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

[beachbodhi]

The road is busy now as we live next to a beach , it'll be quieter during the winter months. The cars wouldn't be let out that side of the house they'd be in and out the garden side. I'd probably feel the same next to any road

[beachbodhi]

*the cats wouldn't be let out that side

[Bargebill19]

beachbodhi

For the record it's not an electric shock - it's a radio frequency that buzzes.

Electric shock - cruel.
Buzzes - Something a cat will totally ignore once they’re are used to it and realise it doesn’t harm them. Much like the cat which sleeps on a vibrating bed side alarm or likes to be hoovered. - waste of money. And yes I’ve been a slave to two cats who did just that.
Catio - expensive but works.
Harness and lead - cheap and works.
House cats. - very safe and as costly as you want it to be. (Cat trees/beds etc)

[Toilenstripes]

One of the best natural ways to keep your cats in their own garden is to spend time with them in the garden. Don’t just open the door and chuck them out. Play with them, get an outdoor cat tree and make sure they are well stimulated in their own garden and it’s less likely they will want to roam.

[EachandEveryone]

There are some beautiful outdoor cat trees.

[madcatladyforever]

I had one of those put in, it was useless, of course they are going to tell you it is the best thing since sliced bread or they wouldn't sell any. The fence topper didn't work either, the feral got over it and the outside cats got stuck inside it.

[Vulgarlady]

I can understand why you are paranoid about your cats getting run over, it is a real fear for many owners. I have heard that the longer you keep your cats as house cats, the less likely they are to roam. Someone told me to keep them in unruly they were a year old. Could this be an option for you?

[porkandbeans]

Would having a tracker for them work? We have one as my cat doesn't always come back in the evening so we're getting worried. The cat also kept on going I to neighbours houses so needed to know where she had gone.
One of the options is a virtual fence. The cat is unaware but you get a notification on your phone when they leave a certain area

[beachbodhi]

@porkandbeans yes have been looking at trackers - is there one you recommend . I've not heard of the keeping them in longer theory -I wonder tho if this could hold them back in some way

[porkandbeans]

I've got a tractive one. It has worked really well so far. Send pretty accurate. I haven't tried the virtual fence part out though. I like that it lights up and makes a noise of you are near the cat but can't find them.

[beachbodhi]

What's added to my stress is speaking to one of the neighbours with 2 cats -she said they are often fighting with the lady at the ends cats (she has 3 🙄) and there's a stray beach cat! So on reflection there are a few cats around here living their lives which is a good sign but I don't want my 2 little girls going out and getting beaten up 😖

[beachbodhi]

And then collars is another one , if they make it across the road ok there's some woods they could easily get caught on something 😣

[Fluffycloudland77]

Are you in a conservation area?.

[beachbodhi]

We are down the road from a nature reserve and opposite a rocky beach -so fab location for cats to explore

[beachbodhi]

To be honest I live on my nerves with my youngest and can feel it spilling over worrying about the cats

[Fluffycloudland77]

If women weren’t anxious child mortality rates would sky rocket. As long as it’s not intrusive.

So, your options are catio (you can get naice ones & cover it in Farrow and Ball) or the wire loop.

You could even use that nice Perspex sheeting they use on stair ways nowadays and double height it to make a catio. It doesn’t have to look like a cat concentration camp.

[beachbodhi]

I can't have a catio as we are grade 2 listed here -can't even have a sky dish! So it's a no also for any visible fencing

[Bargebill19]

Have you actually asked the relevant authorities if you could have a catio? It’s not exactly like having a conservatory. It’s more temporary like a shed, but more permanent than a tk max gazebo.

[beachbodhi]

I would have to make an application to the local authority which would cost a few hundred pounds to be more than likely rejected -I know of lots of things people have applied for with these houses that have been rejected and to be honest really don't like the idea of one

[beachbodhi]

They're going to be going outside whatever we go for because with 2 children 5&7 we can't keep police the doors to the garden forever . Thanks for all the replies -I asked if anyone had experience with radio frequency wireless fences or alternatives and will now give it all some thought -we still have time

[TreestumpsAndTrampolines]

I have two cats. Buzzing might work on girlcat, but boycat can shake a collar in 2 mins - especially given a hedge to work with, and especially if it's a collar with something attached like a buzzer (or a tracker.. that's 80 quid I won't be getting back!)

We tried harnesses too, if it's not tight enough to restrict his movements, he can shuck it, and if it's tight enough to restrict his movements, he finds something to help him break the quick release clips (and it would be dangerous not to have those).

When we lived near a road we just only let them out in the backgarden under supervison on a lead (and not behind a bush, where boycat would again escape the harness), or up the wall, where he would sprint anyhow.

[MrsKingfisher]

We have a system from Katzecure which works brilliantly. There are several cats in our street many of them now missing or found run over. Ours love the garden, we love knowing they're safe.

[beachbodhi]

Thanks for your reply but we're not allowed to alter the outside with a fence it's got to be bushes .

[vanillandhoney]

Personally I don't like this idea at all.

Either the buzzing will scare your cat, which could lead to it bolting and being too scared to come home (or coming home and being too scared to go out) or it won't work at all, in which case it hasn't achieved anything.

I also don't believe this is any better than using a shock collar.

[SavoyCabbage]

I think if you are generally anxious having a system where your cats are kept in your garden by radio frequencies is not going to help with that. It's too unreliable so,it's going to be another thing to worry about.

Foe every person who tells you it's worked, for their cat there's going to be one who will tell you it hasn't for theirs.

I don't know what a catio looks like but saying you don't want to apply for permission for one because it costs several hundred pounds doesn't make sense as I'm imagining the radio frequency wires will cost more as your garden is sizeable and you don't even know if it's going to work. At least this catio idea will actually contain the cats.

Browning an impenetrable hedge sounds like the best plan in the longer term. Maybe you should have the catio first then buy mature hedging.