Dr Sarah Merrett, a veterinary officer who works for the charity Cats Protection, says keeping an enclosure close is ideal. “If owners are getting an enclosure, we advise them to get one which attaches to their property so the cat can come and go as they please (either through the door, the window, the cat flap and so on),” she says. While the gold standard of an outdoor enclosure would be a complete catio (that’s a combination of the word “cat” and “patio” for those who are unfamiliar) it’s not something that everyone can do for their home. That’s because most catios actually connect to the house and while you can pull this off with an open window many setups will require some basic construction that not every landlord is going to be excited about.

Secondly, the larger the enclosure the better. The freestanding enclosures featured in this article are all of a reasonable size, and should not make your cat feel like they are confined to a tiny space.SecureaKat designs and manufactures custom netted cat enclosures for customers Australia-wide using soft, yet super strong, netting which is pre-stretched to prevent sagging. They provide an Australia-wide installation service as well as DIY kits and supplies. Freestanding or attached to the side of your house, balcony, pergola, part or complete gardens, their netted cat enclosures and cat runs can be customised to just about any size and shape. They provide a 10-year warranty against stretch, sag and UV deterioration on their netting. See https://secureakat.com.au. SecureaKat Yard Enclosure – Fully netted (Source: https://www.secureakat.com.au/cat-enclosures-and-cat-runs/) SecureaKat Partial Yard Enclosure (Source: https://www.secureakat.com.au/cat-enclosures-and-cat-runs/) SecureaKat Side Alley Enclosure (Source: https://www.secureakat.com.au/cat-enclosures-and-cat-runs/) Cat netting is a simple yet highly effective solution when installed from floor to rooftop. For instance, a veranda or balcony can be fully or partially enclosed with netting to create a safe outdoor haven for your cat. If your house has a side alley, it can also be transformed into a net-enclosed cat playground, particularly if it can be accessed directly via a door, window or cat flap. Nala and Company’s outdoor cat enclosure wins a space on our list for being moderately sized and coming with a wipeable floor installed. It’s absolutely perfect for smaller spaces such as porches or patio areas.. We love that it comes with a removable roof that offers shade to your cat, meaning they can be sheltered from direct sunlight while enjoying the outdoor experience. But, what if you only live in an apartment and want to take your cat outside for some daily exercise? You can’t set up a big enclosure in a common park, right? However, you do have the option to go for foldable pop-up tents or playpens. The best thing about this is that you can set these cat enclosures indoors, too. Portability

If you’re looking at cat tents or playpens, try to look at the mesh’s breathability – if it would allow excellent air circulation. If you’re going for the metal cages or wooden enclosures, you would want something with a weatherproof and rust-proof design. Set-Up Process The high version has an optional stable door design, so you can give them some food or toys without risking the Great Escape. Additional doors can also be added to the catio in various places too. Purchasing or constructing a “catio”, or outdoor cat enclosure, with or without a cat run or tunnel to connect it to your house However, if you have an indoor cat, we would always recommend attaching the catio to your home to limit their exposure to the open. What are the benefits of a catio?

If you want to move it, you can simply wheel it around or fold it up, ready for transportation elsewhere. Though few breakages of any kind have been reported, a year’s warranty is offered, so either way, it’s nothing to worry about. It’s a fair bit smaller than the other two mesh playpens on our list (you probably wouldn’t want to try lie inside this one!), but that can be a bonus if you have restricted outdoor space. Is it permanent? Some outdoor cat enclosures can be folded down when needed. If you don't want a permanent fixture, going down the portable route is the better choice. What type of enclosure? There are a few types of enclosures on the market – portable tents and netted enclosures, permanent fixed enclosures and the grand catio option for the cat that has everything.