Do cat fence spikes actually work?

A form of cat repellent device that doesn’t involve the use of repellent sprays or sound and water devices, cat fences can be used to keep cats out of your garden, resulting in a cat-free space with no cat mess on your lawn or in your flower beds.

They can also be used to keep cats inside a space, which can be particularly useful for indoor cats who are not aware of the dangers of roads.  

Will a cat fence keep cats out of your garden?

It can be very disheartening to have all the neighbourhood cats marking their territory in your garden, destroying your plants, pooping on your lawn and possibly killing birds. Equally, many owners worry about cats in their garden due to threats of fighting between their own cat and others.

Cats may roam freely by law, but one simple way to keep cats away from your garden is to use a cat fence.

A cat fence can certainly help you keep cats out of your garden without the cats suffering in any way; however cats are very nimble and can easily outwit new structures. Cats are houdini-like and they can squeeze into the tightest spots. They are also confident with balancing and jumping very high. Cats have also been known to use routes created by other animals, for example a badger tunnelling under a garden fence will provide a cat with an easy way in.

Cat spikes

One option is to add cat spikes to the top of your garden fence. Cat spikes are usually made from plastic and are small, blunt spikes that can be lined across the top of your fence. They are very uncomfortable for cats and they do not like the feel of them on their paws, but they won’t cause them any pain or cut their paws. Chicken wire is also another alternative. Wrapping it around the top of a fence will yield the same results as cat spikes.

Cats are so flexible they might be able to weave around the spikes, but if they do manage that they will have to put some effort in. Knowing that it is hard work to climb into your garden might put them off completely in the future, as the cats will know it isn’t worth the effort.

It’s worth noting that you should always consult your local council and tell your neighbours before you place cat spikes across your fencing. Your neighbours may not approve of such methods, especially if you share fencing.

Free standing fence

For areas without a pre-existing fence, there are many cat fences on the market that you can assemble at home or you can employ a local handyman to do the job.

A kit from Perrfect Fence includes extremely strong yet flexible poly mesh making climbing very difficult, and patented Cat-Proofer™ extender arms which enable the entire upper section of the fence to pivot. The cat’s weight causes these horizontal extension arms to abruptly swing downward, so the cat feels as if they are falling. Their instinct is to turn so they land on their feet. They cannot do that holding onto the mesh so they release. The end result is that the cat is safely returned to the ground. Once the cat’s weight is released from the mesh, the spring-loaded extenders immediately return the upper section of the fence to its horizontal position.

An existing fence conversion system

The Perrfect Fence Cat-Proofer™ pivoting fence extension system makes it easy and affordable to convert most any 3′ or higher fence or wall into a cat-proof barrier.

The pivoting fence extensions are attached near the top of the inside of your fence and the high strength mesh material is stretched between them, attaching with the included zip ties. Simply secure the lower portion of the mesh material to your fence or wall and your cat fence is complete.

Kitty Klips

Kitty Klips are drain pipes that are attached to the fence in such a way that stops a cat climbing out over them. This isn’t a product you can buy, but an idea of how to contain cats which you can create for yourself.

The Kitty Klips system is easy to install, inexpensive to buy and works on nearly every type of fencing. All you need are PVC drain pipes and a hand saw and you’re good to go.

Katzecure

Katzecure sells and can install wooden rotating poles which are attached to the top of your fence. When touched by a cat, the poles rotate so that the cat cannot grip to get over the fence. They are an elegant option to use as a repellent and the wooden barriers look really smart against wooden garden fences.

Once installed the Katzecure system can keep house cats in and can also act as a deterrent to prevent other invading cats entering your garden. Once the poles are in place, cats can no longer scale down gently and they are forced to make the long jump.

A cat that recognises a barrier to entry can also recognise it as a barrier to exit. Most cats are deterred from crossing the cat fence for these reasons. Generally an invading cat learns his lesson and the same cat never returns.

Can I use a cat fence as an enclosure?

Cat fences can also be used to create outdoor enclosures.

Cat enclosures are commonly used in gardens that house things that could be dangerous for cats, such as electric wiring, toxic plants or chemicals used in gardening.

They can also be used to prevent house cats that don’t understand roads from getting out of the house or garden. Cat fences that are designed specifically for cat enclosures are usually free standing and can be moved around with ease.

In addition to preventing cats from escaping onto dangerous ground, enclosures can be used to prevent other animals from coming onto your garden – such as foxes, hedgehogs and rabbits – for a multi-purpose solution.