Ideas to stop cats climbing a pergola in a cat-proof garden

[Jurassicparka]

Has anyone used anything to stop a cat climbing up a pole/post/in this case a pergola? Having lost our previous two cats to a road, we’re keen to give our almost 1yo (but only recently adopted) cats access to the garden, but hopefully keep them away from any road danger. We’re installing the netting/fencing at the right height around the garden, but need to stop them shimmying up the pergola and then just jumping over it. Someone has suggested squirrel spikes (obviously nothing sharp, clearly I don’t want to hurt them), but reviews of everything I can find on Amazon aren’t great, saying the cat just stepped through it. Has anyone had experience of this and could suggest anything?

Not got suggestions but can say if a cat wants to climb anywhere and escape it will. All mine (2 half oriental, 2 tabbies and 1 half Siamese have all been excellent jumpers and climbers, nothing too high or complex for them). What about a catio?

https://oscillot.uk/?shpxid=d30d805a-6ad3-4817-bec3-1f40e4b6282a

Plastic or smooth stuff on it is good as apparently cats need texture to grip, smooth doesn’t give their claws a chance to grip. With a lovely wooden pergola they’ll see it as a perfect climbing structure and useful for sharpening their claws too.

Empty 2 litre lemonade bottles with top and bottom cut off, sliced along the length and fitted around the pergola legs.

My cats can jump six foot from standing so I can’t see anything stopping them from climbing something like this.

Exactly. All mine are very good jumpers and climbers. It’s what they’re made for. If anything putting something in place to stop them from doing something mostly means they’ll try anything to get round it/do it. It’s almost like they see it as a challenge.

Turn the pergola into a catio then use the special fencing on the roof part to stop them climbing on top from the outside. Good luck OP, it's always difficult to stop a cat and fortunately my two haven't been climbers. Unfortunately they preferred to squeeze through the tiniest of gaps which I find even more scary.

My cat squeezes under the tiniest of gaps under/through the fence to get into next door’s garden. I wouldn’t mind only she was twice the size she is now (she was very slim/skinny) when I got her. Far preferable to her jumping over the fence though.

A catio is the only answer. I put 7 foot high chicken wire right round the perimeter and my cat shot straight over it. First time she was out.

Thank you for all your help! We’re committed on the fencing unfortunately as in it’s literally being installed this week. I think we might have to lose the pergola, which is a bit sad as I like it, but I worry that even some shiny material would get scratched etc over time and become grippable even if it worked in the beginning. Thank you all for your answers, I’ll let you know how it goes!