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Hi! I'm new here and we've just built a nice sized catio/enclosed area for my 3 cats and two dogs (Papillons). It's pretty well complete except for the "floor". There's a patio inside the catio, but the rest of the ground is a mixture of loose stone, dirt (mud), and thistles. There are a few spots of grass that the dogs use to pee on, but it's very sparse.
I've been considering what to do and I'm not sure which direction to turn. So far I've considered:
-Plant grass.
(Pros: Cats love the grass, dogs are used to it.)
(Cons: I'd have to mow it. Possibly more fleas. Could take awhile to start growing so I'd have to keep everyone off of it for quite awhile.)
-Install turf.
(Pros: Pretty to look at, low maintenance for the most part. It would be nice to see something green and cheerful when the weather is gray and brown mud.)
(Cons: Expensive. Will need replaced after x number of years depending on what the manufacturer says. If someone would have diarrhea it could be hard to clean up, and in the winter time there will be no possibility of using a hose. And my main concern, is it safe for them to walk on, roll in, then lick their paws/groom themselves? My older dog has lymphosarcoma and I'm doing my best to be as green as possible, and am probably being overprotective but who cares
-River rock/pea gravel
(Pros: Pretty to look at. Easy to maintain.)
(Cons: Not very comfortable on their paws. Could be a choking/intestinal blockage hazard if someone would swallow one.)
-Mulch
(Pros: Easy to maintain, easy to rake around.)
(Cons: Could be messy, same choking/blockage hazard.)
If anyone has any insight or other ideas, I'd love to hear them! TIA!
I've been considering what to do and I'm not sure which direction to turn. So far I've considered:
-Plant grass.
(Pros: Cats love the grass, dogs are used to it.)
(Cons: I'd have to mow it. Possibly more fleas. Could take awhile to start growing so I'd have to keep everyone off of it for quite awhile.)
-Install turf.
(Pros: Pretty to look at, low maintenance for the most part. It would be nice to see something green and cheerful when the weather is gray and brown mud.)
(Cons: Expensive. Will need replaced after x number of years depending on what the manufacturer says. If someone would have diarrhea it could be hard to clean up, and in the winter time there will be no possibility of using a hose. And my main concern, is it safe for them to walk on, roll in, then lick their paws/groom themselves? My older dog has lymphosarcoma and I'm doing my best to be as green as possible, and am probably being overprotective but who cares
-River rock/pea gravel
(Pros: Pretty to look at. Easy to maintain.)
(Cons: Not very comfortable on their paws. Could be a choking/intestinal blockage hazard if someone would swallow one.)
-Mulch
(Pros: Easy to maintain, easy to rake around.)
(Cons: Could be messy, same choking/blockage hazard.)
If anyone has any insight or other ideas, I'd love to hear them! TIA!