Holding your cat secure and safe in your yard is essential. You’ll need to know that they’re secure whereas getting their train and unable to flee.
Positive, some cats dwell blissful 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, components comparable to the place you reside (busy roads, predators) would possibly imply you need to maintain them secure in your backyard as a substitute.
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 face 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 among 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 could possibly use for a fence if you wish to make it cat-proof:
- Metallic – Utilizing sheet metallic fence panels is a method of getting a tricky and sturdy fence that your cat can’t climb. Nonetheless, for metallic to be an appropriate possibility, the fence panels are often constituted of light-weight aluminum, and except correctly secured, they’ll trigger noise in excessive winds. It’s additionally not essentially the most visually interesting possibility and might be dear.
- PVC – PVC plastics are a less expensive various and might look good when painted appropriately. In addition they stop your cat from climbing over simply and are low-maintenance.
Nonetheless, not everybody has the finances to switch their fence utterly, and it’s not usually you’re ranging from scratch. You’ll doubtless be on the lookout 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 may make to cat-proof it.
Add Peak
Cats are wonderful jumpers, so growing the peak of your fence is a elementary 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, you could ensure 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 in case you have neighbors – going above a sure top may not be permitted. It’s additionally a good suggestion to talk to your neighbors if you happen to plan on extending your fence, even simply as a courtesy. Most individuals will perceive if you happen to clarify that you simply’re defending your cat.
Add a Cat Fence Topper
Including a cat fence topper is among the best methods to cat-proof your fence.
There are completely different sorts of toppers you could possibly use. Cheaper choices embody cat spikes (not the friendliest to your cat) or extension poles that lean again over your yard, with mesh panels between them.
However if you’d like a comparatively discreet possibility in order that your yard doesn’t purchase that military-prison aesthetic, cat rollers may be extra appropriate.
The Oscillot is a well-liked alternative 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 unimaginable for them to climb over.
Putting 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 stop 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 wander away to discover the surface world – it’s additionally about ensuring the surface world can’t come to your cat and trigger any hassle, too!
Shut Gaps
Examine your fence for gaps or holes that your cat might squeeze by. Patch up any openings with extra fencing materials, boards, or mesh to make sure your cat can not escape.
It’s no good spending cash on a topper if you happen to go away a spot that your cat can get by – and they are often very efficient at squeezing by tight areas.
Don’t overlook this step. In case your cat has a behavior of digging underneath gaps to squeeze by, you’ll want to seek 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. Holding 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 blissful doing, you could possibly 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, comparable to climbing buildings, toys, and shaded areas to lounge in.
A contented, occupied cat is much less prone to try an escape, lowering the necessity to fear an excessive amount of about cat-proofing the fence.
After all, something might distract your cat and get it keen on climbing—a rival cat from a neighbor or a chicken touchdown on prime of the fence. So distractions may help, however don’t rely solely on them.
In Abstract
There are lots 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, you could 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 shifting 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 among 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.
