142 Chapter 10The main advantage of unrestricted outdoor access is that it provides the cat
with the best opportunity to engage in natural behaviours such as exploring, hunting
and predatory play. It can also allow a cat to escape and spend time away from a
household where there may be constant stressors such as conflict and competition
with other household cats.
But the disadvantage is that it can expose the cat to increased physical danger
from traffic, predation by other animals, fights with other cats and increased disease
risk. Risks to local wildlife from feline predation is another important consideration
and in some areas there are regulations restricting outdoor access for pet cats
(Grayson and Calver, 2004). If your cat is allowed free outdoor access, teaching him
to come to call can be very useful (see Appendix 9).
Cats that are confined indoors are kept safe from the dangers they might be
exposed to outside, but decreased opportunity to engage in natural behaviours can
be detrimental to behavioural welfare and the emergence of behaviour problems
can be greater with indoor cats if they are not provided with sufficient space and
environmental enrichment (see Appendices 1 and 2) (Heidenberger, 1997; Strickler
and Shull, 2014).
Semi-confinement can provide a compromise between allowing the cat free out-
door access and total indoor confinement.
A Fenced-off Area
This can be an excellent way of keeping your cat safe while still allowing him to enjoy
outdoor life.
Cat-proof fencing
Because cats are small, agile creatures able to climb, jump and squeeze through small
gaps, fencing your entire garden or an area of your land to securely confine your cat
will usually require careful design and consideration. Specialist fencing, designed to
prevent cats from jumping or climbing over it, either on its own or added to current
walls or fences, can often work very well (Fig. 10.1).
Electric containment systems
This works by way of a buried wire that sends a signal to a collar worn by the cat.
When the cat approaches the wire a warning sound is emitted and if the cat continues
in the same direction it will receive a ‘correction’ via the collar that is said to be sim-
ilar to static electricity. This physical correction can usually be deactivated after a time
because the cat learns to avoid the areas where it has previously received the unpleas-
ant stimulus and the sound alone becomes sufficient to prevent the cat from crossing
the invisible barrier. Although this system is popular with some who report that it
works well for them, it is important to be aware of the potential detrimental issues
that can be associated with it: