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- Jul 3, 2019
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Hello! First time poster, long time lurker. We currently have a 7 year old cat (we lost her sister earlier this year) and will be getting a couple of kittens this month to keep her company as she really misses he sister. We are thinking of building a catio on our deck for the cats to enjoy during the nice months (we live up north) next spring when the kittens are older. My research has shown that cats love catios and we would make it large enough that we could go in and sit and enjoy with them.
However, I have some concerns that are keeping me from committing 100%. My first is a selfish reason- I am used to indoor needy, snuggly kitties. Will they totally desert me all the time? My human baby is a teen and I already feel a tad deserted! I guess knowing that it makes them happier and quality of life better will help me come to peace with it, should that happen.
More importantly, I am afraid of fleas and ticks- actually I should say I am afraid of the medicine. We have never used it before. I watch the struggle my friends and family go through emotionally when deciding to put it on their pets (mostly dogs). I am assuming if they were to go out, they would need some sort of flea protection, maybe not ticks as will be on a raised deck. I don't know of any safe flea meds! Is there one? Is the joy of the catio worth the risk of the flea meds? Or should I continue to just have indoor babies? I have never had a cat who was interested in going outside, rushing the door etc. and I am considering the catio purely as an added bonus for my cat's enjoyment as it seems safer than walking them.
Any thoughts are very welcome. I am trying to work my way through making the decision and I have until next spring to decide.
However, I have some concerns that are keeping me from committing 100%. My first is a selfish reason- I am used to indoor needy, snuggly kitties. Will they totally desert me all the time? My human baby is a teen and I already feel a tad deserted! I guess knowing that it makes them happier and quality of life better will help me come to peace with it, should that happen.
More importantly, I am afraid of fleas and ticks- actually I should say I am afraid of the medicine. We have never used it before. I watch the struggle my friends and family go through emotionally when deciding to put it on their pets (mostly dogs). I am assuming if they were to go out, they would need some sort of flea protection, maybe not ticks as will be on a raised deck. I don't know of any safe flea meds! Is there one? Is the joy of the catio worth the risk of the flea meds? Or should I continue to just have indoor babies? I have never had a cat who was interested in going outside, rushing the door etc. and I am considering the catio purely as an added bonus for my cat's enjoyment as it seems safer than walking them.
Any thoughts are very welcome. I am trying to work my way through making the decision and I have until next spring to decide.