Outdoor Cat Playpen
Buy the best outdoor cat playpen selected and recommended by interior designers. By Peyton Robinson.
Take those adorable kitties outside and let them romp in an environment you can control, so they don't get into trouble. Outdoor cat playpens will satisfy their curiosity for the outdoors, without allowing them to run off too far and get into mischief. They come in a few sizes and styles to suit, but all are perfect for protecting your adorable bundles of fur.
Outdoor Cat Playpen
Buying Guide
Peyton Robinson
Interior Design Expert
From fancy feeding stations to designer crate furniture, Peyton knows how to ensure comfort to your furry companion without compromising on the aesthetics of your home.
An outdoor cat playpen can help amuse your mostly indoor cat or kitten while providing an opportunity to get some sun and to nibble some grass. Some outdoor playpens have floors, so not all will allow access to grass or dirt. If your pen does, give careful consideration to where you are setting it up. If possible, select an area where you have control over herbicides, fertilizers or insecticides that might be applied to the grass. Cats are even more susceptible to chemicals than dogs or children, so caution is advised.
With that said, cats love to be outside. They can chatter at the birds or squirrels while being restrained from catching them. The restraint is good for your cat (fewer chances to catch a disease or pick up a parasite) and good for the wildlife (reduced predation by your household pet.) They get some sun – be sure to keep plenty of water out for your kitty. Some pens afford a barrier against dogs, humans or other cats, but not all cat playpens are sturdy enough to provide such protection. If your cat is not ordinarily an outdoor cat, and if the playpen is a temporary mesh affair, it is a good idea to supervise your cat’s “outies.”
Temporary Tube Run
Looking like a rectangular box with mesh sides, this is an excellent choice for giving your cat some exercise while you are traveling. You can set it up beside your picnic table or at the edge of a parking lot and give kitty a chance to stretch and move about. Most cat carriers are small and cramped for an adult cat. This is not a completely bad thing – the closeness affords better protection in the event of an automobile accident than a more spacious carrier. Add some food, kibble and a litter box, and your kitty can get a chance to have a comfort stop, as well as the rest of the family. Supervision is recommended.
Mesh Play Tent
Take the little mama and her babies or two or three older cats out on the patio in a stylish dome tent of mesh. You and your kitties can take tea on the terrace without it developing into a dash to catch a cat that is heading for trouble. Like the tube run, supervision is a good idea.
Sturdy Wood and Wire Run
A sturdy wood and wire run that is either free-standing or attached to your home makes a more secure place for your cat or kitten to spend some time out of doors. This is a more permanent construction than the folding runs or tents. Depending upon the materials used, your cat might be able to spend some time in this run without direct supervision – especially if it is attached to your house so that kitty can make a fast retreat if necessary.
Outdoor cat playpens afford domestic housecats more freedom than if they have no access to the outside world. At the same time, they provide restraint and – in some cases – protection from larger creatures.