a run? Can't you let them do what they like during the day and bring them in at night? They will be purrfectly content that way!

[shauck]

I agree with amiaow (and with a name like that...) Our cat was used to kitty litter for most of it's life (10 years old). For the last 2 years, she has been witout kitty litter and adjusted very easily. We just have to make sure she can't s***t in the fireplace. If you really have to let them out at night, a very small enclosure leading straight from a cat door to a kitty litter area that also has a door that you can leave open during the day, to let them wander or close at night to let them do their business without getting out. I reckon it's not necessary, personally. Sushi (our cat) is happy as Larry.

[Cecile]

This is all about keeping the boss happy and remember she ( SWMBO ) knows where you sleep

Sorry guys, mostly disappointed at the responses to what is actually a serious question. We will deal with an indoor litter tray if we have to, but ultimately we are trying to work out how big an enclusure they will need outside, via a cat flap. All living things need fresh air and sunshine

We will not let a cat wander free during the day. Cats do not belong in our environment due to their instinctive behaviours to catch and kill things, no matter how well-fed they are, and we want to continue to attract native birds and other small critters into the garden. Additionally, suburban street + cat = bye bye pussy, way too often.

[goldie1]

There is really no answer to your question. It depends a lot on the temperament of the cat. Most cats will live quite happily

indoors all their lives. They like a high point in a window to look out. If you build an out door run for them they will usually

adapt to what ever size you give them. The more room you give them the more they will use. They like long narrow runs

which go up and down rather than a large area and definitely do not let them roam. The few birds, frogs ,lizards we have left will

thank you.

[SilentButDeadly]

OK I can be serious on occasion.

Go to school on the Catnip products from Stawell Catnip Modular Cat Parks, Cat Enclosures: Complete Kits (http://www.catnip.com.au/diy_kits.php)

They are a very good product but they aren't cheap. The key though is that they have the sizes quoted and they are RSPCA endorsed...so they must be OK

[Moondog55]

It is almost cheaper to have kids isn't it? LOL And I'm the bloke who thinks that cat food should have 100% sales tax added

[r3nov8or]

...Cats do not belong in our environment due to their instinctive behaviours to catch and kill things, no matter how well-fed they are....
In fact domestic cats are one of the very few animals that catch and kill for sport alone.

[Moondog55]

Add Dingos and feral dogs and foxes to the list, and people too I guess; but there are good and well documented reasons for this, most of which are related to the fact that native animals are not instinctively wary of these predatory animals and are so easy to catch.

[johnc]

Actually cats should be housed in an enclosure sufficiently large enough to have the car exhaust hose extension inserted without causing discomfort to the cat. (I'm half serious because of the damage they do)

I understand they should have an enclosure that is not to large, infact not much larger than the cat with a flap of some sort, which allows them to remain reasonably warm. The enclosure should either be inside or connected to a run. I've seem some that have had a footprint of maybe 6' x 6' with something to climb plus a platform. A longish run, maybe 3' wide down the side of a house or shed perhaps, however I have no idea what is appropriate for a cat, but a short length of roof over the run and a sheet at the back to act as a wind break help. You end up with a little U shaped rear with a sleeping box inside that covering. Some access to direct sun, and a sheltered area from wind would be the two things to aim for.

[Black Cat]

There is a company in Melbourne that makes cat runs - they are fairly expensive though and you can copy their plans and use small mesh weldmesh for construction. I had one that came off the house - so the cats could come and go - this rather reduced the amount of floorspace required as they had the run of the house.

In reference to cat litter boxes, you can get covered ones (at chickenfeed - only $20.00, at a pet shop more like $60.) You can also now get a crystal cat litter (basically a hygroscopic mineral) that has odour eaters in it and lasts at least 14 days if you have two cats. Since my cats spend their weekdays confined to the laundry and bathroom with three of these things (and water and food etc) and I can come home at the end of the week to an odour-free house, I can vouch for their effectiveness. If you make a run solely for the purpose of toiletting, it is going to get awfully smelly after a while ...

[Floop]

You could always Litter Kwitter train your cats...

Although I find something a bit disturbing about it (though how much more than actually cleaning up after their litter tray adventures?).

The bigger enclosure the better, although you can save some space by using tunnels to other smaller enclosures, and I've seen one that went up into a tree then up onto a roof (all enclosed). Probably on the pricey side I'd imagine.

Catmax enclosures are supposed to be good too (along with the Catnip, heard about them and similar style mesh enclosures), the Catmax are more of a netting style though. A bit less visible than other ones so that might be a bonus.

[Cherrryrockette]

We have 2 inside cats and we're going to make an outside cat run that they can access via a cat flap. After a lot of research, we have decided to make the size the same as the boarding kennel we sometimes send them to when we go away. It's about 180 x 120 x 60. The back is solid, with chicken wire sides, top and front. Wooden frame. Small wire tunnel from house to cat cage. Add in two shelves, at middle and top for sun baking. Carpet up the back for claw scratching.
i think you could build pretty easily, or just buy a large aviary and customize. hth.

[SlowMick]

maybe start wth looking at where you want to put it. friends have there's down the side of the house. it is accessed by one of the awning windows rather than a cat flap. It looks like to was made from a light timber frame and 50mm mesh. it has ben extended a couple of times ( for additonal cats) but each time it has been kept away from the windows of the house so you don't see it when you look straight out. the house gives you a free wall of your run. judging by the work you ae doing at home your not going anywhere soon. so ong as it is interesting, safe and warm i don't think size matters that much. i guess you could alsways just make the cats an outdoor lav and let them hang out inside.

[goldie1]

Sorry guys, mostly disappointed at the responses to what is actually a serious question..
See we can be serious ! We just need a slap around the head occasionally
:)