Topic: Question for those with cat proofing (Read 4934 times)

Bazsmum · « **Reply #27 on:** January 16, 2010, 16:03:59 PM »

Cats are clever and most learn quickly! Glad Riley has forgotten about it (he a goldfish maybe?)

Janeyk · « **Reply #26 on:** January 16, 2010, 13:51:47 PM »

great news Helen

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #25 on:** January 16, 2010, 13:48:14 PM »

Oh thats good

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #24 on:** January 16, 2010, 12:37:19 PM »

The boys went out today for the first time since I posted this and I'm pleased to report that Riley seems to have forgotten about jumping over fences. He was very keen to go out but went and sat on a rock in the rain instead

I'm going to be keeping a super close eye on him for the next few days but looks like I may have been worrying unecessarily

Roz · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2010, 11:34:03 AM »

Hi Cheryl,

Why don't you let me send you some of those add-ons to try out? You can either extend the system (useful if there are trees that have grown since installing the system) or turn Harry towards the ground with a slightly bent add-on.

Have a think about it.

Lots of love to you and H.H.

Roz

CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls · « **Reply #22 on:** January 08, 2010, 09:58:03 AM »

Roz my Harry uses the ground as a launch pad

Im going to have to video him doing it

So still even with this system, I have not found a way to keep him in the garden, I think it would take me to roof the whole garden with the netting to keep him in

Its just a pain in the bum in summer time as I like to sit out and play with the others but still have to close the doors early so Harry dont get out, if he gets out he's out untill the early hours

Roz · « **Reply #21 on:** January 08, 2010, 01:37:22 AM »

Hi catproofers,

I just re-read my last post to Bazsmum and was struck by how dull it was.....apologies.....but at the risk of sending yous all to sleep again, polypropylene does not feel at all like plastic. It feels like ordinary synthetic yarn. Many people think of it as salmon netting so I guess it must look very similar or even be the same stuff but that is not what it is listed as by my netting supplliers. As a veggie, and being against fishing, I have never knowingly felt salmon netting but it must be very similar. The netting I buy is knotless and I would think that salmon netting must also be knotless, otherwise it would damage the fish. But I'm afraid I have nothing more to add re netting. I can't conjure up any more enthusiasm for the subject you'll be relieved to hear. I don't think I'll be applying anytime soon for a job as a marketing consultant for a netting company although come to think of it, it might be fun this year with the World Cup coming up. I think the company I use supplies the netting for the World Cup goal posts!

Re perspex panels. These do not necessarily work although you would think they would. One of my customers, prior to installing our system, tried perspex panels on her own fences to make her DIY system safer but the cats still managed to clamber over her fence.

Just remember to always keep the angle and ensure that there are no launch pads in the form of benches or tables close to the boundary fence that the cats could utilise as a means of jumping to the end of the netting, thus avoiding the three foot climb, because a determined cat (and I lump all Burmese in this category) might just find the stamina to haul themselves over the netting if they can leap to the end easily.

Hope that helps.

Lots of love

Roz

snarf · « **Reply #20 on:** January 07, 2010, 21:58:34 PM »

ooo i like that idea

* imagines sparecat slowly sliding down with baffled expression *

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #19 on:** January 07, 2010, 21:47:04 PM »

Snarf - I'm hoping Riley won't be as good as sparecat or Lucifer and won't be able to figure out the next step. If he does I might staple on some plastic sheeting and smear it in Vaseline

snarf · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:56:44 PM »

sparecat jumps to the top of the fence and the (by hooking the claws) scales the underside of the netting monkey style to the great outdoors- but mine is a DIY version and not as robust. and lucifer also went through a short phase of looking out and gave up fairly quickly. he only got out when my neighbour "improved" my netting by pulling it back and nailing it to the top of the fence in clumps.

which showed lucifer that it was possible. despite them both being able to get out now ive left it up because it is keeping other cats out |(mine have no trouble getting back in) and because its difficult sparecat will go out but then once shes back, shes back and cant be bothered to climb it all again. lucifer rarely leaves and usually only to follow me. im working on improving it by the way- thinking perspex panels below the netting so theyve got no grip or way to hold their weight as they catch the netting

maybe this would halt Riley if he doesnt give up?

CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:39:38 PM »

Nope he does it all in 3 jumps, one to the top of the fence, then one to the middle of the pole, then one to get himself over

Its all done so quick

None of my others can do this tho and yes they did stop once they realised there was no way over (or in Harry's case under) the net

I was very worried when Tia came here cos she would do the same thing but now she has tried, and failed every time, she doesn't even jump up at the fence now, none of them do

Im sure Harry has springs implanted somewhere

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:31:05 PM »

Roz, I'm going to be keeping a super close eye on him so hopefully he'll lose interest but good to know there is an add on should he be in the houdini category, although I hope he never gets that far as I dread him getting out and getting lost

The fence he was peering over is home to four big dogs but I don't think he's in the slightest bit bothered by them. When the fence moves slightly in the summer (due to natural swelling of the wood) he peers through a teeny gap at the bottom and stares them out

BM - I thought salmon netting was the orange plastic stuff with holes in that you often see as temporary fencing at roadworks

Bazsmum · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:28:39 PM »

for that and er "nope!"

It sounds plasticy now, but defo feels like material if you know what I mean!

Roz · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2010, 16:57:43 PM »

Polypropylene

Are ya any wiser?

When we developed the system all those years ago we knew we needed something that was weatherproof and UV stable as well as strong and lightweight. We always used 1 inch x 1 inch square weldmesh in the runs of our aluminium and/or PVC-u catteries (we were the first to design and manufacture those too but we were copied within six months by a double glazing company...now called Pedigree Pens!!!

) so we used the same size square holes for the netting in the catproofing system. 2 inch x 2 inch square netting could allow a tiny cat to push their heads through....

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,

Roz

Bazsmum · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2010, 16:43:08 PM »

Now just to kill my curiosity Roz, what material is used for the salmon netting?

Roz · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2010, 16:31:46 PM »

Hi Helen,

Started typing up a reply some time ago but got called away to the telephone

Don't worry about Riley being at the top of the fence. We designed the sytem so that the cats could climb to the top of the fence. After all, that is what most of the cats we catproof for have been doing for years. Only difference is that they have then been hopping over the fence

.

Once Riley is at the top he will then have to negotiate three feet of angled netting...which apart from Cheryl's Harry Houdini,

defeats most cats. I have offered to send Cheryl an add-on for Harry but I don't think C wants to spoil his fun. However, if Riley or Lucas do look as though they might work out how to overcome the system, there is always something more that you can try.

It is very, very rare for a cat to work out how to escape from the catproofing.

I hope that puts your mind at ease.

Lots of love

Roz

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2010, 16:14:27 PM »

CC

Does Harry sit on top of the actual fence then before he goes up the pole? Have just spent 5 mins looking out of the window and still can't fathom how on earth he would manage it

Did your others grow out of peering over once they knew it was futile? I'm watching him like a hawk every second he's out there so would be nice to know that it's something he'll hopefully stop doing very soon!

CC & The Pussycat Guys & Dolls · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2010, 16:02:03 PM »

To me it looks as though Riley is not able to get over the fence there Helen, by the way he is positioned- with his paws holding on looking over the top. I dont think you need to worry as all of my cats have done this and with the netting there, they can never quite seem to work out the "next step" they just poke their heads at the netting

Now Harry he is a different matter

he is what I call the matrix cat

He does as Riley has done there- the next step is shimmying up the metal pole then up and over, dont ask me how he does that!

My fencing is 8ft high aswell

This cat can jump and climb backwards and upside down, the original "spider cat"

So with Riley being at the top of the fence, but not quite actually on top of it, I dont think he knows what the next step is

Bazsmum · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:24:14 PM »

Im sure it is Helen....Yes seen CC's and its the twiney stuff....Still think salmon netting is that?

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:15:21 PM »

Quote from: Gill (sneakiefeline) on January 07, 2010, 15:06:48 PM

TBH my worry would be that being a very daring and clever cat he would try to grab for the net and get claws caught and dangling he would not be able to let go.

I'm not so much worried about him getting his claws caught as I only let them out when I am in and am always keeping half an eye on what they're up to so would be able to 'rescue' him fairly promptly.

Quote from: Gill (sneakiefeline) on January 07, 2010, 15:06:48 PM

Riley doesnt strike me the type that gives up easliy and as he has now sen there is anotherside to the fence, his curiosity may get the better of him.

That's exactly what is worrying me, he's very strong and athletic not to mention stubborn and now he has discovered something he's interested in he might not give in until he's conquered it.

Quote from: Dawn F on January 07, 2010, 15:03:29 PM

no they did it a few times then gave up - Oscar still climbs the mulberry tree from time to time up to the collar and gets down again but he never trys the fence - he loved going out and missed it a lot but after his brother died on the road he has no chance

That's reassuring Dawn, I'm hoping that's what will happen with Riley. I still remember the day you found Algie so you are definitely doing the right thing for him

Quote from: Bazsmum on January 07, 2010, 15:11:26 PM

Think its salmon netting Helen, therefore it wont rot or will take years and years if its gonna!

I thought salmon netting was made from plastic? This is sort of twine-y netting. Did you see CC's? If so it's the same stuff and if it is salmon netting then that's reassuring too.

Bazsmum · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:11:26 PM »

Think its salmon netting Helen, therefore it wont rot or will take years and years if its gonna!

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:06:48 PM »

TBH my worry would be that being a very daring and clever cat he would try to grab for the net and get claws caught and dangling he would not be able to let go.

Riley doesnt strike me the type that gives up easliy and as he has now sen there is anotherside to the fence, his curiosity may get the better of him.

I know no amount of shouting at Misa, noooooooooo, get down etc, stops Misa from climbing on the big wall between me and next door, only making it impossible to do from my side but he can from the otherside......sigh

Dawn F · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:03:29 PM »

no they did it a few times then gave up - Oscar still climbs the mulberry tree from time to time up to the collar and gets down again but he never trys the fence - he loved going out and missed it a lot but after his brother died on the road he has no chance

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:56:10 PM »

Thanks Gill, good idea - will PM Roz

Dawn - did they carry on doing it regularly afterwards or did they realise after a few tries that it wasn't possible? Also, do you mean they dangled from the fence or from the netting. I'm now worrying that the netting may break if he 'tests it' as it's been out for two summers and two winters

Dawn F · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:53:06 PM »

mine have done this but generally dangle for a minute before it dawns on them they can't get anywhere and they drop down

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:45:26 PM »

Incredible pictures

Roz is around at the moment so worth pm her I think. Pretty sure for Riley to able to get out he would have to try and get over the bet which is stretched back overr his head and that would not be possible.

Worth asking Roz though and sending her the kink to this thread

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:35:40 PM »

My secur-a-cat has been up since May 08 and have had no escape attempts or even close. Lucas is not a very good jumper so I have no concerns about him but Riley is very athletic and determined. Yesterday there was a bird perched on the top of the fence, both the boys were extremely interested but crouched down and stared at it rather than trying to jump up the fence to get it.

Shortly after I was taking pics of Riley and he spotted a mini snowball that was suspended in mid air by the netting. He crouched down in preparation to jump and I started taking pics on rapid shoot mode so actually captured this on camera - I expected him to jump fairly high up the fence but he actually made it to the top (he's never jumped up there or even shown an interest). He peered over the top of the fence for a few seconds and I dropped the camera and shouted at him to get down.

Today when I let them out he did the same at the end of the garden and peered over into a different garden, he went to do the same at the other side of the garden too but I called him in before he jumped. I'm now really worried that he might try and jump over and feel sick every second he's out there. So after all that rambling I guess my question is: when your cats have discovered the top of the fence is there a next stage ie did they try and beat the netting or was it just a case of looking over and realising it's not possible and not bothering with it?

Author Topic: Question for those with cat proofing (Read 4934 times)