Wireless cat fences - anyone got one?

[beachbodhi]

Hi all , I have 2 beautiful kittens and a massive garden for them to play in when they're allowed out -there is a busy road the other side and I'm starting to feel panicked about something happening to one or both of them . My children have become very attached and my youngest with autism (non-verbal) has been using more words and engagement with them. So it's been wonderful and we love them dearly.
This has all got me looking online for options -we couldn't have proper fencing as it's a grade 2 listed house . The garden is probably the size of an Olympic swimming pool with trees and surrounded by thick hedges. I've made enquiries with one company that lay a wire in the ground that lets if a buzz on the cats collar if they try to cross -it's an FM frequency thing that doesn't shock them.
Has anyone any experience of reviews for this sort of thing ? Or alternative methods of keeping them in the garden. Thanks x

Protectapet do a wire enclosure system for gardens with hedges.

I had one of those, it was useless. The cats soon learned how to sneak round it and/or lose their collars.
Have you considered a catio? If it's not a permanent structure it should be ok for a grade 1 house.

No I'm not after a catio , I'd like them to have full use of the garden . I'm not sure how they would sneak around something like this -it's called a banana loop -pic attached

So it alerts you the cats in danger but doesn't stop the cat escaping?.

I think it does still shock them otherwise how will it stop them going across it? Also they can climb walls and stuff to get round maybe?

The trouble with anything that gives the cat a fright is that there is a risk it will bolt away rather than stay put.

Thanks for replies , spoke to husband after work and he thinks I'm mad 🥴

Well that’s men for you. I picked mine off the rd dead and still warm so I don’t think your mad.

It breaks your heart to lose them.

He’ll just have to get used to it.

Can you put a fence behind the hedge?. Easier to cat proof a fence.

It might be worth getting in touch with protectapet, they are bound to have encountered the same issues and have some good ideas to solve the problems.

I have a quote from catfence and it's a wire they lay under the ground and one above that emits this fm frequency picked up by the collars - you apparently train them with it indoors to recognise these white flags and then the buzz if they try to pass them . We are semi attached so they would start outside the back door , go down and around up to the other side of the house then aback around to the start

The wire that goes back around is above ground level - the woman says they are a successful company with lots of good reviews which you can see in website -my quote is valid until Xmas . Pic attached

As much as I want them to be wild and free like my husband does -they are our pets and the kids would be devastated if something happened -as would I. Apparently 50% of cats that roam free 'out out' don't make it past 5 years old , and those that do normally live on to a good age

You can only try. It’s no skin off your dhs nose if there’s a wire in the garden.

I can’t see why he’s objecting.

He's objecting because of the cost and fact we'd be containing them

Did the rescue do a home check before you got them?

Much like you contain the children for their own good. Not many domestic animals are allowed to completely free range.

What is the company name of the fence? I can’t see from your pictures?
I really wouldn’t recommend a collar that gives an electric shock if the cat passes the barrier. We had one about 15 years ago. I don’t know what we were thinking as it is really cruel. The collar was massive and heavy. We used it for about a month and then realised how stupid we were. I think you would be better with one of those Mesh fences which have a curving inward top so the cats cannot climb over. Ugly but not cruel.

That sounds awful for the poor cat. Is that your only option? Can you cat proof in some other way, or maybe install a catio?

What breed are the kittens?.

Sorry but i wouldn’t. I wouldn’t use an electric shock collar on any animal. It’s not the same as using an electric fence to contain livestock.
Get a or similar set up, or accept them to be roaming totally free or have them as House cats and train them to be in a harness and lead and take them out that way.
Compromises are part and parcel of pet ownership.

Apparently 50% of cats that roam free 'out out' don't make it past 5 years old
source for that ????

Those fences have their cons too, I wouldnt be happy using one for my animals.

Invisible fences may work effectively for some animals. But some pets aren't effectively deterred by invisible fencing systems, especially if they're highly motivated to hunt (e.g., they love to chase after squirrels).
If your kitty scares easily or has a health problem, and especially if she has a known heart condition, don't use an invisible fence. At the very least, you should chat with your vet before trying one out!
Even if your kitty is perfectly healthy, the unexpected stimulus could easily overwhelm her senses. And as a feline, she's already highly sensitive to her surroundings anyway. Your cat could also experience emotional distress, anxiety, and other issues from experiencing the device at work. Go ahead, put yourself in her paws: it's not hard to imagine how stressful that could be!
In general, electrical shocks can be physically harmful and are considered borderline humane at best. Avoid using the electric current mode at all costs—and keep in mind that even the vibration or auditory warnings can still be overwhelming to some animals.

For the record it's not an electric shock - it's a radio frequency that buzzes
@EachandEveryone I never said they were from a rescue centre - why do you ask?
I'm toying with the idea as I said because we have all become very attached to them. I'm sure lots of people have been in this position as lots of houses are situated near roads.
The study was done at Lancashire university I will find the link 👍

I think Each asked because rescues won’t rehome next to a road they consider to be dangerous.