apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

you could get jute rope (for a nautical ay matey look) or steel picture frame wire and weave it through the slats -- i've done that with an old banister and balustrades that would claim the lives of many a toddler if given the chance. You could string some glass beads or prisms (or cat toys) on the wire to catch the light....

I'd be nervous putting a cat on a balcony that wasn't enclosed to at least 8 feet - my cat can jump at least 6 1/2 feet up. Unless your cat is so fat he CAN'T jump up three feet (or 1 1/2 feet from the seat of a chair) I would worry, if I were you, that the cat would jump up on the railing and then someday ... while watching the birds or a bee, get distracted and jump in the wrong direction. Perhaps you are only on the 2nd or 3rd floor - and your cat would just run away. But if you are high enough up it is a tragedy when the cat hits pavement. In high-rises, it is one of the major methods of death for urban cats. Your vet can probably tell you some horror stories.
My solution - I have a harness and medium length lead for my cat. When I take him onto the balcony, I clip the lead directly to the building. I don't let him out without me or at least without me in the adjacent room. However, I just know some day I will go get another glass of iced tea -- returning to find him hanging and I'll have to pull him back up -- which is better than splat on the concrete.
Alex

wow, your cats don't try to jump? i'd be terrified. we have a balcony (...err fire escape--still usable, don't tell) that our cats love going out on. we put up a plastic mesh type thing we got at home depot. it isn't the prettiest, but it'll definitely keep your kitty safe. we don't trust our cats (both who enjoy chasing squirels too much), so we made our fence enclosure double height so they can't jump out.
check it out:
http://flickr.com/photos/flyinglimegreen/130263253/

We have a related problem. Last summer, for the first time in a long time, we were dealing with cats that are young and adventurous. They want to jump on top of the railing - all the better to see the birds or catch a bug. The deck is abut 12' x 12', with open exposure on 2 sides and second story. Fudge has gone overboard twice (on to grass, mind you, but still...) My solution has been to drape volleyball net. I use bird feeder poles as supports (I just hook the net on to the hooks for the feeders.

Wow, I'm actually a little surprised so many people have cats who would attempt to jump. When I was a kid we had a single-family house, but in the summer my parents would open the second story windows and the cats would hang out on the roof of the porch, but they never tried to jump off. And that was only one story up.

However I can understand it would definitely be a greater risk at 27 stories.

You could also try a fireplace screen that is about the size of your opening.

I have the same chair as the one pictured on your porch (actually, I have a pair of them purchased from an antique store in Wichita, Kansas) and I was wondering if you knew how much they are worth? I've seen them occasionally in magazine layouts.

I lived for a while in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where what seems like a fairly large percentage of the millions of inhabitants live or aspire to live in highrise buildings with large balconies. So balcony protection for cats--and children--seems to be big business.

The most common solutions seem to be nylon netting, which encases the entire balcony, from the bottom of the rail to the "ceiling," or the bottom of the upstair's neighbor's balcony. Next to that is plexiglass, of varying heights.

i last used some chain link fence weave, which i bought on ebay for $25 a roll, and wove that through the bars. it comes in a variety of colors, and you can choose how dense or open the look. however, the clips provided with the fence weave are garbage, i used a staple gun to secure the plastic strips instead.

Have to agree with alex and flyinglimegreen- only going up to railing height is risky with cats. Falling out of windows is the single largest cause of death (other than old age) of cats in NYC- I work with a rescue group and that's a fact we share with our foster and adoptive homes. Even if you were on the 2nd or 3rd floor and your cat survived a fall- the little guy could end up in traffic. It's not really jumping that's the issue- it's jumping onto a narrow ledge or railing and overshooting or falling over. Good luck finding a safe solution. Sorry for the mini-lecture.

I installed four foot high small gauge wire fencing along the length of my balcony. It isn't the nicest looking thing but is very sturdy without reducing light or visibility. You can get it at hardware stores; it comes in several heights and can be cut to size. Being taller than the railing, it prevents the cats from jumping up on top, and is stiff enough that they cannot push through at the bottom.

Chicken wire would be easy to bend, fairly inexspensive safe and visually unobtrusive. I would be afraid of a cat jumping onto the rail and falling. My cat climbs a wood post to a second floor balcony and two others can't. It is surprising what some animals will try.

Okay - the best thing to do would be to build a 2"x2"frame the entire width and height of the opening and use aluminum screening - it's nearly clear to see through, it's metal and the wind can't tear it up. If you want, you can call my friend Luke Lownds, a carpenter, whose name has appeared on AT before, and he will build it easily. Luke lost a cat who jumped out a 7th story window after a pigeon (Luke wasn't home - blame the idiot room mate he had at the time, who left the window open), and he was totally bereft at her loss. A guy like him will build you what you need, for sure. Tell him I sent you -
Luke Lownds 917-371-8521

Just to add to the horrors, my friend's cat also met a tragic fate out of an upper-floor window with a faulty screen. Definitely get something to protect them! What about some kind of canvas awning sort of thing in a jaunty stripe? Not as an awning, of course, but tied to the poles. I'm really grasping here, as I have no good ideas.

I really appreciate all the responses to my question. I also asked it in an OT the other day and got some good replies.

I haven't had any incidences with the cats on the ledge in many years. I keep an eye on them but admit to getting pretty lax on that over time. One cat isn't capable of jumping up to the ledge and the other 2 have yet to do it. I work on a regular basis at an animal shelter and give out the same advice you all have given to me. I think it's excellent advice and encourage you to keep it up. Nothing is more heartbreaking than to look over the balcony and see your beloved pet dead. Meva - you're a great advocate of their safety!

The chair in the photo is from Pier 1 from 3 yrs. ago. I love the lines.

Over the weekend I went to W. 28th St. and found a heavy straw mat that's the perfect size of the railings. I put it up and it'll do for now until more money comes in. I saw a great fence made of sticks. It's $35. I may go back for it. Another reason for putting something up is privacy. Funny, since there are many apts. that can look over to my balcony but the ones right next to me are blocked from my lounging on the balcony.

Justin - I have met Luke in the past when I called on him to meet me at a client's apt. to get an estimate from him. I have his contact info saved. Small world, huh?

My two active young cats truly believe they are outdoor kitties and try to run out on our 18th floor terrace every time the door is opened. So I spent part of last summer trying to figure out how to keep them alive without depriving them of the terrace experience.
This works for us: we bought "Kittywalk Deck & Patio" on pet site drfostersmith.com. It's a nylon, fishnet tube that's 6 feet long and about 2 feet wide and high, secured with metal hoop-shaped wicket-like things at the ends and in the middle.
My friends and neighbors thought I was crazy to put this up on my terrace (it takes about 3 minutes to set up, and collapses into a little portable bag. Or just leave it up). But the cats are happy in it. They can walk around in it, bat at buzzing insects, or lie in the sun and feel the breeze in their fur. Given the choice, they'd prefer to run free and probably plummet off the railings, but they get that the choice is staying indoors or playing in their tube.
It's not cheap--$89--but that's not bad compared to a vet bill or, worse, a cat funeral. And I don't think our co-op board would let me build elaborate fencing on the terrace (even if I were handy enough to do it).
I've never posted on AT before, but I love reading all your posts, and finally have a tip to offer!
Just one word of warning: don't let margarita-drinking friends try to climb into the cat tube.

I once had a cat escape by breaking a third floor window; he literally pushed a glass pane out of a rotted window frame in a dilapidated DC group house. We then put up a screen, but the same cat figured out how to escape again by pulling the screen off the screen frame. Then again, my roommates did not like the cat, so . . . maybe it wasn't the cat after all.

I was thinking that the netting you can get from garden centres for growing vines up the side of your house would work. You could enclose your whole balcony from floor to ceiling and not obstruct the view, or the air flow. Im sure they make it fairly tough, as vines can grow to be fairly heavy and thick over the years.

"Justin - I have met Luke in the past when I called on him to meet me at a client's apt. to get an estimate from him. I have his contact info saved. Small world, huh?"

Anne,
WHOA!
Luke is 'mi mejor amigo'....
Dontcha just love the Internet?!?!

Hey there,

I moved from N.Y.C. to L.A. four years ago with 2 cats and all the apartments I've lived in here have had balconys. At first I was freaked out and was trying to come up with some solution like you (I wouldn't even open the french doors if I wasn't home- I felt the need to supervise my cats!) However- having some money issues a few years back I was never able to do anything to cat-proof my balcony. After watching my cats out there with open metal railings on 3 sides and plenty of hummingbirds going to the bird feeder on the balcony 10 feet away next to mine made me realize what a good perception cats have. They have never tried to jump off the balcony. They have jumped on the railing (which is 1.5" thick) and walked around but are very stable and usually just jump right down. They peek their heads through and look down but they would rather lay down and soak up the sun than jump off. I think the idea of plexiglass is a good idea- but I think your cat's don't need it as much as you do to ensure their safety.

Plexiglass?

We had a dog that leapt to his death from our third floor balcony. We thought he was too big to fit through the slats (he was, but never underestimate the persistent soul) but still, down he went.

natalucci -
That's awful. I so sorry you had to go through that.

NEVER underestimate what a cat or dog may or may not do. Just because a cat or dog isn't jumping/falling now, doesn't mean it won't happen. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY. After all, if you had a child, you'd put up baby gates or whatever to make sure they're safe, right? Can you ever turn your back on a baby? Because basically that's what pets are - babies (or little kids, anyway).

Might sound weird, but see if you can pick up some of the material that they used to make net curtains out of (never heard of net curtains? ask your gran or a limey buddy). It's nylon, reasonably resistant to Mr. Fuzzboots' claws, and translucent so you get light but privacy. Stretch it on a wooden frame and you can take it in and out as needed, washable, and (here's the good bit) cheap. Like the budgie.

Laurie, that tube thing is brilliant! I'd love to set that up in my yard for my kitty. SHe lvoes to be outside with us, but I won't stop watching her, so I end up putting her back in when I'm actually working in the yard. THat's the perfect solution.

yes - getting something very secure is the way to go. I lived in Harlem for years with a fire escape and a mindless roommate who would leave his window open all day - kitty loved to climb thru and sit on the fire escape and watch the birds and the city. I didn't blame her. It's when I came home to find the kitchen window open (no safety bars), and her sitting on the 4 inches of OUTSIDE windowsill that my heart almost literally stopped. 5 years later I still have nightmarish thoughts about the moment I lovingly grabbed her off the edge. It's an absolute necessity that you do everything you can to protect your kitties! Currently I am using screens very successfully for the little bird-watcher!
:)

Check the web site secureacat.com.au
they enclose anything and can send goods and advice to anywhere

cat protection on balconies and decks...I solved this problem for our cats by designing and building a simple to make cat jump up barrier. I would be happy to make plans and materials list gratis to all, if one is allowed to post drawings or pictures here... don't know how... meow and ciao!

My cat Ceefur got knocked down & killed last year. Now I have two 6mths old kittens and I am terrified of opening any windows. Now summer is here though it's getting really hot and wanted to look for a screen for the windows when I came across this site.

http://www.thecatsden.net/

May be this could be the answer of cats living in flats and getting some fresh air.

I think it's really cool and can't wait to get a garden to build one myself.

I have had my cat on a harness for three years. She is very very happy with it on. You would just have to make sure the harness is short enough not to reach the top of the railing should your cat decide to play king of the castle. Try having your cat get use to it while indoors for a few minutes a day they should be fine after that.

What if the complex where you live has restrictions on what you can put up? I have one cat who is convinced she's invincible--she falls off of everything! And she went over the balcony rail this morning, without any injuries at all. I had vines growing over the railings so she couldn't sit on them, which really worked very well, but it's so hot in the summer that the leaves are wilting and don't do me any good. I'm not allowed to put up netting or anything, and this cat would probably choke herself on a harness and lead--she's not bright. Any suggestions for keeping her off of the railings?