Short version: Would like to buy/build a cat house outdoors that keeps out all other animals except it's actual cat residence.

I know, I know... sounds impossible. If she can climb into it so can a racoon/fox/other cat...

Just wondering what the Sig brains think...

There are "doggy doors" with electronic locks.

The animal wears a collar with a transmitter, and the lock on the flap will only disengage when the transmitter is near.

You could install one of those as the means of entry into the outdoor house, meaning only your cat can get inside.

Put a lock on the door, give the key to the cat. Problem solved!

Seriously, some sort of electronic lock and a collar with a transmitter would be the only bet. I've thought about it myself, although my cats are kept indoors.

P.S. Just like RogueJSK described!

They make some doggie/kitty doors that unlatch via some sort of RFID collar. Just a thought.

Tommy
ETA Rogue beat me to it.

That is pretty freakin' cool! Technology right? One thought: if she's in there with the collar on then the door is unlocked right? So another animal could get in while she's in there, yes?

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
There are "doggy doors" with electronic locks.

The animal wears a collar with a transmitter, and the lock on the flap will only disengage when the transmitter is near.

You could install one of those as the means of entry into the outdoor house, meaning only your cat can get inside.

She has no thumbs...

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
Put a lock on the door, give the key to the cat. Problem solved!

Seriously, some sort of electronic lock and a collar with a transmitter would be the only bet. I've thought about it myself, although my cats are kept indoors.

P.S. Just like RogueJSK described!

I've seen cat runs/enclosures that go to a window or door. It allows the cat to go from outdoors to indoors to outdoors to indoors ad nauseam, but it keeps other animals out.

Here is an example:


Another example:

For clarification, do you want a separate cat abode that has no attachment to your home, or are you looking for ingress/egress from your home while locking out other critters?

Daughters cat enjoys the outdoors in the screened in pool area, so put in a pool, cover it with a screen and you are golden... No keys or thumbs, electronic lock gizmos needed...

When our daughters cat was here for several months while she moved the cat lived on the patio, loved being outside, and in FL we have little gecko lizards and they'd get into the pool area.

Needless to say we began to find dead lizards all the time. After she left it took a few months for the lizard population to return, in the meantime the bug population grew, funny how one change can effect the whole pool ecosystem..

I have 6 "indoor" cats that are not permitted to roam outside. However, I have an upstairs screened-in balcony and installed a pet door in one of the window panes of the French Door to it. The cats can enjoy a taste of the outdoors without the dangers.

flashguy

I think they call it a catio

quote:

Originally posted by newtoSig765:
Put a lock on the door, give the key to the cat. Problem solved!

You can not trust a cat to not lose their door key. Get one with a combination lock.

I should have taken this post as a sign. Last night, something happened at the shelter I'd provided to our neighborhood three "wild" cats. We have a styrofoam cooler with a flat lid and a hole in it. I fill it with straw. I keep it under our picnic table. I actually wedge it in there, -- which I now feel is a mistake. That lid need to be able to pop off if there's danger.

The cooler was pushed back and the lid was ajar. Hopefully everything ok. I saw one of them so far, but not the ones I believe live in there.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
There are "doggy doors" with electronic locks.

The animal wears a collar with a transmitter, ...

Collars and outdoor cats are not a good mix. Good way for the cat to get stuck or hang.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
There are "doggy doors" with electronic locks.

The animal wears a collar with a transmitter, ...

Collars and outdoor cats are not a good mix. Good way for the cat to get stuck or hang.

Always buy breakaway collars for your cats.

If you are going with a locking cat door buy a good one. I purchased a door that was only locked from pushing in. All was good until raccoons found out they could pull the door up and open it.

My Son has outdoor cats he made a small cat hut with foil faced foam board. The hut is in an unheated building with a cat door. But the thing the cats love is a mat in the hut that is made for small animals it is a heating pad that turns on with the weight of a cat. The cats love this in the winter.

Before you build a cat house, check your local regulations. They had to shut one down that had a bar downstairs, supposedly due to too much fucking overhead.

As a former owner of multiple indoor / outdoor cats, I would go with a catio. One of my friends built one and put a tree branch in it large enough to hold numerous cats. The cats loved perching and scratching on the branch.

Are you saying you want to have the best little cat house in MD?

Don't forget the red light.
Mandatory in a cat house.

There must be a way to harness facial recognition software......