Posted: June 6, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
When they moved into their home in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 1985, Susan and Dan Gottlieb realized it would not be safe for their cats to roam about outdoors. The Gottliebs also wanted to protect the birds — including wrens, blue jays and kestrels — that frequently visited their backyard, the Los Angeles Times reports.
In 2000, when one of their cats escaped outdoors and was killed by a coyote, the Gottliebs resolve to protect their cats increased. To give their pets a taste of the outdoors without endangering them or the birds, the couple had a carpenter build a small enclosed run, accessed by a door to the house. Since then, the Gottliebs have expanded the outdoor enclosure, giving their pets access to areas all around the house. Platforms lead up to the roof, while screened pathways guide the cats to playpens. The cats can access the run through five cat doors, located throughout the house.
The Gottliebs’ cats — Spike, Shadow, Cleopatra and Angel — benefit from the outdoor run, made of redwood planking, wire fencing and rubberized mats that protect the cats’ paws. “The great thing about this kind of run is that it’s relatively easy and inexpensive to build,” said Susan Gottlieb. “People can start very small, like we did. And then let your cats dictate where to take it from there.”