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Fences - Cats - DIY?
A friend of mine has one of these fences that's about 178cm (5'10")
tall: http://stratco.com.au/products/fenci..._neighbour.asp She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. I know full well that there are numerous commercially available products that will stop cats (along with other animals) climbing fences. I'm sure they do work, but they're all fairly pricey, particularly if attempting to cover a significant length of fencing. I'm now thinking about trying a home-rigged set up. I'm considering getting a whole heap of empty 2 Litre plastic softdrink bottles (Soda bottles to any USA readers), then cutting off the base and neck of the bottles, then cutting them lengthwise, then siliconing them to the tops of the fence so the sides of the bottles "curve downwards" from the top of the fence. I'm thinking this curved plastic will be too smooth and slippery for a cat to get any grip with it's claws. I have no problem with spending some time getting this to work, but I want to keep the cost down, so spending lots of $$$ isn't happening. I was wondering if anyone has attempted anything like this, and if they can offer any advice. Thanks. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. |
#2
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
Gas Bag wrote:
A friend of mine has one of these fences that's about 178cm (5'10") tall: http://stratco.com.au/products/fenci..._neighbour.asp She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. I know full well that there are numerous commercially available products that will stop cats (along with other animals) climbing fences. I'm sure they do work, but they're all fairly pricey, particularly if attempting to cover a significant length of fencing. I'm now thinking about trying a home-rigged set up. I'm considering getting a whole heap of empty 2 Litre plastic softdrink bottles (Soda bottles to any USA readers), then cutting off the base and neck of the bottles, then cutting them lengthwise, then siliconing them to the tops of the fence so the sides of the bottles "curve downwards" from the top of the fence. I'm thinking this curved plastic will be too smooth and slippery for a cat to get any grip with it's claws. I have no problem with spending some time getting this to work, but I want to keep the cost down, so spending lots of $$$ isn't happening. I was wondering if anyone has attempted anything like this, and if they can offer any advice. Thanks. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. I have a friend who built a, "cateo" for his cats, and covered it with chicken wire fencing, which lets in the fresh air and sunshine, but keeps the cats from getting out. This was fairly easy and inexpensive for him to do. and his cats love spending time out there. He can also grow flowers out there..... |
#3
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
On 8/15/2012 2:01 PM, Bill Graham wrote:
Gas Bag wrote: A friend of mine has one of these fences that's about 178cm (5'10") tall: http://stratco.com.au/products/fenci..._neighbour.asp She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. I know full well that there are numerous commercially available products that will stop cats (along with other animals) climbing fences. I'm sure they do work, but they're all fairly pricey, particularly if attempting to cover a significant length of fencing. I'm now thinking about trying a home-rigged set up. I'm considering getting a whole heap of empty 2 Litre plastic softdrink bottles (Soda bottles to any USA readers), then cutting off the base and neck of the bottles, then cutting them lengthwise, then siliconing them to the tops of the fence so the sides of the bottles "curve downwards" from the top of the fence. I'm thinking this curved plastic will be too smooth and slippery for a cat to get any grip with it's claws. I have no problem with spending some time getting this to work, but I want to keep the cost down, so spending lots of $$$ isn't happening. I was wondering if anyone has attempted anything like this, and if they can offer any advice. Thanks. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. I have a friend who built a, "cateo" for his cats, and covered it with chicken wire fencing, which lets in the fresh air and sunshine, but keeps the cats from getting out. This was fairly easy and inexpensive for him to do. and his cats love spending time out there. He can also grow flowers out there..... i built one of these too. 12x12x8' with lots of internal ramps. i had to use thin plywood for the first couple of feet to keep the rattlesnakes and coyote's out, and it had a chickenwire roof to keep the owls and hawks out too. |
#4
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
Gas Bag wrote:
She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. |
#5
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:59:00 -0400, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote:
Gas Bag wrote: She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be happy. Safe counts but so does happy. Sometimes there is no option, like when you live in an apartment in a city. But I rigged the fence in my little backyard so the cats can't get out and I let them out whenever I'm able to - of course I must be home. Sure there is some risk. Maybe some critter left a hole in the fence - raccoons and possums can do that. Maybe one will climb a tree and jump into the next yard. I try to minimize that risk by putting Loc8tor tags on their collars. But like any knowlegable cat owner I use breakaway collars so even that isn't foolproof. But they love lying on the cool earth under the evergreens, or eating the grass or some bug. Or they just hang out on the deck and sniff the air. Of course I don't use any pesticides or other poisons. Once or twice a year one will catch a bird. Sometimes I'm quick enough to save the bird. They are just so proud when they get one though. I make it up to the birds by feeding them all winter and even putting up a heated birdbath. For me, the small risk that something will happen to them is more than offset by the enjoyment they get by being "free" outside. I've had eight cats during the 16 years that I've had this fenced in yard. Four have died, but none because they were allowed to go out. Four are still enjoying the yard and will do so today when I get home. |
#6
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
On Aug 17, 7:08*am, dgk wrote:
On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:59:00 -0400, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote: Gas Bag wrote: She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be happy. Safe counts but so does happy. Sometimes there is no option, like when you live in an apartment in a city. But I rigged the fence in my little backyard so the cats can't get out and I let them out whenever I'm able to - of course I must be home. Sure there is some risk. Maybe some critter left a hole in the fence - raccoons and possums can do that. Maybe one will climb a tree and jump into the next yard. I try to minimize that risk by putting Loc8tor tags on their collars. But like any knowlegable cat owner I use breakaway collars so even that isn't foolproof. ***My cat specializes in losing breakaway collars with the name tags I paid to have made. I finally gave up. He's chipped, so if he's found and the finders have enough sense to call the local shelter, he could potentially be located. One thing: I was warned a few years ago to KEEP HIM INDOORS on Halloween; black cat. So I bring him in during the day, set up food and toilet, and don't let him out till next day.- But they love lying on the cool earth under the evergreens, or eating the grass or some bug. Or they just hang out on the deck and sniff the air. Of course I don't use any pesticides or other poisons. Once or twice a year one will catch a bird. Sometimes I'm quick enough to save the bird. They are just so proud when they get one though. I make it up to the birds by feeding them all winter and even putting up a heated birdbath. ***Hah! Me too! I saved a bird just the other day and confined it briefly until it settled down enough to fly away. [Censored] generations of mocking-birds have been teasing the cats all these years, and some of them go too far! For me, the small risk that something will happen to them is more than offset by the enjoyment they get by being "free" outside. I've had eight cats during the 16 years that I've had this fenced in yard. Four have died, but none because they were allowed to go out. Four are still enjoying the yard and will do so today when I get home. FOUR CHEERS! I view with dismay the idea of cooping up an animal in an unnatural environment just for the selfish enjoyment of the owner! If that goes for cats, which I've had all my life, imagine how much more it goes for dogs, especially HUGE dogs shut up in a small apartment, and afforded only a daily walk by the perhaps conscientious but normally busy owner, employed or not. HB |
#7
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
dgk wrote:
Brooklyn1 wrote: Gas Bag wrote: She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be happy. Safe counts but so does happy. What good is a "happy" cat flattened with tire tread impressions... cats are happy indoors... you're an imbecile. |
#8
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
"dgk" wrote in message ... On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:59:00 -0400, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote: Gas Bag wrote: She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be happy. Safe counts but so does happy. Sometimes there is no option, like when you live in an apartment in a city. But I rigged the fence in my little backyard so the cats can't get out and I let them out whenever I'm able to - of course I must be home. Sure there is some risk. Maybe some critter left a hole in the fence - raccoons and possums can do that. Maybe one will climb a tree and jump into the next yard. I try to minimize that risk by putting Loc8tor tags on their collars. But like any knowlegable cat owner I use breakaway collars so even that isn't foolproof. But they love lying on the cool earth under the evergreens, or eating the grass or some bug. Or they just hang out on the deck and sniff the air. Of course I don't use any pesticides or other poisons. Once or twice a year one will catch a bird. Sometimes I'm quick enough to save the bird. They are just so proud when they get one though. I make it up to the birds by feeding them all winter and even putting up a heated birdbath. For me, the small risk that something will happen to them is more than offset by the enjoyment they get by being "free" outside. I've had eight cats during the 16 years that I've had this fenced in yard. Four have died, but none because they were allowed to go out. Four are still enjoying the yard and will do so today when I get home. Cats do love that but... Unless I had the money to build a very specific type of cat enclosure, I wouldn't let my cats outside. Would have to be something to keep them very safe. But even with something like that, the cat could get fleas or maybe eat a bird or a rodent and then maybe get worms. Our baby cat has had two kinds of worms now. I don't know how she got them. She lives indoors. She did have the lung worms when we got her. Not sure about the round worms unless perhaps she got them from eating a bug. She and mom did get a moth in here just prior. |
#9
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
dgk wrote:
On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:59:00 -0400, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote: Gas Bag wrote: She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be happy. Safe counts but so does happy. Sometimes there is no option, like when you live in an apartment in a city. But I rigged the fence in my little backyard so the cats can't get out and I let them out whenever I'm able to - of course I must be home. Sure there is some risk. Maybe some critter left a hole in the fence - raccoons and possums can do that. Maybe one will climb a tree and jump into the next yard. I try to minimize that risk by putting Loc8tor tags on their collars. But like any knowlegable cat owner I use breakaway collars so even that isn't foolproof. But they love lying on the cool earth under the evergreens, or eating the grass or some bug. Or they just hang out on the deck and sniff the air. Of course I don't use any pesticides or other poisons. Once or twice a year one will catch a bird. Sometimes I'm quick enough to save the bird. They are just so proud when they get one though. I make it up to the birds by feeding them all winter and even putting up a heated birdbath. For me, the small risk that something will happen to them is more than offset by the enjoyment they get by being "free" outside. I've had eight cats during the 16 years that I've had this fenced in yard. Four have died, but none because they were allowed to go out. Four are still enjoying the yard and will do so today when I get home. Hear, hear! I agree with you 100%. I lost one outside cat in my entire life, and even he enjoyed being outsidfe in the neighborhood so much, that if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. Some cats are just naturally gregarious, and keeping them locked up inside a house would be a crime. There is more to life than just breathing, as Patrick Henry would tell you. The joy and friendship my B-K gave to others in the neighborhood, (even the dogs) made his freedom mandatory.... |
#10
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Fences - Cats - DIY?
dgk wrote:
On Thu, 16 Aug 2012 20:59:00 -0400, Brooklyn1 Gravesend1 wrote: Gas Bag wrote: She wants to stop her cats getting out, and other cats getting in. To any cat "lovers" out there, my friend isn't getting rid of her cats, nor is she trapping/baiting any of the cats in her suburb. Anyone who cares about their cats doesn't let them out. Like most absolute statements, that's nonsense. Cats enjoy being outdoors and if we really care about our cats we want them to be happy. Safe counts but so does happy. And neighbor's love cat poop in their spinach. |
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