This is the backyard page. Find out about the
fence and meet the dogs.
Before December 1993, we used to let our cats go free range. I worried about them constantly and it seemed as if I was out in the street looking for them every half hour. Even after Bobby was attacked by an Akita in our driveway, we still let the cats run. Then, on December 20, 1993, Hollywood went into the wrong yard. That was the end of our cats' freedom. But we still wanted them to be able to enjoy being outdoors. What follows is how we've accomplished a compromise. They can still go outside (we still get them in at night) and I no longer have the constant worry about them getting hurt by cars, dogs or even cruel humans. At the bottom of the page, you will find links to more pages showing everything we've done, from the gates to the trees. I've also posted additional pictures of what we've done.
You can see the barricade at the top of the
fence. This continues the entire length of the yard on all sides.
A closer look. The corners are folded down
to deny access to the determined cat.
We have taken regular stiff 28 inch tall garden
fencing, cut to workable lengths (10 feet in our case) and folded it into
a lopsided U shape. One side is 6 inches long, the top is 14 inches long
and the front part is 8 inches long. The six inch side is attached to the
existing fence. We used wire to hold it to the chain link fence U shaped
nails to attach it to the wooden fence.
You'll have to monitor the cats for a while.
They will find areas of escape that you didn't see. Try to look at everything
from the cat's level. Make sure there are no jumping opportunities. (Like
from a tree or the doghouse over to the fence.) We have also placed the
fencing around the trees to keep the cats from climbing them and helping
to save the bird population. We ended up having to move woodpiles and such
because of the ease of escape. We also had to check for under fence escape
routes. After two weeks, we were pretty secure. For almost three years. Until we found Benny on
the roof. We solved that problem, too. See below.
As it looks attached to the chain link fence.
Brian had to make the "box" because
Benny was climbing up this red pole and squirming over onto the fence.
It took two days before I was able to catch him in action
Then Benny found his way onto the shop roof. Completely covering the area from the fence to the roof with fencing material removed that option.
