Cat proofing a garden - any experiences?

PennyForThem_2

I am thinking about doing this but I have a non standard garden.  However I would like any thoughts and how, if you did it.  So, product used, company used - either bought for diy or installation.  Any comments would be really useful. 

Mnoee

I'm assuming you mean keep your cats in, not keep other cats out, since cat proofing can mean either!

I've heard of Protect a pet - they do mesh that you can put at the top of fencing or on standalone posts. Very well reviewed, but not cheap. I'm considering using them to DIY an enclosure, rather than the whole garden (I also have a weird garden where doing the entire thing would be pretty much impossible - at least on my budget!). They also do installations, but again, not cheap. 

There's also the possibility of a wooden catio or similar - much more secure, but more limiting for your cats. There's people dotted around the UK who are the go-to guys for this sort of thing, or self building (either with a kit or totally DIY) is an option. If you use Facebook/nextdoor then asking in your local area might get you specific people to contact. Again, not cheap to have one appear in your garden and the handier you are, the cheaper it can be. If you can get something 'off the shelf' it's a lot cheaper, but if your weird garden is like my weird garden, we're both out of luck! 

PennyForThem_2

Thank you for your reply, Mnoee.  Yes, weird garden on 2 levels which is not small and no, not handy myself.  I too have thought maybe limiting what is cat-proofed.  Bit worried even then may be too expensive....  Have you contacted ProtectaPet at all?

You might find this useful as it gives a number of UK manufactured solutions:  https://icatcare.org/advice/fencing-in-your-garden/

Mnoee

PennyForThem_2 said:

Thank you for your reply, Mnoee.  Yes, weird garden on 2 levels which is not small and no, not handy myself.  I too have thought maybe limiting what is cat-proofed.  Bit worried even then may be too expensive....  Have you contacted ProtectaPet at all?

You might find this useful as it gives a number of UK manufactured solutions:  https://icatcare.org/advice/fencing-in-your-garden/

I'm waiting to hear back from them about shipping costs to Northern Ireland - joys of not living on the mainland. I only emailed them over the weekend, it was actually your post that kicked me into trying to sort something out for this summer! I did get quotes last year for a catio, but it was just too much - and I fear they've gone up even more with the price of wood what it is. 

Thanks for the link, I'll check out the other suggestions. 

Mnoee

Hi @PennyForThem_2 - just wanted to update that I've successfully ordered from protect a pet. It all arrived vaguely on time (Northern Ireland problems again? They ship with tnt who estimated next day, then the day after, then the day after again... Thankfully someone is home all the time) and seems to be in order, but we haven't got round to putting it up yet due to weather. It does look like a fairly big and intensive job, even for the limited area we're doing. Three standalone posts to fence off an area, leading to some fence toppers that'll attach to a covered alleyway plus netting etc came into just over £400. I'll post some pics in the coming weeks, weather permitting! 

Did you find anything suitable yourself? 

PennyForThem_2

Hi Mnoee
Am in contact with ProtectaPet and got a quoteformy whole garden.  Thinking about it but will likely go ahead. Their fences/barriers do look substantial.

Would love to see photos when done!

Mnoee

Well, here's my little enclosure (mostly!) done. We've had it up for about a week, but haven't got round to the finishing touches of cutting away the excess netting in a few places. It's not the prettiest, but very functional! The whole thing took two people about 8 hours to build with hand tools (aside from the drill). Do not underestimate how long it takes to cable tie everything - there's well over 100 ties on this. There's also an area where it joins the conservatory I need to finish up - it's not as secure as it could be, but I'm waiting on more fixing plates in the post. (My solution for attaching netting to pvc - they don't sell anything suitable themselves, but it seems to work.) 

Although it looks like a dark grim area, in other parts of the day it gets more sun - and more importantly, the cats absolutely love going out, even if there's not much there at the moment. I'm growing some big planters of cat grass/nip/valerian for that area, and am going to either build or buy a wall mounted cat tree for the covered area at the back. 

There's been a few escape attempts - only one of my cats even tries, and fails every time. He can jump up to about the height of the poles - he clings on for a second, realises the netting bows in and he can't go anywhere before jumping back down.

I've very much used their kit not as intended - with strange angles and ammendments. I think you could achieve a much more professional look for a simple rectangular area, but sadly my garden just isn't like that. The poles are indeed very sturdy - I think a determined human could push ours from the ground, but he'd be taking the bricks with them. 

If I had to nitpick, the assembly instructions really aren't clear, and they could do more to show which way up the poles go and which way round the poles should face - they're covered in holes and it's not obvious which hole is for what. Overall, I'm really happy with it - especially considering how cheap this was compared to other options. 

liddyloo

If you're on Facebook there is a group called Kitty Gardens, Catios, House Cats and Catification. There's some really great ideas but also member discounts and I have a feeling protectapet is one of the companies. There are also examples of DIY catios using UPVC piping with good advice on what is needed to not only make them secure but safe. (eg not chicken wire, its not strong enough) 

PennyForThem_2

Hi all
I have cat proofed via Protect-a-Pet.  I went with them installing because I have a non-standard garden on several levels.  I cannot recommend this company highly enough - and the product is much better from a visual viewpoint than photos on the site appear.  The netting blends into the background and your eye does not register it, especially if viewing head on.

The 2 installers (for my part of the country) were great!  Problem solving all the way for a 'unique' (read 'problem') garden and working to get it finished from 9 am to 6 pm with a 90 min journey home after.

Not cheap but - for me - worth every penny.