If you have an indoor cat, you might be looking for ways to enrich your pet’s life. Cats love to explore and play, and an indoor cat garden can prove a great way to cater to these instincts while keeping your cat safely inside.
I will address this subject in a somewhat unusual way. My cat has a very nice catio, and after researching this subject, have decided to add some of the cat garden ideas to this structure, already incorporated into my house. I will let you know the ideas I plan to try as well as ideas for those of you without a catio. You can create an indoor garden inside your house.
There are good reasons for creating such a garden. Indoor gardens provide sensory stimulation. Your cat can sniff, nibble, and rub against plant life, resembling their outdoor experience. Plus, these gardens have health benefits, such as aiding in digestion and reducing stress.
I really like the idea of adding cat-friendly plants, whether inside the house or in the catio, and plan to do some of these. Your cat will love the discoveries he makes in this new green space. His senses will travel on a joyful journey.
Choosing The Right Spot
This part of the task is critical. The area must have sufficient sunlight and its location needs to be away from potentially dangerous items like loose wires or fragile decorations. Choose an area you can designate as his special garden spot.
That’s where my solution becomes so fortunate. Mocha’s catio is attached to the window of my office. It has a sturdy framework with the openwork wrapped with chicken wire. It has greenhouse roofing to keep the floor relatively dry and most of the rain out. Of course, rain can still come in the sides, but Mocha has places to hide to stay dry.
Unfortunately, an occasional small bird slips through the wire, and creates havoc when the cat tries to catch it, but thus far all birds have escaped to safety. However, nothing larger, including the cat, can slip through any openings, as there are no others.
What Kind Of Plants Should You Select?
Your plant selection should prioritize safety. Research to ensure you pick non-toxic options. If you need suggestions, the ASPCA has a fine list on their website of safe plants for cats. If you’d like some suggestions, here are a few:
Two that I will plant in containers for sure are catnip and cat grass. Two good cat grass selections include oat grass (Avena sativa) and wheatgrass (Triticum aestivim.) A few other good choices include astors, blue mist shrub, sunflowers, cosmos, and maiden grass.
If you can place a few small shrubs in your garden, it’s good, as it gives kitty places to hide. If you have the space, you might try vining types of veggies, such as runner beans. Such plants provide not just hiding places but shade as well.
When growing your plants, do not use pesticides or fertilizers, as these might prove toxic. An outdoor cat space should also not include compost piles or mulch, as these could contain substances not good for kitty’s health.
You might include these in your plant-safe list: Russian sage, spike speedwell, Irish moss, rosemary, Jacob’s ladder, creeping phlox, red creeping thyme, or sedum. Fragrant plants might prove enjoyable, as kitty will enjoy the pleasant odor of his garden.
What Are Good Design Principles For Cat Gardens?
Of course, the cat must have easy access to the garden, and he should find the contents stimulating. Different levels and hiding spots can encourage exploration. One of the things I’ve ordered to include in Mocha’s catio is a cat tree. I don’t really have room for one in my house but know the cat will find it fun and stimulated. I can hardly wait until it arrives, and I can put it up for him!
If you can include other vertical spaces in your cat garden, all the better. In our catio, there is a shelf along the back wall that is wide enough for Mocha to sit on or to sprawl if he’s in a lazy mood. He also has a couple of narrow walkways that allow him access either to his shelf or to the window ledge. These could be incorporated into an indoor cat garden if you build it to include walls where shelving can be added. We also have a ramp from the window to the ground, and a grassy spot at the base provides a favorite place for him to lounge and absorb the warm sun.
Maintenance Becomes An Important Factor
Once you have your plants in place, keep them in good shape. Check for decay or disease. Keep the grassy areas clipped. That job comes up tomorrow for the catio. The grass has become quite long in there. Some long grass should be included, as the cat enjoys munching on it or playing on it. but a nicely trimmed “cat lawn” can be pleasing to both cat and human.
Make sure to check the area regularly to make sure it remains in good condition for your furry friend to enjoy. Though it behooves us to protect the wildlife from kitty’s deadly claws, it can become a kind of kitty television if you put feeders outside the garden where birds can eat safely and not fall prey to your hunter. Your cat will enjoy watching them, even if he can’t get to them.
Safety Ensures Enjoyment And Best Benefits
Start this process by making sure all your plants are anchored safely and cannot be easily dumped over or damaged. Heavy pots prove great planters. Of course, eating damage inflicted by the cat is invited, but the program does not include destroying the vegetation by dumping it or digging it up.
Organic soil for your plants is a must, as it will not contain harmful chemicals. Instead of pesticides, use a natural alternative. Remember, anything you put in the soil your cat can ingest.
If you have an indoor garden that you can access easily, putting a litter box or designated sandy spot for digging to do the daily duties required by the cat system becomes a sound idea. Mocha would like to use his catio as a giant catbox, but I have discouraged this idea.
The space contains too many items to allow for such activity, and he has learned to come inside if he needs a litter box. I don’t want to have to traipse outside to the “people door” in the catio every day for litter control. I considered putting down a bamboo floor covering, but have found that, because the area has lots of vegetation, he comes inside to do his business. (Whew!) So, plan ahead if you want to discourage such activity.
If the cat garden represents a new experience for your cat, introduce him gradually. Give him time to sniff around and become accustomed to this new space. Mocha learned about the elements of his catio, such as the ramp down and the special shelf along the back in his own time. He became familiar with the setting and now considers it as his property.
Change Can Prove Beneficial
Keep the space interesting by adding new features and new plants now and then, just to keep kitty stimulated and interested. Though I look forward to the arrival of the catio, when we’ve put it in place, I’ll let him check it out on his own time. It will be fun to watch him learn about this new item. I’m sure he will find it most interesting and fun over time.
It proves most beneficial for a cat to live in a dynamic environment, giving him new stimuli to keep him interested. After all, if he roamed loose in the outside world, he would encounter many new things over the course of time, so if you can provide the same kind of stimuli with his indoor cat garden, you will do him a great service.
Here is a cat garden video for you to enjoy:
References I used for this post: https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/how-to-create-a-cat-garden https://blog.greatgardenplants.com/15-cat-friendly-plants-for-your-garden/ https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/cat-friendly-garden.htm