Crate training cats or kitty play pens? Ideas and suggestions gladly considered!

Debby

Debby

Well-known Member
Location
East coast of Canada
I have a question for the cat people here and hope you can give me some ideas.

We're going to be moving into a two bedroom apartment in three months and are trying to figure out how to deal with Ziggy at night and when we go out. Right now he spends the night in the barn where he has a litter box so there are no issues. What I was thinking is to buy one of those 'cat play pens' (like you see in pet shops when they have kittens for sale). Usually three platforms inside and room for a small litter box on the bottom. Has anyone ever used one of those and did you train an older cat to accept it? Or do you have your kitty crate trained? What has worked for you?
 

I've known people who were way concerned about carpet etc and crate trained from kittenhood. It worked for them. We have had grown cats as well as kittens for decades. Except for maybe the odd 3 or 4 out of maybe 50, most freely roamed the house and used litter boxes with no problem. The only ones who have issues now are elderly. I wouldn't worry if you keep the litter pan clean.
 
My sister's cat (a curmudgeon, BTW) has free run of the house and never soils anywhere as long as the litter box is clean to his satisfaction. Matter of fact, I don't know anyone who confines their cats. Back when I had cats, they had the run of the house with no special training and always used the litter box.
 

I can't imagine locking a cat in a crate.... and don't think this is necessary or even a good idea at all, the cat could easily get very freaked out. A few of my cats were allowed out and came in when they wanted, but when I moved to an apartment they became indoor cats all the time and were always very good with the litterbox and being left alone in the apartment while I was at work or out. Any cat would naturally prefer to use a litterbox rather than anywhere else in an apartment.
 
Thanks for the replies folks. Ziggy has free run whenever we're at home now although when we're going out now, I do confine him to our garage (with a litter box and water and a window), but he tends to be kind of vocal and I don't want him screaming at the door if we go out, nor do I want him trying to claw his way into the bedroom at night. I have a thing about animals in my bed that is the result of spending nights at an aunts place when I was a kid and they allowed animals in the beds and they always smelled like pee. Don't know if it was the cousins or their pets but I would prefer not to have my animals in bed with me as a result although I don't mind at all if he curls up beside me when I fall asleep on the couch :rolleyes:. Just a childhood foible hanging on I guess.

As well, if he keeps coming in or trying to claw his way into the bedroom at night, I'll hear about it constantly from my husband who's not nearly so patient with pets as I can be. We've ordered one of those 4 foot x 30" x 24" playpen with three shelves and a sleeping hammock for him at this point. I can put it in front of a window so he'll be able to watch the world go by whenever he's confined for a couple of hours. And there's even room on the floor of it for a small litter box.

He's really consistent using the litter box and it gets cleaned constantly, so that's not really the issue here. I just want to make sure that I keep my neighbours and our future landlord as unmiffed as possible.

Since we move on April 18th, I plan on setting it up in the kitchen here and it will become his new dining room so that he becomes really comfortable with it.
 
I have 5 cats... and no problems with them messing on the carpets.. In fact.. we even leave them home for our weekends out to our other house.. So long as there is food and water and litter boxes I have never had a problem. My cats are all indoors cats and never go outside.
 
Actually, I think it may be easier to get the cat used to his new bedroom than it will be to get my husband used to the idea of him walking across the kitchen table. Going to be lots of grumbling over that I'm sure.

But here, he not only has the house, but he uses the garage and he spends his nights in a locked barn where I've built some high up ramps and shelves so that he has lots of entertainment opportunities while he keeps on the look out for mice. When we move though, it will be only the apartment and so I figure that it's only fair if we give him free run of everything except my food prep areas. And since I will be using the kitchen table as my 'office' (we usually eat in front of the TV and watch Power and Politics at supper), I'm not planning on shooing him off my 'desk' in the future. Then he has a little more up and down stuff instead of only allowed four on the floor if you know what I mean.

Husband isn't officially a 'cat' person and until our little old dog Diesel died in November, his philosophy was that if we couldn't find a place that would let us have three pets, the cat would have to go (last in, first out you know). Since black cats usually languish in shelters and he wouldn't 'show' well in a kennel setting, I think he'd be there even longer because he's very shy and easily frightened. So I've gotta do whatever I can to make sure there are no hard feelings about Zig and the roaming at night and potential noise is an issue for neighbours and husband. You do what you gotta do you know, to keep everyone as happy as possible right?
 
QuickSilver said:
I have 5 cats... and no problems with them messing on the carpets.. In fact.. we even leave them home for our weekends out to our other house.. So long as there is food and water and litter boxes I have never had a problem. My cats are all indoors cats and never go outside.
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In a few months, you'll have what I will miss when it comes to pets, and that is being in a house as opposed to an apartment. Everytime I let the dog run out the back door, I'm reminded that I'll be walking in the cold soon. And same for the cat, when we go out overnight or even a weekend now, he has an entire barn to prowl in. Good thing I hate travelling and we'll be close to our kids when we move. Visiting them is the only reason I go away for more than a few hours so with them being 4 kilometres away, I won't have to even do the weekend jaunts!
 
Good luck with your cat Debby, I know mine would not like to be in a caged area at all. I think if you bring a familiar litter box with you, the cat will be eager to use it no matter where it is. As far as walking on the table and counters...that's what cats do. :love_heart:
 
SeaBreeze said:
Good luck with your cat Debby, I know mine would not like to be in a caged area at all. I think if you bring a familiar litter box with you, the cat will be eager to use it no matter where it is. As far as walking on the table and counters...that's what cats do. :love_heart:
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That's what I always say.. I have no way of stopping the cats from walking on the table or the countertops or anywhere else they choose... It's like stopping the wind. They are going to do it... if not in front of me.. then the minute my back is turned. So is anyone is squeamish about that... they won't be getting a dinner invitation.
 
I don't like the idea of cats in crates either, they wander and explore, yes mine gets on the table and cabinets but, I am diligent about cleaning up after her, I've left her for as long as 7 days, but relatives came in to feed and check on her every so often.
 

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