You may be asking yourself, “Why does my cat like the garage?” For some crazy reason, your furry friend is drawn to this area of your home. You might not know why they are attracted to it, but you want to figure out how to stop them from going there. Fortunately for you, we have just what you need! Keep reading and learn more about your cat’s fascination with the garage.
Why Does My Cat Like the Garage?
There are many reasons why your cat likes to hang out in your garage:
They May Sense Prey
Cats were originally hunters. They still have those instincts within them, and that includes the garage. They may hear, see, or smell mice or other prey in the garage. They may be attracted to this area of your home because they are looking for something else to hunt.
Protection From the Elements
The garage can be a nice, warm place to hide from the cold weather outside. If you have a partially or fully outdoor cat, they may go in the garage to warm up. They may also go in there to get out of the rain or snow.
If You Store Food There, Your Cat May Be Attracted
Cats love food and if you have a place where they know it is stored, they might be drawn there for that reason alone. If you have bags of food, try to put them in airtight containers so your cat can’t get to them.
They Can Hide in Tight Spaces
Cats love to hide. They like to go into small spaces where they can feel safe and secure. A garage is a great place for them to do this, so if you leave the door open as you are working outside or going in there yourself, your cat may take that opportunity to explore what’s inside of it.
It’s a Quiet, Safe Place
The garage can be a nice, quiet place for your cat to relax. Since it’s out of the way from you and other pets in the house, they may feel safe there. If they do not want to go back inside after being outside, or if they are sick or injured, you may find them hiding out in the garage.
There Are Plenty of Interesting Smells
Garages tend to have a lot of interesting smells. This can be because you store things in there like gasoline, oil, or other chemicals. Your cat may be attracted to these smells and want to explore what they are.
There Are Plenty of Things to Climb On
Cats love being able to climb. This can be for exercise or fun, and the garage is a great place to do this because you may have shelves lined up along one wall that they like to walk across. They may also enjoy going in and out of your storage boxes and other containers.
Is It Cruel to Keep a Cat in the Garage?
Whether or not a garage is a completely safe space for a cat depends on the weather conditions where you live, the size of the garage, and how often you or someone else uses it. If there are dangerous chemicals in your garage that could harm your cat, they may not be safe if they go inside of it. The same is true for hot exhaust from cars as well as other potentially harmful things that can cause serious injury to them.
If your cat uses your garage as a place to stay, you should make sure to remove any toxic or harmful items and keep it at a comfortable temperature so they can be safe. You also want to provide them with a litter box, food, and water if you are not going to let them go outside.
You can add a cat door into your home or connect the garage to the outside so that your cat has a way to come and go as they please. This will give them the best of both worlds – access to the garage when they want it, and freedom to roam outside when they feel like it.
You can turn your garage into a finished garage by adding extra storage, ensuring that it is well-insulated, and making sure your cat has a way to get in there. It’s possible you can also turn part of the garage into a separate room for them with its own access point so they have their own private space inside the home too.
How Do I Keep Cats Away From My Garage?
If you want to keep your cat away from the garage or another area of your home, there are some things you can try.
Get Rid of Rodents In the Garage
You can try to get rid of mice, rats, and other rodents that live in the garage. This will make your cat less likely to want to go inside because they don’t want them as competition for food or shelter from the cold weather outdoors.
You can use sprays, traps, and poisons to get rid of rodents in the garage. You should also clean up any spills or food that may have been left behind so that rodents aren’t attracted to your garage in the first place.
Always Keep the Garage Door Closed
It may seem obvious, but it’s important that you always keep any doorways to the garage closed at all times. If you’re working on a project in your home, it may be easy to forget to close the garage door behind you. Try to remember not to leave the door open for more than a brief moment.
If this is hard to do, you may want to close your cat in another room temporarily while you are working in the garage. This way you won’t have to worry about them getting out and into danger.
As for feral cats, make sure that you close your garage door that leads outside to keep them out. They may be attracted to the warmth of your garage and will want inside after they are done hunting for food in the cold weather outdoors.
They may come in while you’re working on a project that requires ventilation such as painting or other things that give off fumes. Make sure to do a thorough check for any cats before you close the door to your garage to make sure that no one has snuck in.
Use Motion Detectors Outside of Your Garage Door
Motion detectors can be helpful for keeping track of what goes on outside your home, including who or what is coming in and out of your garage. You can also use them to scare away animals like feral cats that may be trying to get into the garage for food or shelter.
Use a Cat Repellent
There are a number of cat repellents on the market that can help keep them away from the garage. You can find these at most pet stores or online. They come in both liquid and granular forms, so you can choose the one that works best for your needs.
You should apply it to any areas around the garage that you think your cat may try to enter. Be sure to read the instructions carefully so that you apply it in the correct areas and do not harm your pet in any way.
Close Off Any Openings In Your Garage
If your cat is finding its way into the garage, you may want to try covering any openings they can use to get inside. This will make it so that they cannot access the area at all.
They could be getting in through a door or window in your home or an area where the drywall has started to come apart. Be sure to check all these areas in your home so that you can seal them off and keep the cats out of there for good.
You may also want to find a way to block their access points into the garage, like by hanging screens on windows or installing other types of barriers. This will make it harder for them to get in and will make them less likely to try.
Why Does My Cat Meow at the Garage Door?
There could be a number of reasons why your cat is meowing at the garage door. They may be trying to tell you that they want to go into the garage to explore. If you have left them in the garage, they may also be meowing to let you know that they want to come back inside.
They may also be communicating with you in general and letting you know that they want attention from you.
If someone has recently moved out of the home that your cat was close to, they may be embracing this behavior because they are now missing that person. Perhaps, previously, the person who had left often came in and out of the garage door when they were coming home or leaving.
Your cat has an excellent sense of hearing and may be able to hear the garage door opening from a distance. This is why they may start meowing when they hear the door open or close, even if you are not in the garage. Rodents may also be an attractant to your cat and they may be trying to tell you that there is a potential prey (or even predator) nearby.
Finally, your cat may be meowing at the door because it is bored. If they are not getting enough exercise or attention from you, they may start to meow more as a way of trying to get your attention. You can play with your cat using their toys or cuddle with your cat to help distract them from the garage door.