Hi

I was wondering what other people have done with their pets when in a rental.
It mainly concerns the cat as we aren't sure whether to keep him in all the time or let him out to explore after a couple of weeks, but he tends to be a hunting cat and we are worried he might encounter snakes and try to bring them home, getting bitten in the process.
I have heard about a modular system http://www.catnip.com.au/ which will allow the cat outside but not cause a nuisance or encounter wildlife.
Has anyone used this system and is it any good or just a waste of money?
Obviously we could only fit this system to our own house, if any good and still leaves the question whether to chance him going out at the rental property as we would always be worried whether he would return.
Did anyone else have this concern and what did you do?
Many thanks in advance for your help.

Alison

There are a few cats around here, one of them is always hunting/stalking and don't seem to have been bothered by the wildlife.

Get a lead/tie out for it so it cannot go out the garden.....

Hi Alison, we have 3 cats and have seriously looked into enclosures since one of them got severely savaged by a local bully a few weeks ago and needed an operation. We even went to a Pet Expo to check some out in the flesh, but were not really convinced enough to buy one.

We would like to, but we think our cats would be thoroughly miserable if they couldn't bounce round the garden. Tough choice to make.

Of the 3 we looked at, www.catnip.com.au seemed ok and versatile but could work out very expensive.

www.bettapetsystems.com.au is a similar thing although maybe not so customisable. I liked the fact that they come with doors (human size!) though for cleaning.

www.catmax.com.au is a different concept, netting not fixed wire, and I thought not so secure.

We are in a rental - we have fitted a catflap and I was led to believe by all the salespeople that we could run a tunnel from it to the enclosures.

My preference is actually to make the fences cat unfriendly so that they can't get out of the garden, but I'm going to need the landlord's co-operation/approval for that.

Still pondering...

I think your cats would find their way home to the rental so long as you keep them in the first 2 weeks or so to let their "radar" reset.

edit: there is also this: www.catnets.com.au

Hi Seasider,

Thank you for your reply, all very helpful.
What did you have in mind to make the fences cat unfriendly as this does seem a useful route?

Alison

At the end of the day it probably depends on where you're living/going to live

If you're on 'acreage' as they call it here "house with land" then higher probability something not nice is going to happen

If you're city/town/estate living then no problem

Good luck anyhow

This is the kind of thing re. fences: http://www.catnets.com.au/featurecat6.html

It would look like you're living in a prison camp but, well, I guess the health of our pets is the priority.

The one problem I have with this is that I have a couple of huge trees at the end of the garden and, in one of his first trips out to explore, my youngster already got stuck up one! If he can't get where he wants due to fence, he's going to be up there again, for sure.

The problem with being in the city - apart from the traffic - is, the Aussie cats are a lot bigger and meaner than my Singapore wusses.

You can see the resultant damage to my big boy here: http://picasaweb.google.com/han.cat/...51923694658338