[claire8234]

Lovely thanks. It wont be for a good few years yet its just nice to know whats about and whats possible x

 

[Rose Vally]

Really Osam ❤

 

[leashedForLife]

AFKMatrix said,

... A colleague from work has mentioned this Freedom Fencing from PetSafe:
http://www.freedom-fence.co.uk/

...hopefully a cheaper option [vs] netting and wooden pole options. ... it needs the pet to wear a collar ...
I look forward to your comments on this fencing system.
____________________________________________

later:
...it sounds like this system gives off a noise or something similar to the compressed air can.

#926AFKMatrix, Sep 16, 2016

.
.
Sorry, no.
It's a boundary-fencing system that uses shock-collars - the pet approaches the boundary, should hear a warning [buzz or high-pitched chirp], & then if they get closer, they're zapped.
.
Cats don't react well to punishment; they interpret any painful or aversive act as aggression, & either run away, or attack in response. U can't smack a cat for jumping onto the kitchen-counter, & not badly damage Ur relationship with that cat.
The sole reason we can put a shock-collar on a dog & get away with it, is that dogs are willing to accept an incredible amount of abuse before lashing out - cats?... Not so much.
.
Years back, while i was still living in Va Beach, a neighbor 3 streets down decided to "train" their cat with a shock-fence. Their 3-YO neutered brown-tabby scrammed, in a total panic, the 1st time the shock-collar activated. The owners plastered flyers with his photo all over the neighborhood - 3 days later, his unmarked body was found just one street over.
A vet-nurse told me it was most-likely a stress-induced "heart attack" - he freaked out, & he died. He was not dehydrated, & had not been poisoned.
.
No - i would never suggest a shock-fence for a cat, nor for a dog, not for confinement [inside a boundary] nor for exclusion [to keep them OUT of an area].
.
Re the "exclusion" version, too many owners are clueless or careless, & i've seen dogs unable to get to their doghouse for shelter outdoors b/c the owner thoughtlessly parked the wireless transmitter indoors, in such a way that the dog outside is shocked when they get near their doghouse - or even their water-bowl, or the sipper mounted on the garden hosepipe.
Ppl just don't think about the radius of the signal, & what things in the next room, beyond the wall, are within range.
.
.
.

 

[mooikatje]

Eeeek! Sanctuary SOS are currently in my garden installing a cat fence! Here's the before photo from this morning. I'll post more when they are finished!

 

[buffie]

Looking forward to seeing the finished set up,I'm sure it will be well worth it.

 

[mooikatje]

They did loads of work for us today, despite the awful weather, and got a lot done. We have a new bit of fence and a gate separating off a part of our garden where we have an outhouse and bins area - it is away from sight now which is brilliant. It also makes it a lot easier from a cat proofing point of view. They put up some extra trellis to raise the height of the fence where we have our decking, and have put all the brackets on. Not a single bit of our fencing is straight, so they are going to do the mesh in small pieces rather than a long run, so they are coming back tomorrow to finish off.

 

[mooikatje]

So it is all done! The sun is shining beautifully and the cats are fast asleep and not interested at all. Isn't that just typical!!

I think they have done a brilliant job, and Grant was an absolute pleasure to deal with. Our garden is not particularly big, but there is nothing straight or square about it which makes it a bit of a challenge, but he was able to deal with it all no problem. It is a triangle shape which goes around a corner at the bottom, has raised decking and an awkwardly placed office to contend with. They secured the bottom of the fencing too, and blocked up the gaps under the decking.

Cat fencing is never going to actually improve a garden, but I really think they've done it as well as it could be so I'm very happy. Now I just need the cats to wake up, so I can actually post some photos of them outside!

 

[buffie]

What a fantastic job,everything looks so neat and the netting is not really all that obvious.
Well done everyone I'm sure your cats are going to be very pleased with it.

 

[ameliajane]

Finally completed DIY cat proofing of patio:

And bought a beautiful outdoor cat tree from Kitty Klimbers! Peter from Kitty Klimbers very kindly delivered and assembled it for me himself. Superb quality - can't recommend them highly enough!

And the some of the kitties enjoying the sunshine!

 

[lorilu]

Congratulations @ameliajane and @mooikatje !!!!!

 

[AFKMatrix]

Well have just emailed every cat fencing company I could find to get some quotes, so excited! I have let my 2 boys out into the newly re-landscaped garden as they have no concept of jumping over the fencing (yet!) and they love it. But I want to have the peace of mind that I can leave them out there and go back into the house and know their safe! So it's a decision between the netting system and the rollers, will see what the quotes come back with and make my decision.

 

[Daniel Lambert]

I guess the measure of success of any cat enclosure is how many breaches occur ! I am pleased to say that the system I installed in my 40ft garden has now been in place for two years without any escapes. On the fenced part of the garden I purchased some brackets from Protectapet and did a DIY job as per the instructions on their site. For the rest of the garden I purchased 8ft green garden stakes from B&M (£1.87 per stake), some cloche hoops and a roll of 8ft deer mesh.

The stakes are pushed into the ground at two metre intervals. I cut a couple of inches off the top as they are hollow inside. I cut the cloche hoops in half and insert them into the top of the poles (overhang inwards towards the garden). The mesh is then simply rolled out behind and fastened to the poles using cable ties. Tent pegs are put across the bottom at half metre intervals. The only adjustment I have had to make is a roll of wire mesh (50cm) along the bottom length of the fence as the rabbits would come in from the fields and chew through the plastic mesh !

All in all though, a cheap way to contain the cats and doesn't look too unsightly. I would add that the catalyst for doing this was that we had both cats run over on the road outside of the house. Fortunately one survived - a Russian Blue cross. The other cat we now have is a Norwegian Forest cat - a renowned climber I am told. He hasn't been able to escape yet !

Mat

 

[1287325]

I know this was mentioned some time ago (possibly on this thread, maybe on the old forum) - if you use cable ties for any of your security systems, you need to check them frequently as they degrade and break.

I replaced mine with wire.

 

[huckybuck]

We're looking to buy a new outdoor cat run for the HBs and want something custom built ideally.

Probably 10ft x 6ft pressure treated timber, heavy duty galvanised weld mesh front and sides and panelled back, half covered with a roof (possibly cedar tiles or onduline roof) and full height front door. Skirting/dirt board all round.
Solid shelves and ramp to take the weight of the MCs.
Would love a finial or two!!
It needs to be robust and aesthetically pleasing at the same time.

Not asking much lol
Can anyone recommend a good shed/animal housing company that would do bespoke orders? I live in Bucks.

 

[huckybuck]

Well I have got a quote from:

http://cherryacresanimalhousing.co.uk/

They got back to me really quickly and discussed all my wish list. Nothing is a problem and so far the quote is very reasonable inc vat, delivery and installation.

I have asked for something similar to this in shape.

But with no bedroom and a large shelf that runs the full length and ramp up.

Full height door at the front.

Either onduline roof or cedar shingles (hoping for this but dependant on cost)

With a few added arches and coving to make it look more like a hen house/summer house and painted baby (huckleberry blue).

Would have much preferred a pitch roof but our neighbours are stroppy and would moan!

Just love this colour combination.

Delivery is approx 3 weeks from ordering so should tie in nicely with the new patio.

Just finalising details.

 

[buffie]

Lucky HB's Gold Star outdoor facilities with all mod cons and best of all total safety and peace of mind for you.
Can I just add a little concern , knowing what Meeko is like when I open his run door if I didn't have an "air lock" between the run and the outside world there is a chance he would be out and away if I didn't use all hands/feet and anything else available to prevent him .
Maybe there is one and I just havnt seen it but if not it might be worth a thought.

 

[Smuge]

Lucky HB's Gold Star outdoor facilities with all mod cons and best of all total safety and peace of mind for you.
Can I just add a little concern , knowing what Meeko is like when I open his run door if I didn't have an "air lock" between the run and the outside world there is a chance he would be out and away if I didn't use all hands/feet and anything else available to prevent him .
Maybe there is one and I just havnt seen it but if not it might be worth a thought.

This is a great call and something I would worry about with the smaller runs.

Tali can shoot out a bedroom door faster than a bullet when she is in the mood

 

[huckybuck]

Lucky HB's Gold Star outdoor facilities with all mod cons and best of all total safety and peace of mind for you.
Can I just add a little concern , knowing what Meeko is like when I open his run door if I didn't have an "air lock" between the run and the outside world there is a chance he would be out and away if I didn't use all hands/feet and anything else available to prevent him .
Maybe there is one and I just havnt seen it but if not it might be worth a thought.

I did think of this Buffie but luckily they are all "fairly" well behaved. Huck will walk out and wander back to the house of his own accord lol. If Grace pushes past she runs onto the lawn and chews and chews and chews so I can always pick her up. Holly goes mental running around for 2 minutes then panics and runs back to the house especially if I shout at her! Little H stops at the doorway waiting to be picked up because he has no idea what to do if he went a step further..he knows he's not really allowed and is well behaved enough not to try.

The back garden is enclosed enough that I think we're ok.

Now I could do with an air lock on our front door mind you!!!!!!!

 

[buffie]

I did think of this Buffie but luckily they are all "fairly" well behaved. Huck will walk out and wander back to the house of his own accord lol. If Grace pushes past she runs onto the lawn and chews and chews and chews so I can always pick her up. Holly goes mental running around for 2 minutes then panics and runs back to the house especially if I shout at her! Little H stops at the doorway waiting to be picked up because he has no idea what to do if he went a step further..he knows he's not really allowed and is well behaved enough not to try.

The back garden is enclosed enough that I think we're ok.

Now I could do with an air lock on our front door mind you!!!!!!!

How lucky are you to be blessed with sensible felines .
I don't think Meeko would be hell bent on escaping anywhere but his curious side would take over and he would be halfway down the garden before he realised that if he kept going he would be lost
We do ,thank heavens,have an airlock on both front and back door , one of the benefits of older houses

 

[Citruspips]

Looks lovely especially painted. Pity about the neighbours and the roof though.

I must do something like this soon I take Jango out every night on a long leash but it's not ideal and it would be nice if he could go somewhere unsupervised.

We've got an old garage which no longer has the roof and just has three walls which are rendered and now form part of the patio. I'm toying with a rather ambitious plan to put a pergola type top on it and give it a trellisy type side to enclose it with a gate to make a sort of enclosed patio a bit like a beer garden at a pub. I thought it would be nice to make a sort of garden room with table chairs and things to share with the cats with perhaps a Cat Tunnel to the house.