CHOOSING AND CARING FOR A CAT. Breeding accommodation. Part 2.

     If the cage is to house cats that are not clean, that is, which do not use the litter tray regularly, neither sand nor grass should be used, but the entire floor should be concrete. In this case, clumps of grass, or pots or trays of grass should be placed at regular intervals. With a concrete floor, boards of adequate size should also be supplied for the cats to lie on. If the cats lie with their backs against the wall, then boards should be placed against the wall up to a height of approximately 150 mm (6 in), to protect the cats’ kidneys.

    The outdoor pen should be sunny, but must also provide adequate shade during the daytime. Perpetual, glaring sunlight is neither good for adult cats nor for kittens. A small tree in front of the pen is an ample source of gently shifting shade. The inside chambers must be large enough for the owner to be able to clean them, and constructed of a material that can be readily disinfected. They should at all times be well aired, but free of draughts, and preferably admit daylight. To house four cats the minimum area of the external enclosure should be approximately 10 sq m (12 sq yd) and about 1.80 m (6 ft) high. Winter temperatures will, of course, depend on the variety of animal, and what it is accustomed to. As a rough guide, it is recommended that for long-haired cats the indoor temperature should not be below 14^oC (73^oF), while for shorthairs the indoor temperature should be no lower than 18^oC (64^oF) and not above 25^oC (77^oF)