Hello,
I keep finding my cat by the road recently, this is worrying and I want to prevent her from going near it.
We have been considering somehow enclosing her just in the garden as we do not want to lock her inside the house all day as she is already in at night.
Does anyone have any ideas or tips on how we could keep her enclosed in our garden?
Thankyou
Cara
Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
..........Traci
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
Agree with Traci.... even if you were to enclose your garden with a screened enclosure including a roof ( 'cause cats can and will climb anything ) I don't think it would work 100% ... with cats, where there's a will, there's a way.
We take our cat out during the day for sun and snooping around but only when we're right there with her every minute... it takes an extra effort but it's sure better than the dangers of the road.
We take our cat out during the day for sun and snooping around but only when we're right there with her every minute... it takes an extra effort but it's sure better than the dangers of the road.
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
along time ago we visited a person in Calif..She had enclosed her yard to be cat escape proof....it was better thant the fences between Mexico and USA...and worked just as well, no matrter what she did the cats always found a way over them...ie I guess they would be called illegal exagrents... you will have to make a chicked coop type of enclosure to be effective....indoors is beter though cause the cats canlook out the windows and dream of the jungle
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
Thank you very much for all your help, It was very usefull.
We are going to put chicken wire all the way around the garden so that she cannot get out and supervise her whenever she is outside.
Once again thank you,
Cara
We are going to put chicken wire all the way around the garden so that she cannot get out and supervise her whenever she is outside.
Once again thank you,
Cara
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
Just another caution, but chicken wire is also not a good deterrant, especially for other animals who may try to get in, particularly any who can dig underneath.
Contrary to myth, cats can and do enjoy life indoors, as long as the owner provides for their needs and makes the environment stimulating and healthy.
Contrary to myth, cats can and do enjoy life indoors, as long as the owner provides for their needs and makes the environment stimulating and healthy.
..........Traci
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
ALL of my cats were ferals at one time...I brought them in because they were sickly or injured and nursed them back to health....some were even adults and quite wild, but they have adjusted fine to indoor only and have no inclination to even want to go outside...
They can lay in any of 8 windowsills at all sides of the house, plus we have one LONG *8 foot) window that the sill is at about 5 feet high, so I built shelving from the desks to get up to taht height, and I installed a shelf about 5 inches below the window, and added a pillowtop that will not slide off (ties to keep ti on the shelf) and they can lay there and look out that window into the back pasture and wahtever night critters wander out there...without the risk of them being harmed...
They can lay in any of 8 windowsills at all sides of the house, plus we have one LONG *8 foot) window that the sill is at about 5 feet high, so I built shelving from the desks to get up to taht height, and I installed a shelf about 5 inches below the window, and added a pillowtop that will not slide off (ties to keep ti on the shelf) and they can lay there and look out that window into the back pasture and wahtever night critters wander out there...without the risk of them being harmed...
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
I agree with everyone here, indoors only is the best route. Like Tambrey and most everyone, my cats were all strays/ferals at the beginning of their lives (ages range from 2 months to 2 years old before they were brought in). We've had no desires to go back out.
If you simply must provide an enclosure, try something what is advertised on this site. Their claim is:
If you simply must provide an enclosure, try something what is advertised on this site. Their claim is:
http://www.purrfectfence.com/Why it works...
Our cat fence enclosure material is flexible, so most cats don't like to climb it. For those acrobatic cats that somehow get near the top, the "Houdini-Proof" arch along the top of the enclosure safely turns them back toward the ground.
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
Actually, no arch, curved top, or inverted top will prevent a cat escaping. Cats have an amazing ability to jump high obstacles, and if you've ever seen a cat run in fear of something, or being chased, you'll know what I mean. Dogs also can easily escape these open "enclosures", they simply climb them and are not afraid of the feats they must do to accomplish their escape.
Even if the enclosure was technically enclosed on all sides and the top, it should never be inferred that it is fool-proof. The only fool-proof method is indoors only. (providing one takes care to ensure doors are not left open, windows/screens are secure, etc)
Even if the enclosure was technically enclosed on all sides and the top, it should never be inferred that it is fool-proof. The only fool-proof method is indoors only. (providing one takes care to ensure doors are not left open, windows/screens are secure, etc)
..........Traci
Re: Keeping the cat enclosed in the garden
Yes Traci, I agree. I just suggested a means if indoors only wasn't an absolute option.