Thread: cats outside

When I first decided to have an outside run for my cats, we built a run in the garden. It was not attached to the house and I had to carry the cats out - I had only 2 at the time. It seemed like a good idea at the time but the arrangement didn't last long. First there was the problem of carrying them out. An armful of struggling and heavy Maine Coon is hard to manage while fending off another Maine Coon that can't understand where their friend is going and wants to come too. I would get the door shut and the indoor one would get anxious while the struggling one was on its way to the run. As soon as it got to the run it would try to bolt but I'd get the run shut and go back for the anxious one. I won't go on - it was a nightmare for them and for me because they sat and stared miserably at the house trying to catch sight of me.

In the end I took the run to bits, brought it over and rebuilt it on the patio which is now a catio. I can leave the kitchen door open for them to run in and out to food, litter and snoozing places and they are all content. Maine Coons love to see what's going on, to hang out and be with you. Mine were definitely miserable in the detached run. Maybe it works for some people and some cats but I really wouldn't recommend it.