New garden for the lads!

Just spent the last week putting up cat-proof fencing and netting around our whole garden. We're on a corner plot in a leafy suburb, and the last owners planted conifers around the edge of the garden for privacy. In order to get access to erect the fencing, we had to chop off most of the lower branches, so for the first time in years the neighbours can actually see our house! The conifers are great for climbing (had a few nail-biting incidents recently, had to get the ladders out a couple of times!) and we want the lads to be able to climb safely, so we have put in a canopy of netting at around 6-8 feet up so they can't go any further. The garden looks really bare now but the netting is very discreet and we have cleared away lots of overgrown shrubs as well, so we have sort of a 'blank canvas' now. Next year we can put in some climbers and so on, and get a bit of privacy back.

So the lads tested the new garden yesterday afternoon, and didn't they just love it out there! They were up all the trees and testing out the new restrictions - and they all held! For the first time they worked out how to get down a tree (previously we've dragged them down, and once Larry fell down). There are a few natural perches created by the tree branches, and Larry stayed up there taking in the new views up and down the street, for a good half-hour! We are going to make a few more perches or platforms for them, so that they can jump from tree to tree and generally lark about. If they are not going to be allowed outside the garden, then we should make the garden as interesting as possible for them. They are tearing around so boisterously now, I think I'd prefer it if they could do it outside!

Also, when we open the door and they scoot out, we don't have to worry about grabbing them quick before they get over the wall. Exciting stuff! I'll get you some pictures!
:jubilant:

Sounds wonderful for them. Would love to see some pictures.

Sounds great.... love to see some pictures!

Sounds fantastic!! I'm really curious to see some pictures!

Congrats on your garden! I’d love you to post pictures so I can see how you solved the catproofing thing. And to see the guys larking about of course.:nod:

We are in a very similar situation… we also have a corner plot in a leafy suburb. And some huge conifers as well… aren’t they a nuisance?:grr:

We moved in here at the end of last year. The garden hadn’t been very well kept up by the previous owner; it was quite overgrown. In August we hired a gardener to get rid of a conifer and tons of ivy, renovate the shed which was ‘eaten’ by the ivy, and put up an extra fence. Today we ordered material for making mesh panels that will go on top of the fence in a 45 degree angle.
I so hope it will be finished soon, so our coonies can have as much fun as your boys! Really looking forward to see pics of them enjoying their new haunt!

Thanks! We got the job finished just before our spell of hot weather in the UK came to an end and it started raining! (perfect timing eh?).

Ours is very much a DIY job so there are no guarantees that it's 100% cat proof. But it's quite a small L-shaped garden and we would still keep an eye on the lads when they are outside, just in case. We could not have afforded the professional cat-proof fencing installed by a proper company, and I don't know how they would have coped with driving fence posts into the ground when we have no lawn, a large patio and lots of shallow conifer roots where you just can't dig. So we attached long green garden rods to the exisiting wall, and attached netting to them, and then more netting at an angle, using the tree branches, to create a canopy.

I don't think they'll try to climb the netting, as it's too flimsy to take their weight, and there are lots of trees to climb anyway.

But how knackered are we after doing this job! Like any job, you discover complications along the way. For example, we noticed that the wall was unstable in several places, so we had to mix up some cement and re-set a few bricks, and re-point! Heavy, heavy work, but luckily the OH is a dab hand, and I am the willing assistant!

Lucky cats being able to go into the garden,mine luv it,when I am at home or as soon as I get in from work I let them out to run around & hopefully tire themselves out a bit,the last show we took Welly too the judge commented on the fact that he must be a "Happy Cat" allowed out to enjoy the sunshine because his coat is totally brown instead of black,wondering at the moment if he will ever be black again as it is now nearly four months along.
We have had a couple of escapees but a little modification has worked,does provide entertainment for the neighbours though when you are running round half dressed trying to entice the cat down from the bungalow roof & shouting to the other half that "He is your side now,oh no he's coming back this way", not too good on the heart palpatations though when it happens...

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Originally Posted by Howlinbob

But how knackered are we after doing this job! Like any job, you discover complications along the way. For example, we noticed that the wall was unstable in several places, so we had to mix up some cement and re-set a few bricks, and re-point! Heavy, heavy work, but luckily the OH is a dab hand, and I am the willing assistant!

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Well, hats off to both of you for your perseverance!:nod:

Discovering complications along the way... tell me about it!:rofl: When we encountered the first major glitch - that the shed started crumbling when we tried to remove the ivy - we decided to raid the piggy bank for a professional to take care of any further surprises. As luck would have it, a friend-of-a-friend recently set up his own business as a gardener, so we got a rather nice deal. And he did a great and very fast job too!:satisfied:

BTW, our garden is also L-shaped. We are only catproofing one 'leg' of the L - the one we can keep an eye on when we are inside. The other part is at the back of the house and next to a busy-ish road, so that will remain forbidden territory to the Coonies. I might use that plot to try my hand at growing herbs and some fruit & veggies, which has been one of my dreams for years.

Thanks Antonia! Sounds like you have a bigger garden than us, good luck with the cat-proofing! And with the fruit n veg!

Funny thing is, some of our friends just think we're mad, doing this work. They don't understand why the lads can't just go outside like other cats, and they think we're being over-protective and a bit precious about it. Or they think we are protecting them particularly because they were expensive to buy. But that's not the reason - we love all our cats, moggies included, and they weren't expensive to buy, that's not the point. It's much safer to have them fenced in, in terms of the road, the risk of them wandering into other people's houses, or simply getting 'nicked'. Also, we have agreed with our breeder to restrict them, it is in the kitten contract.

There were some builders working a couple of doors down, and they watched in amazement as Monty ran across the garden and shinned up a tree, and hung there checking out the view. I went to fetch him down, and they shouted across to me 'I thought that were a monkey, love!' (Sheffield accent!) I replied, smiling, 'No, it's a koala bear!' and held Monty up to show them. It was a pleasant exchange but it shows how the MC can attract attention.

Actually, our garden is not that large at all. The future cat playground is a patio of about 25 square metres and my future vegetable plot is only about 10 square metres. The garden used to be larger, but previous owners built an extension to the living room. Which is fine with us, because we use the extension as our 'office with garden view'.

I get the same reactions about not letting the cats roam free. Some people even say it's cruel to keep them inside the garden. To which I always answer: "You want to know what's cruel? A cat hit by a car. Or attacked by a vicious dog. Or poisoned by a cat hater. Now that is cruel." Which usually shuts them up.:pissed:

Gryfn loves to go out into the bit of garden he's allowed in that is fully enclosed.
But lately he's been trying to get out into the back yard which he managed the other day and then proceeded to play hide and seek under the trailer with me!

Finally got around to posting some pictures of the new cat garden!
They love it out there, and they're using a lot less cat litter, which is great!
We have built a couple of tree platforms, and we've got a few ideas for a mini cat assault course. Our friends think we're mad (again).
:nod:

I love the look out post! I too have had people say its cruel not to let my two out but they are too trusting and have no street smarts at all! They are happy to be in the garden with us and I would worry if they were out as the first person to offer Hector a second breakfast would never have a moments peace he is the springer spaniel of the cat world. The strange thing I have noticed is that the ones who say its cruel to keep a cat in are the first ones to moan about cats using their gardens as a toilet theres nowt as strange as folk!

Mine say please can they come & stay for the weekend,they have got a fenced in garden to be able to go out & play but a whole TREE to climb & sit & watch from,what fun.
Monty is looking a really handsome boy.
Mad or not who is worried what others think,whenever we have a poor cat brought into work
thats been involved in a RTA I just think how pleased I am that fingers crossed I will not be in that situation again,can't say never because a quick slip & someone leaves the door open,you don't know,every one who comes here now though knows the drill,porch door firmly shut before you enter through next door,otherwise fog horn Lil soon blasts out a warning that I think half of the estate hears as well....

Your garden looks fantastic! What a great job you did!
But how do you keep the guys from using the tree as an escape route?

And Larry... he HAS grown, like you said. The fur, the tail... I think I'm in love...:shy:

Firstly, the garden looks fantastic - I'm really impressed with how you've managed to keep it looking like a proper garden for people to enjoy; the cat-proofing is quite subtle as far as I can tell, you've done a great job.

And secondly, I have to agree with Antonia and Jackie - Larry is looking SO long and Monty really is getting very handsome; they've matured so much since the first photo's you posted. You have much to be proud of HB.

Aww thanks guys!

Antonia, they can't escape via the trees because we have used the netting to make a canopy within the trees. The canopy goes around the branches, and is attached to the branches and to the vertical netting. So they can climb the trees until they hit the canopy at about 7 or 8 feet up. They are well used to this now.

Whilst I was away, Larry the ace climber did however manage to climb up our wooden trellis, right to the top! So OH has installed yet more netting at the top of the trellis, to about 12 feet high!

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Originally Posted by Antonia

Your garden looks fantastic! What a great job you did!
But how do you keep the guys from using the tree as an escape route?

And Larry... he HAS grown, like you said. The fur, the tail... I think I'm in love...:shy:

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I don't think MCs are looking to escape really, Simba's garden isn't enclosed yet he has never gone far. I think they love climbing though so may accidently find theirselves somewhere they can't get back from. Simba has got onto the top of the pergola and not been able to get down - my son had to save him with a step ladder:LOL:

I agree the garden looks lovely - a real adventure playground for your cats and those trees are fantastic. I wish we had some bigger trees in our garden. The young Acacia Simba loves to climb is only about 9 or 10 foot high to where he can climb to and once he is up there are no big enought side branches for him to go along.

Well done, I really admire the length you have gone to for your cats enjoyment.