Mary Allen
Many cats love to explore their surroundings in the open air. But going free also harbors dangers. A cat fence for the garden enables a compromise in which your velvet paw gets a species-appropriate run and is protected from dangers such as road traffic.
A normal garden fence is usually not an obstacle for cats – the nimble animals come either under, over, or between the fence elements. A special cat fence in the garden could prevent just that. In the following, you will find out what you should generally pay attention to, which fence models are available, and which ones you should not set up.
What is Generally To Be Considered With the Cat Fence in the Garden
Before cat owners decide on a fence model, there are a few basic aspects to consider in order to make your garden really escape-proof and yet species-appropriate:
- The cat fence must not leave any loopholes open – for example, if the fence does not reach the ground, it will not be an obstacle for your furry friend.
- Consider possible “escape aids”: The best cat fence is of no use if your velvet paw escapes over the roof of the tool shed or jumps from a tree on the property line into the neighboring garden. The latter can be prevented by special tree belts.
- If it is not an invisible fence, but an actual fence, it should be at least 1.50 meters high, 1.80 meters is better.
- For a cat fence in the garden, the costs vary depending on the model and the area to be demarcated. Anyone who tackles the construction themselves and/or only wants to make a small area cat-proof can usually do it with a few hundred euros. If you fence a large property and/or hire craftsmen, you have to reckon with several thousand euros.
Cat Fence for the Garden Without Electricity: Cat Net
With a cat net, you can mark out the areas where your kitty should stay – whether in the garden or on the balcony. The cat net is available in different forms and often as a complete set including fastening material. It is important that the size of the mesh is adapted to the body size and ideally also to the weight and behavior of your cat. Your fur nose must not get its head caught in the mesh. A mesh size of three to four centimeters is usually the right choice for slim and small cats. Five centimeters are enough for stronger animals.
Invisible Cat Fence: How Does It Work?
Another option is the invisible cat fence. The principle is simple: a wire is laid under or on the ground. Along the wire, a radio transmitter sends out signals that are connected to a radio receiver that your cat wears around its neck. If your velvet paw comes into the area of the wire, a warning tone is triggered to prevent them from stepping over the wire. If she continues anyway, there is a harmless but unpleasant punitive stimulus in the form of a light electric shock.
The advantages:
- The principle with a warning tone and punitive stimulus is considered to be quite reliable: your cat stays within the defined limits.
- The invisible garden fence does not spoil the appearance of the garden.
However, many cat lovers and animal rights activists advise against the invisible cat fence. The reasons:
- It is generally questionable to discipline animals with – even slight – electric shocks.
- Cats don’t always understand that warning signs and punitive stimuli are related to property lines. The consequences: confusion, fear, and frustration.
- If you wear your fur nose with a cat collar with a radio transmitter, it can get caught on bushes and branches and injure itself.
- Other animals such as conspecifics or dogs can cross the invisible fence without consequences.
The latter can be dangerous since your cat cannot flee in the event of an argument. There is also a risk that your cat will flee across the border from the shock of the uninvited visit, despite the punitive stimulus, and then not dare to go back.
Electric Cat Fence in the Garden: Animal-Friendly is Different
A pasture fence or electric fence is another way to fence off your four-legged friend’s territory. In contrast to the invisible fence, it is visible so that your cat can see where the boundaries are. The electric fence also keeps other animals out of your garden and your cat does not need a radio transmitter. However, the same applies to this type of fence as to the invisible fence: electric shocks are not an animal-friendly educational tool for cats.