When keeping your cat contained is necessary for practicality or safety, cat pens, cat enclosures, and cat cages can provide the seclusion and security your kitty needs. While most experts advise against keeping your cat crated or caged for long periods—cat cages are not intended for use as cat homes—temporary containment may be necessary during recovery from illness or for travel.
Cat pens and cages come in a variety of designs:
Cat playpens and enclosures can also be a great way to provide a safe place to play and enriching access to the outdoors. Choose a multi-level, outdoor-safe cat enclosure to create a fun "catio" area for your furry friend. Or pick a portable playpen for supervised play indoors or out—kitty playpens can also be a great place to house young kittens. However you choose to use your cat enclosure, be sure to always provide plenty of opportunities for interaction and allow your cats regular freedom to roam.
Some cats like playpens and will happily play and lounge in them for hours. Others may need to be introduced to them gradually, while some cats may not enjoy being contained at all. Start with short play sessions in the playpen and monitor your cat for signs of distress. It may help to start introducing your cat to the playpen when she is younger and less fearful of new experiences.
The benefits of a cat playpen are added safety in unfamiliar areas and the ability to let your cat play anywhere you like. Many cat pens can be used indoors or out, so you can use them to set up a fun area inside your home for your cats, or set them up in the yard for fresh air and healthy exercise. Portable cat playpens can also be helpful if you are traveling with your cat or if you have an injured, ill, or nursing cat who needs to be safely isolated with her kittens.
You can put your cat in a playpen at night, but many adult cats do not enjoy being confined this way. Playpens can be useful for keeping young kittens or ailing cats safe at night, but they will need to be given plenty of time outside the cat pen, as well. Be sure to put food, water, a litter box, a bed and toys inside the enclosure whenever your cat will be in there.