Is it easy/possible to stop my cats from leaving the garden?

ACG

Im not a massive fan of cats - they seem to use my garden as a toilet. I would love it if all cat owners had the same outlook at you.

Ive come across this - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/181582449273?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108 - appreciate in the grand scheme of things it may give them a bit of a shock the first or second time but I imagine after that they would give up trying to get out?... just to be clear although i dont like cats, im not one for hurting them.

Mrstickle

We have bought a sonic cat repeller for our garden, and its pretty good for keeping them out. We have been plagued with cat poo since we bought the house. We must be the only people in the street who don't have cats!

I'm wondering if that would work in reverse if you see what I mean? We have them set so it goes off if a cat crosses for border into our garden under the bushes. You could place it near the borders you don't want them to cross and it will keep them in? Ours wasn't more than 15 quid each off Amazon.

kinger101

pawsies wrote: »

The only way to meet their wellbeing is to take them out on harness and lead for walks. Most cat owners are too lazy/embarrassed to do this.

If it's already an outdoors cat, I don't think this quite qualifies. Most cat owners don't need to take their cats for a walk, for the simple reason it's not necessary (as cats require no supervision). Owners also tend to struggle with the climbing trees and leaping on 2 metre fences bit.

pawsies wrote: »

The OP is being very responsible and should be commended. Far too many owners just let the cat do whatever and then get upset when neighbours complain or worse the cat ends up dead.

Heaven forbid, letting a semi-domesticated animal exercise free-will. Perhaps the cat should sign a contract specifying which behaviours are acceptable when it moves in with an owner.

pawsies wrote: »

You can't just expect everyone else to look after your pet.

Where did I say that?

ACG

kinger101 wrote: »

Heaven forbid, letting a semi-domesticated animal exercise free-will. Perhaps the cat should sign a contract specifying which behaviours are acceptable when it moves in with an owner.

Theres always one.

Loopy28

Thanks for your replies and some really good suggestions and ideas that I will look into.

I think in regard to cats being able to roam freely, they do currently but we live in a fairly rural area with little traffic and threats.

The new property will be in a town where they could quite easily wander on to a main road (not a carriageway or anything but a 30 MPH main road with a steady flow of traffic).

Letting them roam freely there could lead to a RTA as they are not used to main roads and I know they do wander a long way so I would be risking their lives.

kinger101

Loopy28 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies and some really good suggestions and ideas that I will look into.

I think in regard to cats being able to roam freely, they do currently but we live in a fairly rural area with little traffic and threats.

The new property will be in a town where they could quite easily wander on to a main road (not a carriageway or anything but a 30 MPH main road with a steady flow of traffic).

Letting them roam freely there could lead to a RTA as they are not used to main roads and I know they do wander a long way so I would be risking their lives.

If they don't currently have them, get some indoor scratching posts, or they may start using the carpets/furniture/door frames. They may start clawing at doors anyway if they're eager to go out, so you might want to delay any redecorating until they're settled if you see what I mean. Similarly, I might be worth getting them used to litter trays if they don't currently need them.

Also, the cats may try to escape from first floor windows, particularly if there is a shed/garage/conservatory roof they can land on. So make sure these are not opened too much.

If they don't transition well, you might consider putting them up for adoption.

Loopy28

I won't be keeping them inside. My OP was to look at the potential of making the reasonably sized garden cat proof so they can roam freely in the garden but not beyond the garden walls.

Aldeney

We have a cat fenced garden (we got our system from securacat.) We live in a town near a busy road and have a neighbour who hit a cat with a big stick so knowing our kitty is safe in our garden away from harm removes all the worry.

As for suppressing his roaming instinct, he seems perfectly happy patrolling his garden and doesn't have the stress of other cats encroaching on his territory. Cat proofing your garden is well worth it in my view.

pawsies

kinger101 wrote: »

If it's already an outdoors cat, I don't think this quite qualifies. Most cat owners don't need to take their cats for a walk, for the simple reason it's not necessary (as cats require no supervision). Owners also tend to struggle with the climbing trees and leaping on 2 metre fences bit.



Heaven forbid, letting a semi-domesticated animal exercise free-will. Perhaps the cat should sign a contract specifying which behaviours are acceptable when it moves in with an owner.



Where did I say that?

Cats do require supervision. This is why so many accidents/incidents occur when they are outside. Hence the need for a harness and lead and yes it is possible to train them to like a harness and lead with lots of patience and treats.


Semi domesticated? They are fully domesticated.

I'll just go and let my dog out then into the street after all animals should exercise free will, right?

kinger101

pawsies wrote: »

Cats do require supervision. This is why so many accidents/incidents occur when they are outside. Hence the need for a harness and lead and yes it is possible to train them to like a harness and lead with lots of patience and treats.

This is just absurd. By your reckoning, at least 99 percent of cat owners have got it wrong.

pawsies wrote: »

Semi domesticated? They are fully domesticated.

Really? - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-cats-will-probably-never-be-as-domesticated-as-dogs-9858889.html

pawsies wrote: »

I'll just go and let my dog out then into the street after all animals should exercise free will, right?

No, a dog's behaviour is very different to a cats.