How to build cat proof fencing and cat enclosures

Introduction

Contrary to popular belief, cats don’t have to roam. Providing their basic needs are met, cats can enjoy longer and healthier lives when safely contained to the property. They won’t be hit by cars, injured in fights, become lost or catch fatal diseases such as feline AIDS. Containing cats to the property helps protect wildlife from predation, and prevents neighbourhood disputes about cat nuisance issues. Cat confinement is also a legal requirement with an increasing number of councils.

A number of excellent cat enclosure products are available commercially, however the cost of buying these can be a problem for some cat owners. This D.I.Y. guide aims to help people who wish to save money by building their own cat enclosure or cat proof fencing.

At the time of publication, the cost of materials for building the D.I.Y. enclosures was approximately half the cost of purchasing similar (but already assembled) commercially available products.

This guide provides instructions for building:

• cat proof fencing (ie modifying existing fencing to make it ‘cat proof’, giving your cat free access to parts of, or your entire, yard)
• a cat enclosure attached to another structure (ie the house or a shed), and
• a free standing cat enclosure.

The instructions in this guide should be easy to follow for people with basic D.I.Y. skills. Staff at your local hardware store may also be able to help answer any questions. However if you find the D.I.Y. instructions in this guide too difficult, you could pay someone else to do the building, or buy a commercially available product (look under “Pet Shop Suppliers” in the Yellow Pages).

Most cats should adapt well to living indoors and in an enclosure, particularly if they have been kept in this way from an early age. However, adult cats used to roaming outdoors may have more difficulty in adjusting. If this is the case, you can consult your vet for advice. Desexing cats also reduces their desire to roam and helps prevent behavioural problems. It is important to enrich the environment of cats, to prevent them from getting bored or developing behavioural problems.

Environmental enrichment

Cats have a number of basic needs that must be met if they are to stay happy and healthy.

1. Companionship. Cats require plenty of social contact with owners. This can be achieved by access to the house through a cat door (and tunnel if applicable). Set aside time each day to interact with your cat, for instance, patting, playing with, or grooming him/her.
2. A well-informed owner. You should find out as much as you can about cat behaviour and care. There are many useful books and websites available. For instance, visit www.nssvet.org/ici for information on cat care, indoor housing requirements, and solving behavioural problems. Talk to your vet about health and nutritional requirements for cats.
3. Space. Cats prefer to have their own ‘personal space', and this is particularly important to prevent aggression in group housing situations. Each cat requires his/her own area that provides all the essentials (food, water, bed, resting places, litter tray etc).
4. Sleeping, resting and viewing areas. Cats like to spend a lot of time sleeping and resting in quiet areas where they feel safe and secure. Cat beds can be purchased, or blankets, towels, pillows etc can be provided. High sided cat beds and boxes are useful to give cats a sense of ‘privacy'.
5. Cats use elevated areas as vantage points from which to observe their surroundings. These are essential, and can be provided by access to platforms, shelves, climbing posts or window ledges. Some cats love to watch birds (you can place a bird bath/feeder outside the window or enclosure), insects (try planting flowers to attract them), fish in aquariums and even nature footage on TV!
6. Food and water. Ensure bowls are located away from the litter tray. Many cats like having their water bowl in a separate area to their food bowl. Cats can also be given grass to chew (non toxic varieties such as oats, wheat, rye-grass).
7. Litter boxes. Each cat requires its own litter box, that is big enough for easy access and is located in a safe and private area (if a cat is startled while using the box, he/she may not use that box in future). You may have to experiment to find out your cat's preferences for covered or uncovered boxes, type of litter and depth of litter.
8. Cats are very clean animals that do not like using dirty litter boxes, so boxes will need to be scooped daily, and cleaned with water and non-scented soap once a week. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the bottom of the box will help absorb odours between scoopings.
9. Scratching posts. Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats, that sharpens claws, stretches muscles and leaves scent marks. Your cat will need a scratching post, which can be horizontal or vertical, and can be made from sisal (a course natural fibre), carpet, cardboard or wood. You can encourage your cat to use the scratching post (rather than other things like the furniture!) by putting catnip on it. Cats have an excellent sense of smell, and many cats love catnip, which can be supplied as a dried herb or grown fresh in pots.
10. Toys and exercise. Exercise your cat through play (or even by training your cat to walk outside on a harness and leash!). Cats enjoy toys that move or make noise, and remind them of prey such as mice, birds, and insects. They need a variety of toys they can roll, pounce on, capture and bite, and toys should be rotated regularly to prevent boredom.

Some examples of simple and cheap toys (that are safe for cats to play with) are crumpled paper balls, paper bags to explore, cardboard boxes, and toilet paper tubes. Try stuffing old cotton socks with cotton balls and some catnip, and tying a knot in the end. You can also buy furry toys (eg in the shape of a mouse) that make noises and can be rolled, balls (eg ping pong balls, or balls that can be filled with food or treats), sticks with toys dangling from the end of a string etc.

This guide is funded by your cat registration fee.

In addition, your cat registration fee funds:

• A council identification marker for your cat to wear.
• Lost and found service; a guarantee that if your cat is found wearing the council identification marker you will be notified.
• Council services to respond to calls about wandering dogs or dog attacks. This includes the removal of aggressive dogs from the streets, so you can walk in safety.
• Council services to deal with nuisance problems. These services manage issues like barking dogs, cat trespass, and unowned animals.
• Council control of ‘dangerous’, ‘menacing’ and ‘restricted breed’ dogs in your area. This ensures they do not pose a threat to the community.
• Council monitoring of pet shops, boarding kennels, catteries, pounds, shelters, and pet breeding and training businesses. This ensures they meet basic animal welfare standards required by law.
• A State Government education program for schools. This program makes visits to all Primary Schools in Victoria. It teaches children about how to be a responsible pet owner.
• A State Government education program for pre-schools. This program teaches children and parents how to avoid dog attacks in the home and in public places.
• A State Government education program for adults. This program promotes the responsible ownership of pets. It also provides advice and information for pet owners.
• State Government research into cat and dog welfare and control issues.

Your local council may also provide any of the following:

• Education on how to be a responsible pet owner. This may include information such as the publication of brochures etc.
• Pet care days or discount microchipping days.
• Programs to subsidise the desexing of pets.
• Rewards for responsible pet owners.
• Activities to encourage dog owners to pick up dog faeces in public places. This may include education, fines, or providing bins and/or scoop facilities in parks.
• Signs for dog on-leash and off-leash areas, and patrols to check that dog owners comply.
• Education to prevent dog attacks.

Every cat and dog three months of age and over must be registered with your local council. Existing registrations must be renewed by 10 April each year.

For more advice or information Call your local council if you have questions about your rights and responsibilities as a pet owner. Your council will also deal with concerns about wandering or nuisance pets.

Advice is also available from animal welfare shelters, vets and pet clubs. For contact details for such organisations call the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186 for the cost of a local call. You can also call the DPI Customer Service centre to order free responsible pet ownership brochures on a range of topics.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Bill Plant (mrdotster@gmail.com, phone 03 5722 1217), who prepared the building instructions for this guide. Thanks to Annabel Woodward who volunteered to trial the cat proof fencing, and also to Wendy Height for trialing the cat proof fencing and in particular allowing us to test several different variations.