Cat fencing

[kittywitty]

We just bought a house (yay!) and are saving to put up a fence. Dh is against privacy fences and so we compromised on a gothic picket fence about 4 feet high. I wanted to put up a cat fence to allow my older cat to occasionally get outside and roll in the sun when I garden but am not ok with my cats being outdoor cats or free range-at all. Can you even put up a cat proof fence on a picket fence? Or should I get some sort of smaller portable enclosure if it's even possible? Any cat fence experience?

[SunShineSally]

: I am so interested in this my cats would LOVE LOVE LOVE To go outside but I do not allow them out.

[Sailor]

I'd love to hear more about this too as my mom has an indoor cat who would love to enjoy the yard. We've never even heard of cat fences. I didn't know they existed! They must have some kind of roof on them, right? Otherwise, the cat could just climb/jump?

[Fujiko]

(I have nothing worthwhile to add, except that when I read the thread title I thought of two cats, fencing...and actually wondered if people really taught their cats to fence.)

[buttercups.nest]

I knew of an older couple that lived in a trailer and they built a cat area that was enclosed....kind of like a patio. Had room for the cats, but also chairs and such for them so they could be in their 'outdoor' living room. I would love to do something like this as well! We have 3 and also don't let them out. My husband says its no big deal but I despise the cat that uses my yard as a litter box!!!

[kittywitty]

Originally Posted by Fujiko

(I have nothing worthwhile to add, except that when I read the thread title I thought of two cats, fencing...and actually wondered if people really taught their cats to fence.)

[NocturnalMama]

My parents have a dog run that they've converted to a cat run... its like this (but with only one door on the side)

http://dogrunkennels.com/

They put some 2X4 frames on the top and attached chicken wire to make a roof and inside they have a few perches, some branches and a litter box and some shade. Its wonderful, and their cat loves it. They did have a few escapes and had to ensure all the large gaps were filled in, but now the cat knows to just stay inside.

We plan to build a smaller version of this, using just a wooden frame and chicken wire. I'll post when its done!

[North_Of_60]

You can cat proof fences by putting something on them that prevents them from being able to climb, like this.

The problem with a 4 foot fence is that come cats could just jump over the whole thing. We had a 4 foot picket fence at our old house and our cat, on the few occasions that she escaped, cleared it without touching it, so something like the above would never work.