Cat Proofing Your Garden

This will be a controversial blog post because owners who allow their cats to roam are still in the majority and I believe many think it ludicrous to keep a cat ‘confined’. However, I would tend to disagree. While I appreciate that (most) cats are happiest when they are outside, our modern world is simply not as safe as it used to be and because of this many cats are having their lives cut short through road traffic accidents or poisoning. Saying that, I find it equally important to be understanding of people’s individual decisions, we’re all doing the best we can for our pets and that’s what matters most 🙂

My Pancake cat used to roam in the hills behind our house. We are lucky to live in a relatively quiet area and it seemed safe – he was always ‘hanging out’ in the same spot. But in true cat form, the massive hill wasn’t enough for him and he started to wander towards the main road or sit on the canal toe path. After being chased by a few dogs and going missing for 24 hours I decided to look into cat proofing my garden. This was a light bulb moment and literally the BEST thing I have ever done. Hands down.

Cat owners will know the feeling: every time your cat is out wandering you are slightly on edge wondering what time they will be coming home. And if they are late? You immediately fear the worst. To be honest, I couldn’t handle any more of these stressful feelings so I bit the bullet and invested in cat proofing!

It didn’t take long to decide what sort I wanted for our garden. There’s not actually a huge variety in the UK: you’ve got the DIY ‘ers who have a go at creating something of their own, then there is the frequently seen (though in my opinion not terribly good looking) cat security system that ProtectaPet provide,  others build an enclosure along the side of their house – with their cats accessing from an open window or cat flap. We went for Katzecure. Having a cutsie cottage and a stunning garden I needed cat proofing that was ‘in keeping’; I also wanted wood as opposed to metal or mesh and these guys came as close as anything else I could find in the UK.

Katzecure are not cheap but in my opinion they are worth every penny. And if you move you can simply take the fixings and wood with you. If you want to get really creative with your space then you can plant a load of pet safe bushes, flowers and small trees to create interest for your cat. My guy is spoiled: he has a pond, a summer house and lots of planting to keep him entertained for hours. He loves it in there and I love that he is safe and happy.