Retaining your cat protected and safe in your yard is essential. You’ll wish to know that they’re protected whereas getting their train and unable to flee.
Certain, some cats dwell completely satisfied lives as outside cats that wander across the neighborhood earlier than returning dwelling.
However many breeds are too naïve or nervous to be allowed to roam freely. Even when your cat is a breed well-suited to exploration, elements resembling the place you reside (busy roads, predators) would possibly imply you wish to maintain them protected in your backyard as an alternative.
So, let’s have a look at the choices for a cat-proof fence to assist maintain your kitty from leaving the confines of your regulated outside house, the place you recognize they’re much safer.
Which Supplies Are Good for a Cat-Proof Fence?
The supplies you select are essential for making a cat-proof fence. Go for sturdy, weather-resistant supplies that may stand up to your cat’s persistent makes an attempt to flee.
Many properties have wood fences as a result of they’re simple to put in and look nice. Nonetheless, wooden is likely one of the worst supplies for cat fences as a result of cats can dig their claws into it, making it simpler for them to climb up and over, even when the fence is tall.
As an alternative, there are two supplies you might use for a fence if you wish to make it cat-proof:
- Steel – Utilizing sheet metallic fence panels is a technique of getting a tricky and sturdy fence that your cat can’t climb. Nonetheless, for metallic to be an acceptable possibility, the fence panels are often created from light-weight aluminum, and except correctly secured, they’ll trigger noise in excessive winds. It’s additionally not probably the most visually interesting possibility and will be expensive.
- PVC – PVC plastics are a less expensive different and might look good when painted appropriately. Additionally they forestall your cat from climbing over simply and are low-maintenance.
Nonetheless, not everybody has the finances to interchange their fence utterly, and it’s not typically you’re ranging from scratch. You’ll probably be searching for methods to cat-proof your current fence – and you are able to do this in a number of methods.
Cat-Proofing Present Fences
If you have already got a fence in place, there are a number of modifications you can also make to cat-proof it.
Add Top
Cats are wonderful jumpers, so rising the peak of your fence is a basic step in cat-proofing.
Cats can climb simply, so including top alone isn’t at all times sufficient. You would possibly deter your cat, however whether it is relentless about climbing up and over, it’s essential to be certain that any extensions use a fabric your cat can’t get its claws into.
You’ll additionally want to recollect your native legal guidelines on fence top, particularly when you have neighbors – going above a sure top won’t be permitted. It’s additionally a good suggestion to talk to your neighbors in case you plan on extending your fence, even simply as a courtesy. Most individuals will perceive in case you clarify that you simply’re defending your cat.
Add a Cat Fence Topper
Including a cat fence topper is likely one of the simplest methods to cat-proof your fence.
There are totally different sorts of toppers you might use. Cheaper choices embrace cat spikes (not the friendliest to your cat) or extension poles that lean again over your yard, with mesh panels between them.
However in order for you a comparatively discreet possibility in order that your yard doesn’t purchase that military-prison aesthetic, cat rollers could be extra appropriate.
The Oscillot is a well-liked selection for this objective. This technique consists of rotating paddles put in on the highest of your fence.
When your cat tries to climb the fence, the paddles spin, stopping them from getting a grip and making it unattainable for them to climb over.
Inserting it on prime of the fence additionally makes it a two-way cat-proof fence that stops your cat from escaping. That’s as a result of it’ll additionally forestall different cats (and even different animals) from climbing into your yard in the event that they’re curious or aggressive.
It’s not nearly ensuring your cat can’t get lost to discover the surface world – it’s additionally about ensuring the surface world can’t come to your cat and trigger any bother, too!
Shut Gaps
Examine your fence for gaps or holes that your cat might squeeze by way of. Patch up any openings with further fencing materials, boards, or mesh to make sure your cat can’t escape.
It’s no good spending cash on a topper in case you depart a niche that your cat can get by way of – and they are often very efficient at squeezing by way of tight areas.
Don’t overlook this step. In case your cat has a behavior of digging underneath gaps to squeeze by way of, you’ll want to search out methods to dam entry to these weaknesses and plug the holes themselves.
Take away ‘Ladders’
Cats are resourceful and can use something they’ll to climb over a fence. Take away any objects close to the fence that might act as a ‘ladder,’ together with trash cans or storage packing containers. Retaining this stuff away from the fence line will make it more difficult to your cat to flee.
Bushes are one other problem, too – you’ll want to chop again any branches your cat might use to recover from the fence. If that’s not one thing you’re completely satisfied doing, you might additionally have a look at cat-proofing the tree. You possibly can purchase metallic surrounds for the trunk so your cat can’t get a grip and climb up it.
Distract Your Cat
Typically, one of the simplest ways to maintain your cat contained in the yard is by making the yard extra enticing than the surface world.
Present loads of leisure and stimulation to your cat within the yard, resembling climbing buildings, toys, and shaded areas to lounge in.
A contented, occupied cat is much less more likely to try an escape, decreasing the necessity to fear an excessive amount of about cat-proofing the fence.
In fact, something might distract your cat and get it concerned about climbing—a rival cat from a neighbor or a hen touchdown on prime of the fence. So distractions can assist, however don’t rely solely on them.
In Abstract
There are a lot of methods so as to add a cat-proof fence to your property, and there are often loads of good choices that don’t contain the expense and energy of changing your current fence.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to just be sure you are cat-proofing the remainder of the backyard too – if there are any ‘ladders’ that your cat can use, pure or in any other case, then transferring or eradicating these needs to be one of many first steps to assist include your kitty.
Including a cat fence topper is usually one of the simplest ways to make sure your cat can’t escape over the fence, and the Oscillot system is likely one of the higher choices if it’s appropriate to your current set up. It’s discreet however extremely efficient and can assist maintain your cat in and different cats or animals out.
