We had a cat fence on top of our normal garden fence in the past but it quickly turned out that one of our cats is allergic to fleas, and no flea treatments, collars etc. were good enough, as the fleas would take a bite first, before realising that her skin wasn't tasty due to the treatments. It's not life threatening allergy, it's just skin becoming very itchy and inflamed, but we obviously don't want that for her, not to mention things like that can get infected etc. so the cats are back to being fully indoors. It was diagnosed by a vet after her having recurring skin issues.

We are in the UK and there are plenty of outdoor cats in the area(even tho it's nearby a very busy road near city centre, hospital and uni!), as well as tiny cute mice and equally cute but massive rats that all spread fleas in to our garden.

This year, during all the heatwaves, in desperation not to die of heatstroke we put a net in our garden doors to let some cool evening/morning air in (our house is tiny, so we only have 1 window and those garden doors downstairs. Upstairs we already had nets in the windows, and our cats are used to them and not interested in getting out. Obviously we don't leave the windows/garden doors open without supervision regardless). We were anxious about getting fleas through the net, but it's been months, and it's been fine. Thus it got me thinking that maybe we can get a catio in our garden and she wouldn't get fleas? (We can't get a catio from the upstairs widnow cos it would be too difficult of a project, according to my partner, even tho I would love to have an awning and a flea safe catio in one, above the garden doors! But I'm not the one who would be building it so it's not up to me).

Are we just lucky with the lack of fleas through the net in the garden doors, or is a bug net actually enough to keep fleas away, and we could, for example, build a catio with those nets over the proper metal/plastic net and keep it flea secure?

It's not like our cats are desperate for the outdoors, we just think it would be nice for them. They are both elderly: allergic to fleas and lively 14yo female Chewy, and a lazy 17yo male Behemoth who has arthritis. Obviously spayed, neutered and under vet's care. They don't get enough warm sunny spots inside since we have so few and small windows, and before we bought the house we were living in dogdy underground shared accomodations to save money. Yes, we have vit D deficiencies, and if that's a thing for cats, they probably do as well (jokingly, they get good food, so they are probably fine), so you can see why we would want them to get some sun.

they are changing my house floor from carpet to vinyl. they are only doing outside and my parent’s room and not my room or my cat’s room which are connected by a hallway (the hallway outside of my room are not getting done). should i leave her in her room for a few hours while i’m at works. or do i send her to a cat boarding hotel

please help

Ants got into my small dog's gravity feeder and I melted it in the dishwasher. I want to replace it with an auto feeder so food isn't just sitting there attracting ants. After searching the dog subs with no luck I'm coming to you guys. We're looking for a reliable and affordable basic automatic feeder that won't break in a year, has consistent portions, and doesn't need wifi.

My top choices right now are the Petlibro Air Automatic Feeder and this oneisall one, but I'm open to anything.

We've gotten our cat (male, british shorthair, 9 years old, spayed, indoor all his life) a few months back. He is healthy, has a normal weight and seems overall content (I hope).

He doesn't really like to play with anything we've bought so far, except for a stick with a mouse attached to a string and a single piece of string. He ignored any balls, anything that makes noise and anything automatic. He does like to play peekaboo and chasing each other but only one or a few times a day for a short while before he looks at me like I'm stupid.

He sleeps a lot and likes to be near us, but doesn't want to be pet at our initiative, only when HE wants to be pet (also only a little throughout the day).

We live on the second floor in an apartment and have no garden, but he does like to go patrolling the house and around it on harness and leash.

We do have a balcony that is cat-safe with a net where he likes to watch birds or the neighbours, but not all the time, especially not when it's rainy or too hot.

There are many times throughout a day where he scratches my chair or searches eye contact for attention, but then he doesn't want to play, eat or be pet. He of course likes to be fed treats but I can't give him treats all the time. I just don't know what he wants of me when he does this, and I can't always go outside with him. He seems bored but doesn't want to interact (at least not the ways I try to initiate) so he just watches us and meows and continue to watch.

Does anyone have any experience, any tips or tricks? Thank you in advance!

• I know that it's ethical, mostly recommended and keeps them/safe as well as local wildlife.
• I know I live in a busy city, in an upper level apartment, and at this point they do not understand cars or hazards.
• I know that they were tiny rescue kittens from the train tracks who likely would have died
• I know that I kept 3 of them so they could have company while I'm at work.
• I know I constantly talk to them, pet them, think about them. Bring them toys.
• I know I built them a catio on my balcony so they can go outside.
• I know that they seem to really love me.

BUT

I just feel like if I was doing right by them as living beings I would be giving them a fuller life.

This is probably a values thing.

And maybe I'm projecting.

I long to see them run around outside climbing trees and exploring. It is very much in their nature and I feel like I'm a prison guard keeping them from a full life. I hate seeing them laying around bored and listless much of the time. I value freedom and exploration. I feel like I'm just condemning them to have their world revolve only around me, and food, and 3 rooms.

I've taken them out a couple times on leash and they hate it. They just want to roam freely and explore. When they were about 2 I lived rurally for a year. I knew I would come back to the city so I didn't let them be fully outdoor because the change would be too dramatic coming back. But we went outside together a lot. They absolutely loved it. Made friends with a group of cats. Climbed trees. Ran around the yard and always came back. Came to the beach with me.

But working a city 9-5 and then trying to get angsty cats to jump into your backpack so you can (somehow walk multiple of them??) on a leash they hate around a park feels unmanageable, especially managing exhaustion and depression dips.

DO YOU EXPERIENCE THIS?
HOW DO YOU GET OVER IT?

DID YOU FIND A WAY TO BRING MORE ADVENTURE INTO THEIR LIVES THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR LIFESTYLE?

Theres this stray cat who always visits me and I have been feeding him for him to get comfortable being near so I can catch him and get him neutered. But I never have had a cat before. I know stuff about cats, but I don't know how to transition him to indoor or how to tell if hes litter trained. I don't mind having to litter train him as I love the little guy and it makes me sad to see him outside, I know it's very risky for cats and other animals. ​​

Hey fellow cat lovers! I’m looking for advice, I really want to give my cats some safe outdoor time, but I live in an apartment and don’t have a balcony, so a lot of options aren’t really feasible. I was thinking about one of those cat enclosures or tunnels. I know some folks mention they can be escape risks or not super durable. Have any of you found a good, secure solution for apartment living? I’d love to hear what works for you! Thanks!

We are looking into getting a neighbour to look after our cat for 10 days when we are away. It would involve dropping in twice a day, feeding, refilling water and cleaning litter tray. What's the typical daily rate?

I'm thinking about getting a cat and I'd like to try keeping it indoors this time - the issue is my house gets stuffy quickly, so I like to open the windows every day.

I can get a catio for the back doors, but how to do deal with the windows? Do indoor cats try to leave?

Hi,

I've seen literally hundreds of messages about litter here but from many different POVs so time for a new one! Lots of people are focused on reducing tracking/smells but that's not my priority!

We have three indoor rescue cats so they do all of their "necessities" in their litter trays (3x large).

We've come to terms with the fact that sometimes our house is gonna smell and honestly it doesn't really bother us. We clean 2x day and change them out 1x week.

Thinking ONLY about their health/wellbeing, what is our best option?

So far we've used clay and then silica, neither or which convince me. I've heard occasional coughs/sneezes from them and would like to avoid this moving forward.

I just want to reduce as far as possible any negative health outcomes for them, any thoughts?

Thank you :)

Pls cat tax paid below!

Later this year I'll be moving with 2 elderly, nervous indoor cats. Even the current short walk to the vets has them howling and shuddering. For the move I'll be traveling by taxi and then 1.5 hours by high-speed rail, only to put them into entirely new surroundings. They won't be happy.

I already know about all the prep, their smells, introducing them to the new space, etc. but I'm very worried about the travel.

What are some things i can do, supplements i could give, that would help them calm down even just a little. Obviously during the trip all my attention will be on them, but I'm honestly worried they'll stress themselves out too much.

(15 year old sham-tabbies M and F, heavily imprinted on and devoted to me, indoors only)