Fenced in Kitties

by Jacee
(Utah, USA)

Over my lifetime I have had many cats. When I was a child, our cats ran free. Several were run over by cars.

When my husband and I lived in Colorado, we had two male (neutered) cats that we allowed to run free; we lost one to a coyote (we think but don't know for sure). So we got another kitty - an adorable, totally white Angora (female). We could not bear the thought of losing her to a coyote or fox or another cat! On the other hand, we felt it cruel to let one cat roam free and keep her as an inside cat - so we supervised her outside time (we went out and kept an eye on her always). It was very time consuming for us.

Then we moved to Utah - and we acquired another female kitty (a Tonganese). We decided that whatever it took, we would provide them a safe outside experience.

I researched a way to keep them contained in the yard and found www.catfencein.com. We have a 6 ft vinyl fence around our backyard; then we put their Combination Barrier fence on top of that. It deters wild animals, other cats, and keeps our cats in. We have 1/3 of an acre planted with all kinds of bushes and flowers, rock outcropings, etc. where plenty of mice try to stay alive (and a few birds). Our kitties have their own kitty door so they can come and go as they please. We do, however, make them come in at night. Coyotes, if they chose, could possibly sail right over the fence.

Despite plenty of prey and places to hide and play, our male cat, who was used to roaming far and wide, was NOT happy being confined to the yard. How could we tell? He started acquiring bad habits (like scratching the furniture, ripping up the carpet, waking us up in the middle of the night with his howling, etc.) He seemed to be doing these things out of spite (or just unhappy). It did not work for us. So we gave him to a friend of ours who lives on a small farm in Wyoming. He has acres and acres to roam and hunt now. He seems VERY happy.

As for Gracie and Tawni, they appear to be very happy kitties. They eat well, play and sleep as they please, and are adored and petted every moment they allow us to. (Cats rule, as you know.)