There’s no hiding that cats like time in the great outdoors. They like the sunshine, open space, and freedom to explore. Despite this, as a responsible cat owner, you must ensure your feline pal is secure when spending time on the patio or balcony. Given the abundance of potential dangers to an unwary cat, this article will examine the use of patio netting to protect feline friends.
Can cats climb cat netting?
While it’s true that cats are nimble creatures, able to scale vertical surfaces with ease, cat netting presents a unique challenge. The closely spaced mesh of the net can prove difficult to navigate, and even the most agile cat may find themselves stuck.
An excellent means of safeguarding your cat while outside is to install some form of cat-proof fencing or netting. This will ensure that your cat can’t wander off into dangerous territory. There are a few different options for cat-proof fencing or netting.
You can choose something specially designed for cats or opt for something like chicken wire or bird netting. Each choice can be found at most hardware shops for a low price and requires little effort.
Another option is to install a border banding on your fence or netting. This will help keep the material taut and prevent clever cats from escaping.
You can also opt for material like microfiber, which is cat claw resistant. This is because microfiber lacks loops and is smooth, so it slips under claws and isn’t as appealing to cats.
Types of Patio Cat Netting
Numerous sorts of netting are suitable for use as do-it-yourself patio cat netting. The most common is chicken wire or plastic trellis netting, which are relatively cheap and easy to find.
There’s a chance they won’t be as sturdy as other options and can be less effective at keeping cats in or pests out. Another option is bird netting, which is more expensive but can be much more durable and practical.
Finally, premium cat netting is a high-quality pre-stretched and UV-treated option. It uses a low-visibility mesh size and is available in black, stone, and white colors.
It is also knotted polyethylene material, making it extra strong and durable. Whichever type of netting you choose, consider the size of your enclosure and the material’s durability before making a purchase.
Cat Netting Accessories
Fastening a cat net may need additional hardware like wire rope, netboot eyelets, wire rope grips, u-nails, crimps, or screw eyelets.
You may also use a barrier made of resistant vinyl-coated polyester woven fiber mesh, which is more rigid than fiberglass mesh, to line the bottom of your cat netting enclosure.
Keep the critters out and the cracks sealed. If you wish to put up a barrier, tennis court netting is perfect for cats, and a sail canopy placed over the patio may serve as a roof for you and your cat.
Are outdoor enclosures suitable for cats?
Evidence that they are may be found in a recent article published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. All the cats in the research had better health, attitude, maintenance habits, and lack of fear after having access to the outdoors.
It has been hypothesized that the enclosure improved the health of cats that had previously had unfettered access to the outdoors since the cats in the neighborhood no longer came to visit them.
Despite widespread consensus that cats are better off inside, you may give your pet the best of both worlds by constructing an enclosure on your balcony or patio.
An outdoor enclosure might be the solution if you want to safely give your cat access to the outdoors.
How do I enclose my backyard for my cat?
An enclosure for a cat may be freestanding or attached to another building (sometimes referred to as a “catio”). You may also create a partition by affixing netting to an existing frame or wall in your house, building a covering from the roof to a fence, or suspending a net from a balcony.
If you’re limited by square footage, you’ll need to adjust your strategy accordingly.
Freestanding Catio
If you’re planning on building a freestanding catio, you must place it near a window or door that your cat can easily access. In this manner, the cat will have complete freedom of movement without jumping any hurdles. Regarding size, it depends on how many cats you have and how much space you have available. Generally speaking, though, the larger, the better – cats love to have lots of room to run around!
When constructing a cat enclosure, you’ll want to use 16-gauge welded wire attached with a staple gun to keep everything in place. For flooring, grass, stone, pavers, or decking are all excellent options. Ensure there are no jagged edges on which your kitty could hurt themselves.
Once you’ve got the basics in place, it’s time to add all the extras that will make your patio special. Shelves, perches, and enrichment items like scratching posts will give your cat plenty of places to explore. And don’t forget a water dish or fountain – after all, cats need to stay hydrated too! Lastly, consider adding an outside litter box.
Getting do-it-yourself catio kits on the market is possible, and doing so may be a good idea. Simply click on the link we provided. You may also get pre-fabricated cat patio enclosure kits at Habitat Haven.
Patio Cat Netting
1. Measure the space. The first thing you’ll need to do is measure the height and width of the area you want to enclose. Once you have those measurements, add two more feet to each side to be safe. Then, cut the netting to size.
2. Attach the netting. Next, it’s time to attach the mesh to the frame. For this step, you can use nails, hooks, eyelets, u-nails, or loop screws. Whatever approach you choose is secure and won’t come loose quickly.
3. Edge the net with rope. Once the netting is attached, edge it with a black cord for a finished look. You can either nail or clip the rope in place, putting one clip or nail every meter.
4. Drill pilot holes (optional). If you’re attaching the netting to an existing fence or balcony railing, you may require pilot holes for bolts to hold everything in place. (This step is optional and only necessary if drilling is required for your installation surface.)
5. Twist in the bolt eyelets (optional). This is a further alternative if you want to attach the netting to an existing fence or balcony railing. Once you’ve drilled your pilot holes, twist in the bolt eyelets that will hold everything together.
6. Attach brackets (optional). If your installation surface isn’t magnetic, you may need to attach brackets to secure your hooks or clips properly. Simply drill the bracket into place along the fence line or railing, and then connect your hooks or clips accordingly.
7. Unwrap and flatten the netting (optional). This final step is only necessary if you’re using pre-made panels of cat netting rather than cutting your own from scratch. To install pre-made panels, unwrap and flatten them out before attaching them according to manufacturer instructions.
8 That’s it! You’re all done! Now, all left to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy your newly cat-proofed patio!
How do I cat-proof a balcony?
It’s easy to cat-proof a balcony with some patio netting and other supplies. Before setting up a net, ensure you accurately measure the area you want to cover. Then, attach the netting to the frame using nails, hooks, eyelets, u-nails, or loop screws.
Once the netting is in place, edge it with black rope for a finished look. You may also drill pilot holes and attach brackets if necessary. Finally, unwrap and flatten any pre-made panels of cat netting before attaching them according to manufacturer instructions.
That’s it! Now you can relax on your newly cat-proofed balcony.
Do cats like patios?
Every cat is unique; thus, there is no universal answer. While some felines may like the great outdoors, others could be happier indoors. However, if you have a cat-proofed patio equipped with enrichment items like shelves, perches, and scratching posts, your cat is likelier to enjoy spending time outdoors.
Cat Netting Fencing
A cat netting fence is a novel solution to keep your cat secure, which will delight any cat owner. The groundbreaking springy and heavy-duty stretchy mesh makes it a suitable fence for patios and outdoor spaces where your cat loves to play. Check out the video from Purrfect Fencing if you need a solution to keep your cat secure and content.
Purrfect Fence. (2019, July 25). What is Purrfect Fence? YouTube. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSGUBD0ilzw
Final Thoughts
Patio netting for cats is a great way to keep your feline friends safe and out of trouble. But make sure you measure the area carefully before cutting the netting, or you may find yourself with an oddly-sized patio!
And be sure to edge the netting with black rope for a finished look – it’ll add some extra protection against any determined climbers.
Finally, if you’re using pre-made panels of cat netting, simply unwrap and flatten them before attaching them according to manufacturer instructions.
Your patio is now ready for kitty fun time!
