Balcony access for Indoor Cat?

[charlotteluc]

Hi! I'm brand new here, and was glad to find your website!
I have an indoor cat, whom I adopted a month or so ago. He is only a year old, and so he still has that kitten-like energy! I have a small balcony, and I go out with him on the balcony (i.e. he is never alone there) at least once a day. But lately, he has been wanting to jump on the railing... I'm afraid he'll jump into a nearby tree.

In other words, I'm looking into getting a pet enclosure for this balcony, and I wondered if any of the members here have set up such a thing, or know of a good product or service. I am located in Sacramento, CA.

I have done a good deal of internet searches for pet enclosures, but most of them are more like play pens or cages. There are also "cat walks" but the goal is to let him still go out on the balcony and see out, but not be able to jump out easily (he would still be under my supervision).

Any advice will be much appreciated!

char

[Traci]

Never assume your kitty won't jump on the railing. In one split second, as you blink or turn around, he could be gone, or worse, fallen and hurt or ....

The only "safe" method would be to completely enclose the balcony....since this probably isn't possible, then keep him Indoors Only, and provide for him a safe window with a kitty perch of kitty tree nearby so he can safely gaze out the window.

[Cleo]

Before I knew better, I used to bring my first cat Keeks (now 5) onto our second floor deck. My sister called to me from below asking for help stringing a windchime up through the floor of the deck to hang below. In the splitest of the split seconds, Keeks jumped up on the ledge. Still then I didn't realize it .. and this happened right in front of my face .. until my sister called out from below.

Needless to say, we no longer do outdoors. The problem I've found with friends who have indoor/outdoor cats (aside from the outdoor dangers) is the cat liking to the outdoors more and more as time goes by. I agree with Traci and advise you not to even tempt fate.

With a prime window seat and plenty of interactive toys, posts, trees indoors, kitty is sure to be happy.

[charlotteluc]

Dear Traci and Cleo (et al ! ),

I really appreciate your input! I have to admit, whereas at the very beginning, my cat and I could sit outside on the balcony and I could read a book at the same time, he has become so much more daring that I have to keep my eye on him every second.

And I agree - I don't think it's worth it to risk him falling... I don't think my landlord would let me do any sort of enclosure thing anyway.

Toby was originally a cat I had fostered but then adopted. I want to start fostering again on a trial basis - with diminutive, younger cats - who could maybe be a companion to Toby. Naturally, I would do all the usual stuff with isolating the new cat in a room with his food and litter and toys, etc...

I would like to see if this foster thing could work, because my one regret with adopting Toby was that I feared the foster stuff would come to an end. I want Toby to have a "friend," but right now I don't want to commit to another cat.

New question: have you had any luck with getting a second cat to be a companion to the first cat?

Many thanks for your advice!

Charlotte

[Ash]

Yes, twice. It takes time though, and it depends on the cats and their personalities. When I was a child we had a cat and got a second - it took years for them to become friends, but they did. A couple of years ago, our Noodle (who we found on the streets) made very good friends with one of our cats, but not with our other two cats (who both have expired now).

There is a thread in the Feline Health forum here called "Feline Introductions", which you might find useful.

[charlotteluc]

Thanks! I'll check out that thread...

[Traci]

I would like to see if this foster thing could work, because my one regret with adopting Toby was that I feared the foster stuff would come to an end. I want Toby to have a "friend," but right now I don't want to commit to another cat.

Fostering isn't a good method to provide "companionship" for Toby. It would only cause him stress in the long term. Doubtful that he would even bond with a kitten or cat that you plan on fostering, only to give him to a new home. Even if he did bond, the stress of the adopted kitten or cat leaving his environment wouldn't be good for him. If you want a companion for him, then get another kitty that you intend to keep for life.

Fostering is an emotional business, in that you need to be prepared for getting attached to a kitten or cat(s) and be able to find them loving homes, homes which you screen, determine trust, are confident the owner would continue loving care with a good environment, regular vet care, etc. TNR (trap, neuter, release) is also a tough/expensive endeavor, meaning getting attached, monitoring the colony, finding a vet who will alter and treat other conditions, and being able to afford secondary costs that the vet may not cover.

Please research carefully before you step into these situations, evaluate your priorities, time, committment, resources, finances, etc.

[Tina B and crew]

Fostering isn't a good method to provide "companionship" for Toby. It would only cause him stress in the long term. Doubtful that he would even bond with a kitten or cat that you plan on fostering, only to give him to a new home. Even if he did bond, the stress of the adopted kitten or cat leaving his environment wouldn't be good for him. If you want a companion for him, then get another kitty that you intend to keep for life.

Fostering is an emotional business, in that you need to be prepared for getting attached to a kitten or cat(s) and be able to find them loving homes, homes which you screen, determine trust, are confident the owner would continue loving care with a good environment, regular vet care, etc. TNR (trap, neuter, release) is also a tough/expensive endeavor, meaning getting attached, monitoring the colony, finding a vet who will alter and treat other conditions, and being able to afford secondary costs that the vet may not cover.

Please research carefully before you step into these situations, evaluate your priorities, time, committment, resources, finances, etc.

I have to back Traci up on that one 100%...I do foster...and my fosters rarely come in contact with my own cats. First reason is due to disease, especially if they are younger kittens and not old enough to test. Second reason is undue stress to my own cats. I have ocassaionally allowed my adult fosters to come out into the house with my own cats, but only for brief amounts of time...and only after I know they are negative for any diseases. My fosters all get their own room away from the "family".

I'd agree that if you want yours to have a companion to consider adopting a young kitten/cat for life...much less stress that way.

[charlotteluc]

I really appreciate your guys' advice about the fosters... and I did find the helpful thread on new cat introductions: thanks!

I find the forum advice especially helpful, because often I'll "know" what to do instinctively with a cat, but it helps to have my opinion confirmed.

For instance, deep down, I know that having a string of foster cats to put in and out of Toby's life is a bad idea.

I think I have guilt issues over the fostering. I knew it would be emotionally draining, and I did manage to hand over the first two cats, albeit with some tears! Toby, however, I just really got attached to. And I was torn about adopting him: like I said before, I knew that adopting him would probably put an end to my fostering. Initially, I DID manage to give him up, and he was taken to the SF SPCA (a no-kill facility with a pretty good screening program, apparently). But I missed him so much, I ended up calling them and luckily, he had not yet been adopted so a week after I gave him up, I went back and adopted him.

I am going to think long and hard about getting Toby a kitten friend. It would definitely be a KITTEN, and in my experience, I find that older male cats seem to get along with younger females. Plus, Toby is only just over a year old himself. But I would really "shop around" for a kitten to find out her temperment, make sure she's healthy, playful, and gets along with other cats, etc.

I ordered a really nice, climbing-type cat tree which will be delivered tomorrow. I'm trying to do everything possible to make his indoor stays pleasant and interesting, through play time and toys he can use by himself for when I go out. I am a student, so I'm at home a nice deal of the time.

Sorry this is so long! I just feel such grateful relief for this resource of asking opinions about my kitty, for people who have a special place in their hearts for cats, and want the very best life for each one of them.

Thanks again -

Char

PS: Again, Toby won't be having a foster cat "friend" - I've decided that.

[Ash]

Yes, you made the right decision! The two cats I have are really good friends, they love each other. If one of them would go away, the other would miss them very much.

Congrats on the new cat tree!