If you're growing indoors, your zone isn't nearly as relevant as when you're growing outside. The cat thing is tricky. I've had some luck putting things in a place that the cat won't view as stable. It also helps if the diameter of the plant isn't very different than the diameter of the pot, so there isn't a big expanse of tempting dirt, beckoning to be used as a litter box. You could also consider some sort of less-tempting soil covering, like decorative stones or moss, which might also help you with moisture retention in the desert.

I never seen problems with Mulberries breaking in the wind and disease problems you mention develope mostly with poor pruning management or "topping" .... they are big sturdy fast growing handsome trees when planted right and taken care of ... give them plenty of room above and below ground ... not for small landscapes ...... there biggest problem roots ... and you will have plenty of mess to clean up indeed fruitless or not ... It is not unheard of to see Mesquites falling over frequently ... but improper use of drip irrigation methods are often a malor culprit .... Mulberries will have different watering requirements then xeriphytes so you will have to plan your landscape and irrigation design accordingly. Good Day .....

I'm from the Antelope Valley. Fruitless mulberries get huge..fast. I hope you have a lot of room. I see people with the trees out here along the sidewalk(between the side walk and street) they are tearing up the sidewalks! If it is next to any structure there will probably be damage. Anyway, very fast growing trees take up a LOT of water. I don't know what's on your tree's leaves but it's probably signs of stress. They need to be deep watered once a week at least. Shallow infrequent waterings(sprinkler only etc....)lead to a very weak tree. I'd also cover the base with 2 inches of compost and 2 inches of mulch to add nutrition and hold in water. Do not make a "hill" around the base of the tree. Spread the mulch evenly in a circle the at least 4ft out. The high desert here starts at 2,000ft. We have 40 degree fluctuations in temps. in one day.a good way to test for watering is a piece of rebar. If it's muddy and wet 1 1/2 ft down you're good. If it's dry deep water. Don't plant any plants around the base...it will weaken the trees. Hope this helps.PJ

I don't think it will look weird. It makes as much sense as a front door being one color inside and another on the exterior. You'll just have to decide which color will be used on the door edge. Most people probably won't pay much attention to it. I angst over these kinds of decisions too, thinking people will examine it. It's kind of funny how much time we spend on this sort of thing and one day you mention it to someone who's been to your house many times and they say,"I NEVER noticed that."