could I look at your cat pen/house/avairy?

[blackcat]

There is a company here in Oz that provides runs for cats that I have used in the past when living in high traffic areas. They are great and come in a variety of sizes and shapes that can be joined together in a variety of ways. The lower runs (high enough for the cat to stand on hind feet and rub head on wire) have a hinged lid for cleaning. The taller ones (high enough to get inside) have a door. Then there are various tunnels that can run along at ground level or elevated. Bob used to love lying in the elevated tunnel and catching the breeze. I have enclosed a tall gum tree with several of the tall ones stacked on top of each other so that they could choose between using the steps or the tree for vertical movement. The only limit is your imagination, really. They are made from small mesh weldmesh and clipped together with c'rings.

[louise_81]

wow that was a palace!!

[Gillian Harvey]

This is two views of the cat run I had at my old house (don't have cat run as such now). The cat flap from the back door opened out into it and it went round in a sort of L shape, down to the shed, then across the back of the consevatory and then a bit of a way down the garden. You can get those aviary panels as MM suggested from Grange Pet Centre
http://www.grangepetcentre.co.uk/Panels-p-1-c-40.html

[louise_81]

I saw them and though of bunnies, but they are a bit on the expensive side I am getting the rabbit kennel (14ftx7ft) delivered and installed for less than that (£490)

[fluffybunny]

I reeeeally like these:  http://www.framebow.co.uk/cat_house_and_run.html as you can extend the run as much as you like, but alas I don't have a spare £800 lying around for such a thing (although I'm looking at them for my bunnies!)

[louise_81]

It would run down the side of the house, so the final picture.  to have it there would just mean the installation of a cat flat to the back door and one through the window of the out house

[Millys Mum]

Aviary style panels can be easily extended when needed, your other option is to make a tunnel run out the house down to where the run is.
My pen is 7 x 6, not huge but suits short term visitors fine also has an insulated 5 x 6 heated shed attached.

[louise_81]

Sheryls is fab so too are the cats of Austrialia ones.

As to space, with the comment of coming and going as they please, I think it would have to run down the side of the house and use the outhouse as access.  Space down the side of the house totals 22ftx5-6ft depending on how close I want to get to the boundary line.

I am thinking of starting off with a small dog run similar to what the rabbits are getting, with the view to expanding it if and when our brood expands.

What size should I get for two cats, baring in mine they are like each others shadows.  Should I go Aviary style for now and see how much time they spend out there and adjust accordingly

[Tiggy's Mum]

Sheryl posted some pics of hers recently, it looks fab 

http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,26402.0.html

[louise_81]

This is going in a circle around the garden  the rabbits are moving from under the window to the bottom of the garden where the tall trees are.  so I can either have the cats in the same place on the top bit of the garden, or down the side of the house, which would allow for cat flaps and free access in and out

[Millys Mum]

Ideally you would connect it to the house so they could access both as they wish rather than be put out, an aviary style run is fine for cats. Iv used a thicker gauge wire thats galvanised, this will last a hell of a lot longer then your average cheap chicken wire 
Provide shelter and plants in there, shelves staggered up and down so they can walk up high. Shelves are best off wide enough for 2 so that no one gets cornered, its easy to pass by then.
Size, what space have you got available?

Eta http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-enclosures.htm theres some amazing runs on here 

[Bazsmum]

We are just in the process of re-cat proofing ours so cant show you anything positive as yet....

Do you have a piccie of your back garden, it would be easier to see where problems may occur etc! 

[louise_81]

Im just wondering what provision you give your indoor cats to go outdoors

I couldn't have the stuff that goes around the perimeter as my boundaries are all different types etc. I have a 2ft dry stone wall 15ft trees, brick wall panel fence and picket fence and a leanto. So I think it would be rather difficult.

I am currently preparing a space for the rabbits, clearing weeds, getting someone in to lay a concrete base, then having a dog run for them to run about in! Its fab its going to be around 14ftx7ft.

I have space down the side of my house which I could do a similar thing for the cats. It would make sense to get each areas done together. ie. laying the foundations at the same time.

But what sort of space am I looking for? Should it be an open avairy style with a dry warm area to escape to. Or should I look at something a bit more enclosed?

Also I have a spare rabbit pen of around 4ftx8ftx28inches. Do you think they would appreciate going in there for the time being? obviously whilst I am in and not for too long, maybe an hour at a time, or is that a but daft?