Apartment Hunting for cat friendly place...

[Sara]

Hi everybody. Right now I live in a large apartment but the balcony can't be cat proofed so they can't go outside. It's also on an avenue and it's loud, noisy and has soot from the street. This makes the cats miserable. I want to move soon and found a great place but it's only around 1000 sq. ft. I have 6 cats. The thing that makes this place feel bigger is it's a loft and totally open. Very high ceilings. The bed is up on a little loft inside so it's off the floor and does not take up floor space. You take these tiny stairs up to it and the walk in closet is under the stairs. The rest is open and it has a huge covered balcony that can be easily cat proofed by hiring a child proofing company. It's large, overlooking two pools and a garden/lawn. Quiet and clean. It's on the 3rd. floor. It's big enough for plants and a big table and chairs. Since it has a roof we can all use it in the rain. It would be me, my s/o and the 6 cats. Also I feel the openness of it they will like because they can be sort of with us no matter where we are in the house and they will love the little bed loft above since they love to be high. I really love this place. I will install a cat door so they can go out and in from the balcony as they please. So what do you guys think? Is this place large enough for all of us? I will be back on Monday to check the messages. I am thinking of renting for 6 months and if we all love it then buying it. Thank you.

[Traci]

I think your last line says it all. If you have the option for renting before purchasing, then you will have a better idea of your home's functionality for yourselves and the cats.

I love lofts, they open the space so nicely.

[Tambrey]

This sounds like an awesome place....if you can rent with option to buy, then I agree that is the way to go...

congrats on a lovely find and I hope it does work out for everyone...

[Sara]

Thanks Tambrey and Traci. It looks like it might be happening with this place. I HAVE to rent before buying with cats I guess. No other way to know. I am going to call some of those child proofing companies to see about getting them there to childproof that balcony before we arrive along with the painting and all other details I want. I don't want any noise or workers or stress for them once they get there. I want everything done in advance. I have a feeling having a safe, outdoor type of a balcony environment will be just what they need. Maybe some kitty perches and condo's built up nice and high for them as well. If the cats are happy we are happy. They are sort of the soul of the house. Now to figure out the best kind of cat friendly plants for the balcony.

[Traci]

Sara, please be cautious with plants around the cats. If you're wanting real plants, keep them in a seperate space away from the cats. If you want to decorate with plants, consider using artificial/silk plants, many are still beautiful, yet safe for cats.

I would also be careful about how high you plan to build kitty trees, etc....if any of your cats are older than 7 or 8, you'll want them low enough so they can access them with ease, and not too high someone could fall.

An enclosed balcony should be safely contained, screens (if this is what you're planning) that are heavy and reinforced, no open spaces between top and bottom, etc...

I can visualize your dream for the kittys' indoor haven, but don't get too elaborate, because the more elaborate you get, the harder it is to ensure safety.

[Sara]

Thanks for the advice Traci.

I was going to ask Vest's derm. about what plants we can safely put in the balcony. We have plants in our balcony right now but they can't go out there. Of course in next balcony they will have access to it, so I need to find out which plants I can keep and which ones to give away. I also wanted to have some grass planted that they could eat and play in. They love kitty grass so much but don' t have access. Of course until Vest is done with his derm. treatments we can't have any plants. This will be when he is done and will be plants only the Derm. has approved. What do you think?

I'll be careful with the kitty condo's and ledges. Keeping them low and safe. I just wanted to put a few in. I'll keep them near the bed so they can easily access them.

The way I wanted to cat proof the balcony is a way that we had in an old apartment that was great. It was childproofed by a childproofing company that uses black iron. There is no way they can get out. The mesh is small enough that they can't hurt themselves and strong enough that they can't damage it. Screen is a bit too flimsy I am afraid. I'm no expert on this but I think the companies that childproof balconies and windows would be perfect. I miss the good old days of not worrying if a window or door was open. It was so relaxing and the cats literally lived out on that balcony. I would grow kitty grass is low planters and they loved going out there and eating the grass. It was also nice having the litter boxes out there. I also want to put in a kitty door in the glass so they have access to the area on their own.

[Traci]

I'm not fond of having any plants around cats, but if you must have them, use only hanging plants that the cats can never get to/reach. Here is a list of common plants toxic to cats. Since you are in Argentina, it would be a good idea to ask your vet for a list of common plant species in your area that are toxic to cats.

The kitty-grass probably isn't harmful, as long as it is wheat, oat or barley origin, and of course, no chemically treated seeds. If Vest has food allergies, however, the wheat based kitty-grass probably wouldn't be a good idea.

[Sara]

I found this link of cat friendly plants/gardens...

http://petplace.netscape.com/articles/a ... artID=2558

Any opinions?

[Tambrey]

I do know that some of the plants listed are used in herbal remedies, but would not know the toxicity to animals, if any...

I did find another list that has more plants listed, and I have not taken the time to research each one on the list, but this list is provided by the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/plants-non-toxic.html

If you question any plants, I would search each plant that you are interested in individually on the Internet and find all you can about it...if you have questions on a few specifics, I can see what I can also find...

[Sara]

Thanks. I saved that list too. These are going to come in handy and I will research each one individually. Good idea.