Today's LA Times Home & Garden section includes an interesting piece about a couple that built an open air "cat run" that is essentially an "...outdoor fun park for felines.." in their Beverly Hills home. It includes "viewing platforms that wind up to the roof for bird watching and sunbathing, and playpens at ground level to allow games and snoozes..." More links and pics to other features in this weeks LA Times Home & Garden section after the jump...
Cat Run Around Owner's House Keeps Felines Safe, Frees Them To Roam
"From Blah bath to ah, Spa"- accessories to transform your bath without major renovation
Darryl Carter offers fresh takes on Thomasville Classics
Dwell on Design LA exhibit focuses on eco-friendly homes
Reminder that Modernica's Warehouse Sale is this Saturday!
[ images by Genaro Molina, William Finlay, for LA Times ]
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
A semi-outdoor cat run? So you get all the fun of cats with fleas, but none of the luxury of cats going to the bathroom outside.... brilliant!
view kvh's profile
Frontline, for cats!!!
I wish my cat would hang out outdoors. She's terrified of everything.
view Stephanie R's profile
Ah, but they aren't coyote bait!
view LilyC's profile
kvh,
You made me laugh hysterically.
view art's profile
I have an an outdoor cat run! It came with our new apartment and was one of the big reasons why we took the place. Ours isn't in the grass tho, its the roof of a lower structure of the building, fenced in so that the kitties cannot escape.
Runs are great because if you live in a city with an bylaw against outdoor cats they can actually go outside, it can prevent fights (and the diseases that come with them) with stray cats, it keeps birds from being killed, and get rid of a lot of boredom for the cats
wish I had a photo of mine right now to show you, but here is the door and ramp we made for it:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2411596473_2630409195.jpg?v=0
view Hollie's profile
The advanced version would have a little cat garden with greens to chew on and enough loose soil for an outhouse :)
view Lizzykewl's profile
Does anyone here have a Kittywalk? How is it?
http://www.kittywalksystems.com/lawn.asp
view Pteetsa's profile
The cat run is brilliant! They can still enjoy fresh air and sleeping in the sun without the potential for getting hit by a car, disease transmission or injury from other animals, and prevents them from decimating the birds - great idea.
view NetAddict's profile
The idea is brilliant! But I wonder if the neighbor cats would taunt my kitty...
view idea chick's profile
as long as owners don't worry about healthy at home cats from contracting feline leukemia from a strange but friendly outdoor cat climbing on top of that thing.
i still love it
the pic of the two cats nose to nose is absolutely adorable
view little flower's profile
hollie: what a neat apartment you must live in!!
view bluetoes's profile
de be some big cats...
view VickyA's profile
I wouldn't bother with a cat run for my indoor cats, but I also have three cats that do go outdoors. I think a large scale cat run would be perfect for them. They could enjoy the outdoors without being in danger from cars and coyotes.
view uisceros's profile
Feline leukemia is transmitted by blood and saliva. ie; fights and sex.
I have a cat yard for my cats. 6 foot wire fence on 8 foot metal t posts. The fence is not taunt and is flush with the dirt. Once grass grows it is anchored well. The "loose" fence is too unstable for the cats to climb.
They enter and exit through a window.
My neighbors have a cat that is FIV positive. With my cats fenced in, I am not worried about it. ( their cat was a stray that showed up FIV positive 5 years later she is doing well)
view Cally's profile