How to keep male kitten indoors

kitkat2015

kitkat2015

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Hello everyone,

So after the devastating loss of my beloved Miso, I decided to adopt another kitty right away. There are so many strays here in Crete and I found a woman online who is struggling to help as much as possible....she is caring for at least 15 babies right now, some with major health issues.

I don't know if I did the right thing, (it was sort of an impulsive decision) but I met with her and this adorable white/gray 2.5 month old tabby picked me as his parent. I named him Gatsby :)

I've had male cats before and it's proven difficult to keep them indoors. In the U.S. it wasn't much of a problem because the neighborhood streets are quiet and there aren't any feral/stray cats. I now live on a major street with a lot of traffic, and a bunch of wild cats and dogs.

I plan on neutering Gatsby but I'm not sure if that will help prevent him from running off if he so pleases. We live in a second story apartment but even now I can see he's super curious when I open the balcony door so I generally keep him on a leash when we're outside.

Does anyone have tips on how to prevent the cat from jumping (he hasn't attempted this yet) off the balcony? I love sitting outside and leaving doors and windows open but I'm afraid he'll attempt an escape and it's not easy to get back in the house.
 
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kitkat2015

kitkat2015

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That's a little difficult in a rental where there's nothing above to really anchor a net to...cement is quite difficult to penetrate. The saving grace right now is the fact the the balcony wall is about waist high but I'm only 5ft tall...

I'm looking for some things I can do/teach preventively since he's still a baby that will help in the future. I don't think keeping him tethered to a chair while we're outside is fair even tho the entire balcony is 8x3 feet
 
mewtantmommy

mewtantmommy

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Just yesterday a tragic fall from a balcony took the life of the beloved kitten of one of our members here, similarly situated.  I urge you to use harness and leash, shut doors and windows, whatever it takes.
 
grizzlysapien

grizzlysapien

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Originally Posted by Handsome Kitty  
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As you can (hopefully) see, you don't need something particular above to anchor the net - You just use your ceiling. Each plaque of wood needed 4 screws to be drilled in the ceiling and walls. I did that, because I would have made a whole lotta more holes to drill the hooks alone, that originally came with the net. Instead, I drilled the hooks in the wood. At the top wood, I did use the hooks to hang the net, but on the side and bottom woods, I used the "thingies" you can see on pic7, to stabilize the net, cause Grizzly can be crafty.. He cannot climb up to the top of the net, cause the net is so "unstable" for any cat, plus he is too heavy and he realized that from day #1.

This is how the bottom was done:
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I installed the net to spead along the outside of the banister so he can take his walks on it and for me to be able to clean it! This way I got rid of pigeon fieces, which were quite dangerous for my budgies. And it also keeps larger predator birds from attacking my budgies' cages (this happened last summer and I lost my female budgie, Bella this way.. 
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I have to note and stress that the net has saved Grizzly's life multiple times. He sometimes doesn't step or grip the right way when he's running and jumping, so the net has kept him safe.. It also saved Stevie (one of my budgies) from being lost, one time. The cage fell open and Stevie started flying towards outside. The net kept him in the balcony, or else he wouldn't be alive.. Then I realized I can let the budgies fly around the balcony sometimes to exercise and I do that, while Grizzly is locked inside 
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I will never get tired recommending this thing, cause it has allowed us to keep our windows open and not be prisoners so as to protect him from "taking a flight down", and it has also helped keep Grizzly's sanity.. And ours! I do not miss the days when I was terrified of him getting out or forgeting to close the balcony door!
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kitkat2015

kitkat2015

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This is fantastic! I would love to let the little guy out on the balcony without fear that he might fall or jump off the second story in pursuit of some bird or fly. I checked out the link but I don't see where/how to order. I'll do a search and see if anyone sells it locally.
 
grizzlysapien

grizzlysapien

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Don't bother - I'll send you an email on how to get it here in Greece 


Let me look around a bit and I'll tell you. I got it from a store near my appartment - I;ll ask them if they deliver in Crete, so you don't pay much on shipping. 

I will have an answer by tomorrow ;)
 
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