Creative DIY Projects for Indoor Cats

Photo: Deidra Bryant

Help Reduce Domestic Cat Predation and Feline Anxiety

Deidra Bryant

If you were to ask me if I was a “dog person” or a “cat person” I would hands down say I’m the latter. I have a diluted calico of my own and my significant other has two cats – a Tuxedo and a Chartreaux. Several of my friends and coworkers are cat owners and most of them keep their cats indoors, but I know a few people in my hometown who have cats that roam around the neighborhood. I am partial to having my cats kept safe indoors, but there are too many individuals who feel that cats should be free to explore their territory, even when their owners are not at home. 

Too many native birds fall victim to predation from outdoor domestic cats. In fact, in the US alone, tens of millions of outdoor cats kill over 2 billion birds annually. The mere presence of cats in an area with bird activity has been shown to decrease nesting success and the overall health of nestlings. This is due to adult birds being hesitant or completely absent from their own nests for prolonged periods of time, affecting how often they feed their young offspring. Additionally, even after the threat is removed, studies have shown that community dynamics become altered resulting in smaller local populations, smaller clutch sizes, and reduced nest building activity in the cats’ former territory . 

If you or someone you know received a cat or kitten for the holidays or even earlier during the pandemic, and are trying to incorporate the outdoors into your little one’s life, I suggest purchasing or even building a screened outdoor area (catio) so that your pet can still get fresh air without threatening native wildlife. 

I built a catio last year using PVC pipes, 2x4s, sisal rope, fake grass, and screen door mesh. My cat Nanako absolutely loved it! She was able to see squirrels and birds from a unique vantage point on our front porch and our young and old neighbors would come and say “hi” to her. Please note: I used to live in a partially secluded community which was up a mountain and didn’t require permits to attach a catio to a house. On my days off I would frequently read outside or do yard work. Nanako would sit, nap, or play in her catio while I was out front with a snack and a good book, or tending to my garden. If you plan on spending a significant time away from the house and do not feel comfortable putting your pet on display or if your HOA won’t allow you to build such a structure that faces the street, I recommend building one in your backyard but check your HOA requirements first. 

Nanako, safely inside! Deidra Bryant

To entertain your cat indoors, you might incorporate unique shelving that allows your cat to lounge many feet off the ground. Did you know that cats absolutely LOVE being able to observe areas from high up? Not only does it provide enrichment by engaging their climbing muscles, but it makes them feel safe knowing they have an advantage for spotting danger from up above. I personally love the idea of floating shelves and wall perches, but please make sure your cat is able to climb safely. 

Lastly, if catios and floating cat perches aren't for you, or you aren’t able to install them in your home, you can simply set up a quiet section of a room that has access to a window. You can spray pleasant scents and place treats there so that your cat will associate your departure for the day as a good thing and assuage any anxiety that may come from you not being at home. 

Keeping our feline family members occupied while we slowly return to the office is very important, and bird/squirrel watching – I like to call it “cat TV” – is the perfect thing to keep them engaged. Most importantly, it’s safe for your pet and the native wildlife near your home.

Cats and Birds – An Unnatural Mix

Photo: stock.xchng

By Lisa Mackem

Last month, the Potomac Flier article “Three Billion Birds” summarized the alarming decline of birds in the US and Canada since 1970.

Habitat loss is the biggest driver of that decline.

The second biggest driver is free-roaming domestic and feral cats.

Cats are not a native American species – the colonists brought the first cats to the US as pets. Free-roaming cats threaten birds and other wildlife, disrupt ecosystems, and spread diseases. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that 100 million cats live in the U.S. and that free-roaming cats kill approximately 2.4 billion birds in the U.S. annually, making cat predation the largest human-caused mortality threat to birds. Researchers estimate that a single free-roaming pet cat kills up to 34 birds annually, and a single feral cat kills 23-46 birds annually.  

ASNV, American Bird Conservancy, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) oppose free-roaming cats and TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) programs for feral cats. PETA opposes TNR programs when the released cats are left to fend for themselves, because in addition to allowing cats to harm native wildlife, living outdoors harms cats. Indoor cats have a substantially longer life expectancy and better quality of life. ASNV has urged all local jurisdictions to initiate public information campaigns to encourage cat owners to keep their cats indoors. ASNV members have met with Fairfax County animal welfare representatives, members of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Arlington County’s Joint Natural Resources Committee, and others to discuss this critical issue for birds and small mammals. 

ASNV’s membership materials include messaging about the importance of keeping cats indoors, and the American Bird Conservancy has published ideas for exposing cats to the outdoors without allowing them unlimited roaming. A “catio,” an outdoor enclosure that allows a cat to move outside within a sheltered and secure space, is one such option. Another option is modifying an existing fence to be cat-safe, allowing a cat to roam within a private yard, possibly with visual or audio alerts and mechanical obstructions to protect birds. Some cats can be trained to walk on leashes or with harnesses or can be restrained in a backpack or stroller. Indoor-only cats need entertainment, and there are numerous options for feline indoor play.

For more detailed information about keeping pet cats and wild birds safe, including suggested products and tips to transition an outdoor cat to indoor life, see the American Bird Conservancy’s Solutions for Pet Cats.