Cat Net For The Balcony: With And Without Drilling

The cat net on the window or balcony saves the life of your darling. You can attach it to any dangerous spots. So your cat is always safe.

Road traffic is and remains the greatest danger for our cats. Fortunately, most outdoor cats know their environment quite well and are cautious.

The situation is different with the second greatest source of danger, which mainly affects indoor cats: windows, balconies, and terraces. Of course, cats want to get a breath of fresh air here and there and watch the birds in the neighbor’s garden. Therefore, your little paradise on the first, second, or third floor should be made cat-proof.

The following tips will show you what options you have with a cat protection net.

What is a cat net for the balcony?

Nets for cats consist of a fabric that you can use to make possible crash sites on the balcony cat-proof. As you will learn from the tips below, there are different ways of fastening. You are also spoiled for choice in terms of net size, net material, fineness of the mesh (i.e. the so-called mesh size), and color.

By the way, you don’t have to worry about a restricted incidence of light – this remains unchanged. The device is also usually not visible from a distance, so that cat nets do not spoil the facade of the building.

You can also still move around on your balcony or terrace as before – the cat net is fastened high enough.

Why is a cat net important for the balcony?

Cat lovers know that their kitties are very agile and hardy. But for a long time now nobody has believed in the legend of a house cat’s “seven lives” or that cats always land on their four paws.

Unfortunately, many cats fall from windowsills or balcony railings every year. Not because they are clumsy, but because they are distracted by birds, dogs, or insects. The cat net makes your balcony cat-proof. If you then use a few more tips, the balcony will become a real paradise for cats.

A second argument is a protection against intruders. It often happens that strange cats inspect their territory and come across our darling. To avoid disputes or even fights, the net device can serve as a cat-proof barrier.

We, cat owners, know how much our darlings like to bring their prey home. These mistresses or masters are proudly presented. Cat nets prevent the blood, hair, and feathers of birds and mice from being spread unappetizingly on the terrace or balcony. Cat nets also protect against (although nice, but always rather unpleasant) “gifts” from our cats.

Can I attach a cat net to the balcony?

Several court judgments from the last few years clearly say “yes”! However, there are limitations. You may only attach a cat net “if this can be done without interfering with the structure of the building”.

The judiciary sees a cat net as an object that is covered by “intended use”. Cat nets allowed cats “to get outdoors without disturbing neighbors or chasing songbirds.”

The judiciary also recommends that you speak to the landlord before installing the net and ask for his approval. If he is informed about how the attachment, i.e. the assembly, takes place and what the cat net looks like, he is usually more likely to agree.

Before mounting on the window or balcony, be sure to heed the following tips to avoid problems:

• For slightly more difficult landlords, it is better to get a cat net that does not require you to drill holes in the walls, window frames, or parapets.
• Even as an owner, it is never wrong to explain the project at an owners’ meeting.

Cat nets: These mounting systems exist

Your first decision regarding your new cat net is the mounting system: Do you want a cat net that can be attached without drilling, i.e. without interfering with the building structure, and is still cat-safe? Or would you prefer one that is attached with hooks or brackets that are screwed into the wall by drilling?

Your living situation is crucial. The following questions, which you should ask yourself before making the final decision, can be valuable tips:

• Do you have attachment options such as a balcony railing, corner pillar connected to the roof, a wooden structure with slats, or something similar?
• Is your balcony railing made of concrete or brick? Then you probably have no mounting options and you will have to drill a few holes.
• Are you skilled with your hands or are you looking for a solution that even a layman can handle?
• Should it be possible to remove the cat net again without changing the existing building structure, i.e. without holes in the walls?
• Are you the owner or renter of the apartment/house?
• Is the net only there for a certain amount of time because you are moving out soon or your loved one is already old? Or will the cat net remain forever because you can no longer imagine life without a house cat anyway?

Clarify these questions and then decide on a suitable system for your balcony.

Cat net with drilling

In order to be safe for cats, the cat net must be able to be attached and tensioned well. If you own a drill and can handle it, solid masonry made of brick or concrete will suffice.

In this, you drill holes at regular intervals and insert dowels with hooks or brackets. You do the same with the roofing of the balcony – your furry friend shouldn’t be able to jump over the cat net. You can then attach the net to the hooks and tie it down. You don’t need telescopic poles, lines, or cords.

If you move, after removing the net, you can remove the screws and fill in the holes.

Cat net without drilling

The prerequisite for this variant is always that the cat net can be attached somehow: to the handrail, to the railing, to the roof, or to telescopic poles, which you get when you order the net.

The netting must be attached to these structures and then stretched to be cat-proof. Depending on your wishes and stability, it is fastened every few meters. If it often storms on your balcony, fasten it every half to one meter. If you are in wind and weather-protected places, the distances can also be slightly larger.

You can attach the supplied telescopic rods to the balcony or terrace with cable ties or fastening lines.

A good solution is to use telescopic poles, which you can extend so far that they reach from the ground to the roof of your balcony. They are stabilized horizontally by cross connectors and the frame is complete. It is stable enough that you can now attach and tension the net.

All cat nets have an edge with holes through which the attachment lines are threaded. If you need more stability, you can thread a steel cable through it instead. This fixes the nets even better. Thanks to the steel cable, the distance between the telescopic poles can be greater without the nets losing stability.

Of all the mounting options, cable ties are the cheapest solution. Also, they are easy to remove or reposition.

At the window, you can use so-called cramps, which stabilize the mesh fabric on the wooden frame. However, since these metal hooks are hammered into the wood, you may need permission from the landlord for this as well.

Open balcony: are there cat nets for a balcony without a roof?

Open balconies can also be secured well. Depending on the requirement, you have three options:

If your balcony railing has a handrail, you can attach telescopic rods to it. So-called telescopic rod holders are used here, which are suitable for both square and round handrails. In addition, especially with young cats, you have to mount so-called over-climbing protection, which means that you need more mesh fabric accordingly. This is then attached to the telescopic poles with net ties.

If you don’t have a handrail, but a brick or concrete parapet, you can use wall clamps that are clamped over the straight end. You thread the telescopic rods into these clamps and the frame for your cat net is in place. You don’t have to drill with this solution either.

Of course, you can screw steel hooks or steel brackets into the wall instead of wall clamps. You then thread the telescopic rods into these brackets as usual, to which you attach the mesh fabric and anti-climbing protection.

What is important during assembly?

Follow the tips below and find out more about the installation before you buy from a specialist retailer or on the Internet. Get all the components you need. Nothing is more annoying than missing a few screws or telescopic rods during assembly.

1. Measure accurately
   Measure your balcony carefully and order enough netting! It’s better to take two meters too many than one too few. It’s about your cat’s safety. Do not take any risks here by measuring the net or nets too tight.
2. get tools
   If you have decided on the solution with drilling, get the right drill heads and a drill.
3. use help
   If you want to attach and tension the net, you should ask someone for help – otherwise, you will struggle too much! If necessary, tighten the net to make it optimally cat-proof!
4. Be careful
   Be careful not to damage the mesh fabric during assembly. A small hole is enough for the cat to notice it, enlarge it, and finally, the whole net is no longer cat-proof!

Find the right cat net – suitable for the balcony and the cat

Factors that influence your decision when choosing a cat protection net are:

• the required size,
• the right material
• the fineness of the mesh (the so-called mesh size),
• the size of your kitty and finally
• her character.

What makes a good cat net?

If you want to buy the best cat net for your needs right away, follow these rules of thumb:

• The more playful a cat is, the more stable the netting should be. If your house tiger gnaws and pulls at everything, get a net made of solid material. It should be both bite and tear-resistant.
• This is particularly important for cats with pica syndrome.
• The smaller a cat is, the finer the mesh size of the net should be. Kittens can quickly get caught in meshes that are too large or even slip through and fall off.
• The mesh material must be stable and frost-resistant, so it must be able to survive several winters. It must also be UV-resistant since most balconies face south. Continuous exposure to the sun quickly destroys a non-UV-resistant net.
• The material must be free of harmful substances. Under no circumstances should your kitten be able to poison itself with contaminated plastic. (For example, make sure it doesn’t contain bisphenol or polycarbonate.)
• The fastening material must be durable. It’s no use if makeshift cords tear after the winter or if hooks rust. Get quality material that is also weather resistant.

Depending on the design of your residential building and its surroundings, you should choose a suitable color. The neighborhood will thank you if you choose a neutral color. The mesh fabric should not stand out unattractively from the surroundings. Black is usually the most inconspicuous variant.

The right size for the balcony

You can order the netting as a finished product in square meters or by meter, depending on your needs. To find the right size, measure the length of your balcony or patio railing. Then measure the required height to the roof or use the height of the ordered telescopic rods as a guide. Now compare the lengths and widths with the offer.

With complete sets, you get the fabric in the right size for the telescopic rods. If you order or buy it in individual parts, always add a meter or two of the reserve. There is quickly a hole in the mesh fabric or it turns out to be too short.

Important: The netting must cover the entire front of the balcony!

Mesh size: the right size for the cat

According to the guide, a mesh size of 3 x 3 cm is ideal for most cats. If your house tiger is a particularly bulky animal with a large head, it can also be 4 x 4 cm. This is usually sufficient for the largest cat breeds. For example, if you have a Maine Coon or a Norwegian Forest Cat, you can usually choose a net with a mesh size of 4 x 4 cm.

Caution: For kittens in the first few weeks, 3 x 3 cm could be too coarse. Do you want to be sure before you buy the net? Cut out a template from cardboard and see if your kitten’s head fits through it. If it does, the mesh size is too large – if in doubt, choose a finer mesh fabric!

Stability: What different cat nets are there?

Normally, plastic that withstands wind, weather, and the sun is used in production. Be sure to check this before you buy. It is mainly made of nylon or polyethylene, which cannot be bitten by the sharp milk teeth of the kittens. Even climbing up with sharp claws does not damage these materials.

When specifying the thread thickness of the nets, you should make sure that it is at least 0.4 mm and that all meshes have been knotted individually. If a small hole develops here or there over time, you can of course mend it with a strong nylon thread.

If your cat is exceptionally active (these breeds are known to be), go cat-safe and buy a wire-reinforced fiber cat net. Not only is it more stable, but it also lasts longer. Such nets are more expensive and not available in a transparent look because of the wire.

Black or white? What color is better for the cat net?

Your cat doesn’t care about the color of the fuse. She realizes there is an obstacle in front of her eyes, whether the mesh is white, black, green, or transparent.

It is best to choose the color according to the environment of your apartment. If you’re looking at a park or a meadow, green looks better than black. If you live in an elegant, modern new building, you will probably choose a transparent mesh. Black nets sometimes also go well with the environment if green or white stands out too much from the building fabric.

The important thing is that it doesn’t bother you. You’ll notice that over time you won’t even notice it anymore.

Are there alternatives to the cat net?

Yes, there are. There are lattice structures made of metal or wood that turn the balcony into a large cage or some kind of aviary. For this purpose, individual wooden or lattice elements are screwed together. Of course, this is much more labor intensive and costly than installing a cat net. If you have manual skills and like to do handicrafts, you can find instructions on the internet.

Another alternative, but less safe, is an electric small animal fence, like those used for hamsters or rabbits. It is the miniature form of an electric fence as we know it from cow pastures and is also constructed in this way. By slightly electrifying it should prevent your cat from approaching the parapet, falling down, or escaping.

The current is so low that your cat will only be startled but not injured. You have to decide for yourself whether this solution is suitable for you. Robust cats can usually deal well with the little fright. This solution might be less suitable for more sensitive cats.

Does a cat net make sense for the terrace?

Depending on what pranks your cat is up to, it may make sense to secure the terrace as well. Would you like to offer your cat a larger area, but absolutely prevent it from getting onto the street? Then a cat net on the terrace can do a good job.

Does your cat jump from the terrace onto the roof or onto tall trees from which it can no longer get down? Even then, such a backup makes sense.