Please talk to me about cat proofing the garden

[Champagneforeveryone]

We're just in the process of buying our first house, the only issue is that it backs onto a fairly busy road. ChampagneCat is fairly ambivalent about going outdoors at night and in the winter, but does enjoy a snooze in the sun.

She is also DH's favourite female ever (not even joking) and he worries dreadfully when she's out, so he's thrilled at the idea she will not be free to roam.

We also have dogs and during the summer like to have the doors and windows open, so being a purely indoor cat seems unrealistic. I've been looking at cat proof fencing and while the initial outlay seems quite high (DH will cough up in a flash ), some of the photos I've seen do make the gardens look like a cross between a military base and a prison. Can anyone advise on cat proofing that will not make our tiny garden look as if we are trying to keep in top security prisoners?

Would a catio be easier and cheaper to install if she just likes somewhere to snooze

We thought that may but it still doesn't solve the problem of the doors being open so us and DDogs can mooch in and out. Admitted we could be draconian about closing the door, but the road is too close to make the risk of someone forgetting acceptable.

It's also a funny shape and to get a perch in the sun would mean taking up what will be our perch in the sun - though DH would happily sit in the catio if his princess was out there

Would these options be better for you?

yes, I've seen those rollers and (in the videos!) they seemed to work really well. It's just whether they will do in real life.

Ideally we would have bought a house set in several acres of grounds, sadly the budget didn't stretch that far

Personally I'd go for a combination of the mesh over the top of the fence and the roller just below the top just to be sure! I think the mesh is cheap but I suspect the rollers aren't.

The mesh on brackets isn't really that visible in real life. I also like that it's an added home security measure as opportunistic burglars are less likely to want to climb over it.

If you are on Facebook, join a group called Kitty Gardens, Catios, House cats and Catification. Lots of photos in the albums there.

Or you could do what I do 😂

Double rollers are safest, even bengals are contained with double roller systems.

Any nice plants you want to put in “for the cats enrichment” while your at it? Might as well make the most of it.

Don’t forget flat cat screens for the windows too, we love ours. Dh was very sceptical but loves them now.

katzecure.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2p7Kp6Ss9QIVqoFQBh0M3w1BEAAYAiAAEgJJovD_BwE

Double roller system.

Oh my life Fluffy! How expensive is THAT??? I need it!!! 😱

I've been looking at the katzecure for my new house and keep gagging at the cost. But then I look at my kitty and convince myself it's worth it again!

I've considered it but how do you deal with the neighbours fence? Not sure they'd like something screwed into it.
Also be careful of plants/trees/sheds. My cats climb the (palm) trees to get to the top, and I've seen them climb a shed and one comes back from neighbour's garden by climbing a ladder they always have in their side!

That's a good point oneday. Luckily the garden is very neglected and will need stripping right back to basics (thankfully it's not that big!) so we can remove / resite anything that looks like an escape means.

You can put a fence up against a neighbours fence.

I have cat proofing and it's not that noticeable to be honest. Best thing we did. We did it ourselves at less then a quarter of the cost of the main cat proofing company and that meant we could paint
the brackets etc colours to blend it in with the planting we have. The cats/6kg monsters haven't been able to get out so far although to be fair I'm normally our there with them pottering so they probably haven't attempted their master plan yet. We have had a squirrel get trapped in but they chewed through the mesh to get out and we just cable tied it closed again after. All 3 fences are mine but I suspect my neighbours would have let me as they love the fact my cats can't mess in their garden and kill the birds they feed etc

betta I've been looking at the mesh bracket system and I think that might be what we go for.

ChampagneCat has a super duper programmable cat flap (thanks DH!) so we could actually programme it so she can only go out when we're about anyway.

catio?! they work really well and if your house allows it build it against a window that opens so they can go in and out - and then lock the cat out when you open the rest of your windows and doors.

if its winter and your doors and windows arnt open then nothing stopping cat hopping in and out, or get a catio you just physically put the cat in like a kennel?!

put a cat house in there, toys, tray and food (bring in at night)!, but they work really well!

a decent one will cost you 200-500 depending on size, it also comes pre built so just drill it together and its fox and dog proof from a decent company !

Like you OP, we live side on to a main road, and having seen our neighbours lose cats to speeding drivers, we didn't want our cats to roam too far. We only have a yard, not a garden, so we bought the self installation kit from Protectapet. It cost around £200 for I think 5 metres of mesh, and the brackets and fixings. It's absolutely ideal because our cats can spend as much time as they want out in the yard, and we don't have to worry about their safety.