How To Design A Cat-Friendly Garden Your Neighbors Will Envy

If your cat stares longingly out the window or bolts for the door every time it opens, they’re probably craving a little fresh air and adventure. That’s where a cat-friendly garden comes in – a carefully designed outdoor space where your buddy can stretch, explore, nap in the sun, and get a healthy dose of stimulation without the risks of free-roaming life. Here’s how to set one up, including where a virtual fence might come in handy.

Find out where your cat spends their time.

Read more

The perks & perils of setting up a cat-friendly garden

Whether you have a garden, patio, or balcony, you can create a little slice of feline heaven right outside your door. Plus, with a cat-friendly garden, your furry friend is less likely to get bored, up to mischief indoors, or even wander off in search of excitement elsewhere.

But before we get started, keep in mind that you might run into a few common challenges. Including:

• Toxic plants
  Many common garden plants, like lilies and daffodils, are toxic to cats.
• Neighborhood dangers
  Busy roads, other animals, or curious neighbors can pose risks.
• Litter box logistics
  Where does your cat do their business outdoors, and is it safe and sanitary?
• Escape artists
  Cats are nimble climbers and can find the tiniest openings to squeeze through any fence. Especially if they’re bored or unoccupied in your backyard.

💡A cat GPS tracker can help you set up a virtual “safe zone” around your backyard. So the minute your cat tries leaving it, you get an instant escape alert to your phone, warning you.

Learn More

How to create a cat-friendly garden: Simple steps to get started

🌿 Choose cat-friendly plants

Stick to non-toxic greenery and herbs that are safe for cats. Some great options include:

• Catnip
• Cat grass (wheatgrass)
• Valerian
• Marigolds
• Sunflowers
• Laven
• Rosemary

⚠️ Avoid plants like lilies, tulips, azaleas, and foxgloves. These are all toxic to cats and might even be fatal in some cases! Here’s a full list of plants that are poisonous to cats.

🐾 Give your cat plenty of climbing spots

A cat-friendly garden needs posts and perches they can climb and observe their surroundings from. Climbing helps cats feel secure and satisfy their natural instincts to perch and pounce. Go for:

• Sturdy shelves or ledges along fences
  Install outdoor-safe shelving at different heights to encourage climbing and lounging. Just make sure they’re secure and weather-resistant.
• Cat-safe trees or tall scratching posts
  If you have mature trees, they can be perfect for climbing. Or opt for purpose-built outdoor scratching posts that offer height and texture.
• Outdoor cat towers or perches
  These multi-level structures provide hours of entertainment and exercise. Look for ones designed specifically for outdoor use, made from durable materials.
• Pergolas, trellises, or platforms
  Add features that blend into your garden’s design but still offer your cat a place to climb, perch, or snooze.

Bonus tip: Install your climbing features in spots with good views or near sunny areas. Cats love to sunbathe and keep watch over their territory.

🛆 Create hiding & shelter spots

Your garden should have cozy corners where your cat can hide or nap in peace. These quiet hideaways both protect them from the elements and help them feel secure – especially for more shy or anxious cats. Try and include:

• Dense shrubs or ornamental grasses
  Plant cat-safe bushes or tall grasses that your cat can retreat into. They create natural cover and stay cool in warmer months.
• Outdoor cat houses or shelters
  Invest in weather-resistant shelters or insulated cat houses to offer refuge in hot, rainy, or chilly weather. Choose ones with multiple entrances to prevent your cat from feeling cornered.
• Upcycled crates, storage boxes, or garden benches with cover
  Repurpose items you already have by adding soft padding, blankets, or weatherproof cushions inside.
• Tunnels or covered pathways
  Add flexible garden tunnels or covered tubes that your cat can explore or rest inside. These are especially fun for playful cats who love sneaky adventures.
• Raised shelters
  Cats often prefer to rest off the ground. Consider adding a covered perch or raised box in a shaded area.

Try placing shelters near sunny spots in cooler months and in shaded corners during the summer. Having multiple hiding options lets your cat choose what suits them best on any given day.

🥤 Make sure your cat has plenty of drinking water

Just like us, cats need hydration – especially in the sun or after a burst of zoomies around the garden. Dehydration can creep up quickly in hot weather, so a cat-friendly garden should include clean, accessible drinking water in multiple spots.

• Use shallow bowls or wide dishes
  Cats don’t like it when their whiskers touch the sides of a deep bowl, so opt for shallow containers placed at ground level or on a stable surface.
• Pet-safe water fountains
  Flowing water is more appealing to many cats than stagnant bowls. Pet fountains with filters provide a constant source of clean, oxygenated water that mimics a stream.
• Place bowls in shady, quiet areas
  Place any water sources away from noisy or high-traffic areas of the garden so your cat feels relaxed while drinking.
• Offer multiple water stations
  If your cat roams a larger garden or patio, place several bowls throughout the area. That way, they always have a drink nearby.
• Refresh water daily
  Outdoor bowls can get dirty fast with leaves, bugs, or dirt. Make it part of your daily routine to clean and refill.
• Don’t place water too close to your cat’s food or toilet areas
  Cats naturally prefer to keep these spaces separate. It helps reduce stress and encourages proper hydration.

🚽 Designate safe toilet areas

Some cats prefer doing their business outdoors, and with the right setup, it can be a clean and stress-free routine for both of you. Here’s how to do it right:

• Pick a quiet, low-traffic corner
  Cats like privacy when doing their business. Choose a spot that’s shaded, peaceful, and a bit secluded from where your cat plays, eats, or drinks.
• Use soft, diggable materials
  Fill the toilet area with sand, loose soil, or a soil-sand mix. Avoid mulch, gravel, or anything with sharp edges that could be uncomfortable on your cat’s paws.
• Provide good drainage
  Make sure the area doesn’t become muddy or soggy after rain. Consider a slight slope or a base layer of gravel underneath the soil to keep things dry.
• Add natural boundaries
  Use low-growing hedges, potted plants, or a small garden border to subtly frame the area. This signals to your cat that it’s their designated toilet zone.
• Scoop and clean regularly
  Just like a litter box, the outdoor toilet area needs daily maintenance to prevent smells, flies, or parasites from building up.

💡 Bonus tip: Consider covering the area with a small canopy or placing it under an existing bush to keep it sheltered from rain. Still, it’s a good idea to keep an indoor litter box available, too – especially during bad weather, nighttime, or for older cats who might prefer going indoors.

🩵 Add scratching surfaces

Scratching is a vital part of a cat’s routine – it helps them stretch, maintain claw health, and mark their territory both visually and through scent glands in their paws. Here are some fun and functional scratching surface ideas for a cat-friendly garden:

• Vertical logs or tree stumps
  These are perfect natural scratchers that can blend right into your garden design. Choose sturdy logs with rough bark, and place them in sunny or shaded lounging areas.
• Sisal-wrapped posts or boards
  Sisal rope is tough and satisfying for cats to dig their claws into. You can DIY your own scratch post using a fence post or a piece of recycled wood wrapped tightly in sisal.
• Outdoor scratching boards or pads
  Look for weatherproof materials designed for outdoor use, and place them in multiple spots so your cat has variety.
• Wall-mounted scratchers
  Attach flat scratching surfaces to fences or exterior walls for vertical scratching. These are great space savers in smaller gardens.
• Multi-purpose features
  Combine climbing and scratching by building or buying platforms that double as perches and scratch zones.

🛠️ Bonus tip: Secure all scratching surfaces firmly to the ground or wall so they don’t wobble. Cats won’t use something that feels unstable. This way, you’ll keep your cat engaged, active, and far less likely to shred your garden chairs.

🏡 Consider an outdoor cat enclosure

If you’re looking for a way to give your cat the benefits of outdoor time while keeping them completely secure, an outdoor cat enclosure (or “catio”) could be a perfect addition. Catios come in all shapes and sizes, from compact window boxes to large walk-in structures. They provide a safe, enclosed space where your cat can lounge, climb, and enjoy nature without the risk of escape, protected from traffic, other animals, and potential toxins.

You can buy or DIY a catio and customize it with shelves, ramps, hammocks, scratching posts, and cozy hideaways to keep your cat occupied. With the right roofing or covering, your cat can use it year-round, rain or shine. Plus, whether you’re inside or outside, it’s easier to keep an eye on your cat when they’re lounging safely in their own space.

Read more: How To DIY A Heated Cat House In Just 3 Steps

😺 Use a cat GPS tracker as an emergency measure

Even with the solidest cat fence, most cats can easily escape. They’re agile climbers, clever problem-solvers, and often more motivated than we expect. (Especially if something interesting catches their eye.) That’s where a cat GPS tracker can step in as an emergency measure.

Strapped to your cat’s collar, your Tractive GPS & Health Tracker helps you:

• Monitor your cat’s real-time location
  From your phone, no matter where they roam. Real-time GPS tracking means you’re not limited to a network of devices (like with an AirTag) nor any range. It’s a whole sky full of satellites helping you follow your cat’s every move – as they make their every move.
• Set up a virtual fence
  Around your garden or any other safe area – and get an instant escape alert if your cat leaves it.

• Figure out where your cat likes to spend time
  From their Location History to see if they’ve found any secret escape routes.
• Understand your cat’s territory
  So you can figure out what’s a normal range for them to wander – and whether they’ve ventured past it.

With some thought to your garden’s design, safe plants, and fun features like climbing posts, a designated toilet area, and scratching surfaces, you’ll have everything you need to create a backyard paradise for your furry friend.

Plus, with a cat GPS tracker means safe, supervised outdoor time for your cat – and the peace of mind that comes from knowing where your cat is, even if they manage to sneak beyond the garden gate.

Track your cat wherever they go

Get real-time location information, wherever they go. Find out when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences. And discover their favorite spots with Territory.

Shop Cat Trackers

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.