hi

i really really want a pet kitty, however we live on the 11th floor of an apartment block!

we have a balcony and i am just worried that if we do get a cat that it may jump!!

any ideas? or people with experience of having cats on high floors.

ideally we would like a place with a garden so the cat can also go outside, however we live in the south of spain and it is mainly big high rise flats as we are close to the beach.

thanks

We don't live as high as you - only on the second floor but our neighbours have very successfully had two cats now, one lived for 15 years the current one is 5 and going strong.
They only let them out when they are there and take them down stairs and up again in a basket (just in case of accidents). They are not able to have their windows open in rooms where the cat is because both of them have jumped, so you would probably have to be very careful with a balcony at such a height.

The main issues to be addressed if considering owning a cat living in a tall apartment block as you do would be can you fit adjustable screens that could be tightly wedged onto the frames, (childproof ones probably would not prevent a cat escaping), and the other issue would be providing enough mental and physical stimualtion to ensure a happy cat. Unscreened windows pose a real danger to cats and that would be my biggest concern.
There are some more general tips for indoor cats in the link.

http://ukfamily.co.uk/community/list...door-cats.html

Cats and flats don't mix in my and most rescue center's opinions.

I think it would be cruel to keep them indoors all day (I know a lot of people do but I still think it's cruel). Plus with the danger of them coming off the balcony and walking into the glass doors.

My preference for any cat would be a country home away from main roads where they can hunt and play outside safely.

However, in the real word, there are plenty of cats that thrive as indoor cats. One of mine is a mostly indoor cat - one of the terms of adopting her the rescue set was that she be kept as an indoor cat and only allowed supervised outdoor access.

Can you could 100% guarantee a cat wouldn't get onto the balcony? They do jump - my mum always had cats as a child and one jumped from the 4th floor and had to be PTS.

Could you provide the stimulation needed for an indoor cat? Could you get two? Provide them with toys and scratching posts and climbing opportunities? Give them enough of your time to fill the gap of the great outdoors and all the rodents, birds and insects they won't be hunting?

If you can honestly say 'yes' to the above two questions, I would say, if you can, adopt an older cat that is already suited to indoor living. My Layla was a breeding queen and spent the first 3 years of her life in a pen. She isn't really suited to the outdoors, though after two years here is starting to get the hang of it. When we take her outside, she mostly lies in the sun.

Or look at pure breeds that are people orientated. Layla is a Persian and they are often kept as indoor cats, with Layla I can see why. She loves our company but seems to have no hunting instinct. I don't know if this is typical of Persians. But if you do a bit of research you may find a suitable breed.

My daughter has a cat which is apparently called a Chocolate Havana. It's a really sweet little thing, although it's face isn't what you might call beautiful. It's really affectionate and although he does go out, he would also quite happily stay in as he just likes the company of people.

I'm told this is a breed characteristic, but I would check this out before I was sure.

My cat is an indoor cat. She is 15, is very timid and has never shown any interest in going outside. My first two cats got killed outside before they reached the age of 2. I know which is more cruel. I live in a ground floor flat.

"walking into glass doors" - that could apply to anyone with patio doors.

"most rescue centre's opinions" - do you speak for most rescue centres? From my experience, rescue centres are crying out for good, indoor-only homes for all the FIV cats that are in their care.

OP - I don't know the answer to your question, sorry. The risk of falling would be a real problem as far as I can see, but I don't know if you are able the reduce any risks.

I have had all my cats from rescue centers and every single one of them has a policy where they won't give cats to people who live in flats.

They don't just give cats to anyone you know, they come down your house and check it out before they decide if they will allow you to rehome a cat.

I guess I am thinking that a happy life with risks is more important than a deprived one with little risks. That is unless your cat is a particular breed which doesn't like going outside.

The rescue that kindly let me have Layla did a home check, but still stipulated that she be an indoor cat due to her previous experience and physical limitations.

As ejm says, many rescues are looking for indoor only homes for FIV+ cats.

Indoor isn't always cruel, or sometimes is the lesser of two evils. My only concerns are - can the balcony be secured/out of bounds and can the OP provide stimulation. If he/she can, then there are kitties out there suited to the situation.

If a cat has medical problem or issues which prevent them from going outdoors then fair enough. But to take a normal healthy kitten and keep them locked up in flat all day and night is cruel in my opinion.

Never letting them have the joys of hunting, sunbathing, defending their territory, meeting other cats, getting some fresh air, running around in the grass, just doing natural cat behaviour, I think is cruel and selfish.

How would people liked to be locked away inside all their life just because their parents were scared of something bad happening to them?

I've had four cats from two different rescue organisiations and neither have come to check us out.

I'd not like the idea of an average cat not having access to outside space. hunting,scratching and just lazing around in the sun is too much a part of their daily life. I'm waiting for mine to come back in as I post.

Remember that the OP lives in the south of Spain so whatever the rules & safeguards that UK rescues stipulate, they may be very different in Spain. Plus the dangers of being an outdoor cat in Spain are probably greater such as the risk of infection, disease or injury from feral cats.

Personally I think it is much better if a cat has SAFE outdoor access but this has to be balanced against the risks & dangers of the great outdoors, & the possible boredom & deprivation of indoor confinement.

Also the OP hasn't said if he/she wants to get a kitten from a breeder or pet shop or a rescue cat or kitten. I don't know what the situation is regarding cat rescue centres in Spain but from my holidays there, I don't think the Spanish people have much regard for cats, & feral cats are seen as vermin. I suspect that it is probably mostly the ex-pat British people that would try to run cat rescues & the situation could be very different from the UK.

Much of the advice on here about environmental enrichment & having plenty of attention from the owners is vital for indoor cats but even so, I would probably think twice about getting a cat if you live on the 11th floor. It only takes one forgetful moment & an open door to the balcony could mean the end for a cat.

My neice has a cat and she lives in a high rise flat. She's secured the balcony so that the cat can safely go out there, and she takes her out to the local park on a lead and harness
The windows are a bit of a problem, she never opens them, even in the summer, incase she jumps out, although she can open the balcony doors

She found the kitten dumped, and hand reared it, so they have a very close bond and the cat doesn't know any other life

She seems pretty content, but is a gentle, timid little cat, I am not sure it is a life that would suit all cats. I suppose like anything, you have to take great care to chose a kitten/cat that will be happy with the life you can provide for it

My cat is mainly an indoor cat - we live on a ground floor flat so when we're in we have the window open and she can come and go - however in the daytime she stays in.

When she is out she comes in to use her litter tray, bless her!!

My cat does that too

She only goes as far as the patio in my garden anyway, if anyone walks past, she runs in

My little hides in the rose bushes right outside the window and jumps back in if anyone passes by.

She did however spend an hour up a tree yesterday as she spotted a pigeon (which she of course didn't catch)

The two UK national animal rescue organisations are against people taking cats that have led a usual cat life, free to come and go and get themselves into scrapes, and trying to turn them into 'indoor' cats.
Of course they are always looking for people to take FIV cats which have to be kept in for fear of them infecting other cats, but most people who are looking for what they call 'an indoor cat' are not interested in taking an FIV one.
My elderly rescue cat chooses not to go out very much. If it is a nice afternoon and I am in the garden she will come and sit under my chair, or even in the sun for a bit but then scuttles indoors to safety. She too comes in to use the litter tray, I have tried explaining that outdoors is one giant litter tray but no luck. The younger one is out and about all day but the cat flap mysteriously stops working from about 7pm to 4am - she cannot work that one out
Personally I would never keep a cat in an eleventh floor flat, the risks are too great and it would be an unnatural and stressful life for both cat and owner IMO.

Aww bless her lol

Rosie loves getting up in high place too, the only trouble is she can't get herself down, so I'm forever climbing on chairs and step ladders to rescue her

i once saw a cat who had had his tail cut off with a pair of garden shears as he dared to go into a garden where he was not welcome so if thats a 'natural' thing you can keep it i have had 4 cats all of them have been indoor cats none of them have suffered my cats go out with us and are very happy i have never had a rescue cat as i will not be told what a cat i am paying for can and cannot do also i lived in a flat when i got my first cat so i would not have got one my 2nd cat was my special boy always will be he had cat flu from being a baby on and off till we had to have him put to sleep at 3.5 yrs love you ossie xx i now have 2 pedigree ragdolls which you are told not to let out due to their nature and breed also if you do your pet insurance is void

A friend of mine had two cats in a high rise. I don't know what she did about the balcony, although I have a feeling it was netted to stop pigeons landing so was quite secure.

She used to take the cats for walkies - yes, on a harness with leads and they actually got used to it.

I personally was not comfortable with the idea of it, but it seemed to work for her and the cats were always well cared for, v friendly , in good condition etc.

Luckily my little one can get herself down!! The first time she scaled this tree was the night before she was getting spayed (she escaped) and come 11pm I thought we'd have to call the fire brigade

My Ex moved from a ground floor flat to a the 7th floor, he had two cats (both sweet as anything but a tad clueless) they managed to catch a pigeon from the balacony without falling off - I was pretty impressed!!!

A friend of mine's son got killed when he was playing football in the park, should she keep her other kids locked away so that doesn't happen to them as well?

Like I said before, I prefer my cats to have a happy, natural life with risks rather than a deprived life.

I think we all do what we can to make our pets happy and keep them healthy and whilst a house cat wouldn't be my first choice as a pet as long as the cat and the owner are happy I would rather they have a long happy life together than he cat be allowed out but end up in an uncaring unhappy home.
I'm sure some cats are home bodies while some are rough tough out doors types I hope the OP finds the right one for their situation.

I have two cats in a 9th floor flat with balcony. We put planters all around the edge, with some baskets hanging inside the rail, so they'd have difficulty jumping even if they wanted to. Which they've shown no sign of doing. We don't tend to let them out on their own, though one does go through the window onto the balcony occasionally.

My cat has been happily indoors for the past 9 years. My wife's cat is an elderly cat used to roaming free. He's very happy having moved in with us 18 months ago.

It is NOT cruel to keep a cat indoors and it's totally wrong of shelters to insist on it. Bear in mind that lots of shelters would rather keep a cat in a cage (or even put them down) than rehome them indoors. Is that right?

Also interesting to note is that in places in the US, it's considered cruel to let a cat roam free and shelters will only re-house them indoors!

Very good points !