How to create a Cat friendly backyard

Creating a 'Catio' - or Cat Patio - is the first step in keeping your cat safe outside. Not only does a Catio allow your pet to roam freely outside, jump, explore and get fresh air, but will also prevent them from getting lost, or into dangerous situations involving wild animals or traffic. An enclosed outdoor area will also help to ensure the safety of the native wildlife around your home and will reduce the risk of your cat catching diseases from other outdoor or stray cats. 

A catio can be as complex or as simple as you like. you can enclose your existing pergola area with cat safe netting (Which you can easily DIY), or buy a kit online that will help you create a dedicated run space. You could also net off the side of your home and create a long, narrow run space in a typically under-utilised area of your home. You could also add a pet door directly into the run space to allow your feline friends access to their outdoor zone whenever they like! Just remember to check the strength of any materials (i.e. netting) that you may use - if your kitty is heavy or particularly destructive, ensure you choose netting and anchors that will withstand their weight and antics, and don't leave any spaces for escape - cats can be tricky and can fit themselves through spaces that often look too small! Do ensure you have a way for humans ti access the space when needed.

Heavy duty outdoor blinds with a track system enclosing a pergola also make a great option to allow your cat an outdoor area to enjoy, where you can enjoy the outside time together and open the space up when your cat is indoors, so you don't lose any precious entertaining space. Just ensure you supervise your cat if you opt for this option - sharp claws can cause rips in fabric if you're not careful, and lower quality blinds with ropes and cables can cause a risk. For your pets' safety, choose a fully enclosed system like our SmartTrack Outdoor Blinds; which leave no space for escape and have no ropes or cables for the safest outcome!

Another option is to have a structure purpose built to suit your home - this could be connected to your house or kept free-standing, and could include shelter, water. their beds, toys and climbing and scratching posts for longer term accommodation. As we mentioned previously - a catio can be as dedicated or as casual as you like! it's completely up to you. As long as it is secure - you're good to go!

Cats are sensitive to many plants, and some plants can cause your pet to fall ill even if they haven't eaten them! Plant's like lilies can make your cat unwell even if it is exposed to the pollen and then licks it's feet or fur later - so it's important to be very careful about what you plant within your cats new sanctuary or have within your home.

Plants that are harmful to cats include:

• Aglaonema (Chinese Evergreen)
• Aloe Vera
• Amaryllis
• Anthurium
• Arrowhead Vine
• Arum Lily
• Asian Lily
• Asparagus Fern
• Autumn Crocus
• Bird of Paradise
• Calla Lily
• Climbing Lily
• Cyclamen
• Daffodil
• Day Lily
• Dracaena Deremensis
• Dracaena Fragrans
• Easter Lily
• Elephant Ear
• Emerald Feather
• Gladiola
• Hellebore
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Iris
• Ivy
• Kalanchoe
• Lace Fern
• Lily of the valley
• Morning glory
• Mother-in-law's tongue 
• Narcissus
• Nightshade
• Plumosa Fern
• Poinsettia
• Kitten Ears Succulent
• Rubrum Lily
• Stargazer Lily
• Tiger Lily
• Tulip
• Wood Lily

If you're not sure - it's definitely worth looking up any plant you're interested in keeping near your cat or having a chat to your vet to ensure your cat's safety.

Similar to a Catio, a walkway or tunnel for your cat can be as complicated or as simple as you would like. 

DIY a cat tunnel around your home along the floor using wire mesh and pins into your lawn or garden, or purchase a collapsible tunnel online and simply place on the grass. For a permanent and aesthetically appealing option, create a tunnel or walkway that runs below your homes eaves or along your fence line, and is designed to match the look of your home and landscaping. You can line the base of your walkways with decking timber or artificial lawn for your cat's comfort. 

It's up to you whether you choose for your walkway to be floor level or mounted higher for your cat to enjoy the views of their land! 

We've covered what plants to avoid, now it's time to look into some plants that your cats will love! Every cat owner knows you can't go past catnip - but there are a few other options to make your cats home even more enjoyable (and beautiful!) for them. 

Catnip - The intoxicating effects of Catnip only works on about 50% of cats, and while it is 100% safe for kitties, is better as a treat left harvested for them on occasion.

Valerian is a plant with clustered white flowers. Completely safe for cats, it acts as a stimulant for felines and has a similar effect to catnip. 

Cat Thyme has strong-smelling pink flowers that bloom in the summer, and has a stimulant effect similar to that of catnip, but can work on cats that may not be affected by catnip itself.

Licorice root is a tasty herb that cats love to snack on, which has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with joint issues and help to resolve digestive issues and promote liver health.

Cat grasses (an umbrella term referring to cat-friendly grasses including wheat, oat and barley) are a snack many cats enjoy in small quantities. Great for digestion and can help in removing hairballs, cat grasses don't have the same intoxicating effects as catnip or valerian.

Lemongrass has a lovely fresh fragrance, is safe for kitties and has only a mild stimulant effect.

Mint is a beautiful smelling and hardy plant that can withstand even the most destructive kitties. While it can cause stomach upset if eaten in large quantities, many cats prefer to sniff and roll around in it than to eat it!

Basil - similar to mint, basil is a beautifully fragranced plant that many cats love to roll in and lay on. It's soft leaves and stems create a perfectly inviting nap spot for many kitties! It also has anti-inflammatory properties for those kitties who like to have a nibble. 

Slightly less comfortable for naps, but safe for cats and wonderfully aromatic are rosemary, sage and coriander. (Although they seem similar, avoid parsley, oregano and chives though!)

And lastly, spider plants! as well as being visually striking, spider plants are a foliage loved by cats due to their spiky, bouncy leaves; and spider plant offspring (called spiderettes) act as an interactive toy for cats. 

This could be DIY built or bought online, but a multi-leve cat tower gives your pet more space to explore without taking up any more square footage in your garden. you can have these against a fence or wall, or free standing. To DIY a cat tower, avoid using treated timbers, pine, walnut or hardwoods that are likely to splinter and cause needle injuries, instead opt for woods like oak or birch. Cover each level with artificial lawn or carpet, and your cat will have a new space to explore as well as more spots to lay and relax. You can also add scratching boards or cardboard tubes to make your cats new space even more interactive for them.

Cats are pretty particular about where they do their business - but a lovely garden always seems to entice cheeky cats! If you want to reduce how much your cat (or the neighbours cat for that matter!) uses your garden as their personal litterbox, add plants with a strong smell that deter cats (such as lavender, or add coffee grounds to the soil around your plants). This will help deter cats from certain parts of your yard without harming them. As for the garden itself, use a larger gravel that's harder for cats to scratch or dig around on - a general rule is to go for stones around 20mm diameter if you want to walk on them, and about 40mm if you don't want to walk on them. This approach can also help you to control where your kitty goes to the bathroom in a catio setting if they don't have an outdoor litterbox.

If you have a roaming outdoor cat, or have cat-proofed your entire backyard, always remember to cover sandpits, pools and ponds when not in use! Childrens' sandpits are all too enticing to use as a litterbox, and while (most) cats tend to avoid water, still water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes which can carry heartworm and other harmful diseases.

If having a catio isn't for you, or you'd like your cats to simply have access to the whole backyard for some supervised play, it is worth going the extra mile to make sure your fences are kitty-proof! A standard good-neighbour fence is a good start, however cats have the ability to easily jump fences, and will take advantage of retaining walls, flower pots and outdoor furniture to make their escapes even easier. To create a secure backyard for your cat, you could add angled netting to the top of your fence (similar to what you might see on enclosures at the zoo!) or cat rollers which sit atop your fence panels. And don't forget that cats are adept diggers - place wire or a concrete slab at the base of your fence to prevent your cat from escaping underneath!