Tips on Choosing Cat Enclosures

It's a jungle out there – the outside world is full of hazards. That's why more cat owners are keeping their feline friends inside. Keeping kitty indoors is the responsible thing to do and protects cats from loss, disease and injury. Cats adapt well to indoor living if they are provided with enough exercise and stimulation to keep them fit, interested and alert.

When designing an enclosure or habitat, consider the following:

Remember, most enclosures will not prevent exposure to parasites and communicable diseases. Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies and other organisms can jump or fly into an enclosure. Free roaming cats infected with contagious diseases can pass them to your kitty if they can get close enough. While some diseases like feline immune deficiency virus (feline AIDS) are not easy to contract through casual contact (the common mode of FIV transmission is bite wounds), others such as the deadly feline leukemia virus (FeLV) can be contracted more easily. Be sure kitty is current with all vaccinations including FeLV, and use a flea preventive if you live in an infected area.