Cat proofing a garden to keep cat in?

*~Zephyr~*

I would love to be able to cat proof my garden, but we have hedges on three sides, not fences or walls, so I don't think it would be possible

Artytarty

Because I always think you are a tolerant poster.
Anyhow, thanks for the tip about hedgehog holes. I think we have a few little rotten bits but I'll make sure there are proper access routes now. I often wonder how the frogs get in to spawn in the pond, but somehow they do.

margaretclare

I am a very tolerant person! I have no objection to cats, but I cannot afford to feed them and the wildlife as well. The cats I see around me all have good homes and I know they get fed. I'm sure they just come for an opportunist snack - it can't be any better than the food they get at home, but their 'hunter' instinct kicks in, and as it says in one of the ads, they are no different to their big cousins in the wild who have to hunt for survival.

About frogs, you'd be surprised where they get to. This time of year they shelter under bushes, in any odd corner. They can't stand the heat on their skin and they feed on insects under shrubs. We have frogs, toads and common newts and seeing any of them is a delight.

We decided a few years ago now, when the last cat we had died, that we wouldn't have any more pet animals. If you're going to look after them properly they are too much of a commitment and a responsibility. We almost had a little dog landed on us from the family of a woman who'd died suddenly, but we stuck to what we'd decided and said 'no'.

Jenny_Wren_3

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. My understanding of many of these systems is that other cats find it hard to get in as they don't like to step on floppy netting/ angled stiffer netting or be able to climb over fences with roller systems on them. My two small dogs act as a deterrent as well! (They always respected our cat as he was there first!).

paddypaws101

I have had the odd unwanted visitor (showing up a weakness in the system which I then corrected) and would always advise having an escape route available. I have a hole cut in one fence panel, which has a screwed on cover....secure, but easy enough to open up to let a stray cat out because believe me you don't want to try and catch a scared cat!

woodworm001

SeduLOUs wrote: »

I just wonder what might happen if a wandering cat found it's way into your garden whilst you are away for a period of time of holiday. Seems logical but obviously more expensive to have a system that prevents entering as well as leaving...

As I mentioned already my neighbour has cat proofed her garden around 3 years ago, in that time none of my 5 cats have got into her garden.

margaretclare

woodworm001 wrote: »

As I mentioned already my neighbour has cat proofed her garden around 3 years ago, in that time none of my 5 cats have got into her garden.

Unfortunately, cat-proofing my garden - turning it into a fortress, effectively - would also exclude all the wild creatures which are welcome.

Person_one

margaretclare wrote: »

Unfortunately, cat-proofing my garden - turning it into a fortress, effectively - would also exclude all the wild creatures which are welcome.

Cats have the right to roam, if you don't like that the thing to do is to petition your MP for a change in the law, not have a go at individual cat owners who aren't actually doing anything wrong.

Why are you feeding foxes anyway? They can look after themselves as well as any cat!

Aldeney

*~Zephyr~* wrote: »

I would love to be able to cat proof my garden, but we have hedges on three sides, not fences or walls, so I don't think it would be possible

This company - purrfectfence.co.uk make free standing cat fences that don't need to be attached to a fence.

We used secur-a-cat.com and put ours up about 7 years ago. It was a couple of days work and cost about £300 (our garden is about 40 foot I think) but worth it in terms of the security it offers. We have had a couple of cats get in but ours have never escaped.

moggymutt

Margaretclare, although you might like to think that you are only intentionally feeding hedgehogs and foxes, you are actually encouraging rats. The cats will help deter the rats.