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#1
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Preparing cats for the big move
By the end of this month I will be moved over to the new house.
Probably won't get the fence completed for a while yet so meanwhile the cats will just have to stay inside. I am preparing them for it slowly. It's not hard to keep them in when it's cold, and we're finally getting some cold weather. It may last for another few weeks. I think it's a good thing to keep kitties inside for a while after a move, anyway, until they are thoroughly familiar with the house and they've adjusted to living there. I decided against putting up a board fence like I originally planned. Not that I wouldn't like to have a wooden fence, but it would just been too costly. What I'll do instead is use welded wire, with electric at the top, and plant bushes for privacy and a windbreak. Anyone had any experience with "Austrees"? http://www.rmausa.com/rma/trees/austree.html The neighbors on two sides already have their yards fenced with welded wire, so on those sides I can just plant steel t-posts with insulators on top and run aluminum wire close to the top of the existing fence. I already have a small charger and a post-pounder, 100' of w.w. and about 18 t-posts, and so the expense will be minimal, I'll just need one more roll of w.w. and maybe a dozen more t-posts for the other sides. I'm thinking that as long as the cats are kept inside they will spend time looking out the windows and seeing/hearing vehicles whiz past, and hopefully that will help them understand why they'll be finding themselves confined to the backyard once I let them go out. |
#2
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Preparing cats for the big move
Pat wrote: By the end of this month I will be moved over to the new house. Probably won't get the fence completed for a while yet so meanwhile the cats will just have to stay inside. I am preparing them for it slowly. It's not hard to keep them in when it's cold, and we're finally getting some cold weather. It may last for another few weeks. I think it's a good thing to keep kitties inside for a while after a move, anyway, until they are thoroughly familiar with the house and they've adjusted to living there. I decided against putting up a board fence like I originally planned. Not that I wouldn't like to have a wooden fence, but it would just been too costly. What I'll do instead is use welded wire, with electric at the top, and plant bushes for privacy and a windbreak. Anyone had any experience with "Austrees"? http://www.rmausa.com/rma/trees/austree.html The neighbors on two sides already have their yards fenced with welded wire, so on those sides I can just plant steel t-posts with insulators on top and run aluminum wire close to the top of the existing fence. I already have a small charger and a post-pounder, 100' of w.w. and about 18 t-posts, and so the expense will be minimal, I'll just need one more roll of w.w. and maybe a dozen more t-posts for the other sides. I'm thinking that as long as the cats are kept inside they will spend time looking out the windows and seeing/hearing vehicles whiz past, and hopefully that will help them understand why they'll be finding themselves confined to the backyard once I let them go out. Have you ever considered just building an enclosure and forgetting about trying to fence the entire yard? Even an 8x10 enclosure, enclosed at the top, would be very safe and much less expensive. You wouldn't have to use a fence charger either. You could furnish it with all kinds of ramps, ledges, perches, scraching posts, climbing trees and leave a grass floor. I would really be concerned about the safety of the cats. I'd be afraid they'd get zapped by the charger, then panic and get hung up on wire fence. Or it wouldn't be effective in keeping them from escaping. Sherry |
#3
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Preparing cats for the big move
wrote Have you ever considered just building an enclosure and forgetting about trying to fence the entire yard? Even an 8x10 enclosure, enclosed at the top, would be very safe and much less expensive. You wouldn't have to use a fence charger either. You could furnish it with all kinds of ramps, ledges, perches, scraching posts, climbing trees and leave a grass floor. I would really be concerned about the safety of the cats. I'd be afraid they'd get zapped by the charger, then panic and get hung up on wire fence. Or it wouldn't be effective in keeping them from escaping. No I hadn't considered that idea because we are talking about seven cats, who have had free run of a *very* large territory all their lives. There won't be any danger to them from the fence I described. They may initially try to climb it, sure, and get zapped, jump back down and probably never try it again. I'm trying to picture whatever you're picturing that you think they could "get hung up" on, and I can't. Do you know what welded wire is? I need to fence the whole yard anyway for security reasons and to protect the garden from other folks' pets roaming at large (not to mention the people themselves, who might find my produce mighty tempting when they know I'm gone for the day). Besides, I will introduce the cats one by one to the yard and fence, and be watching closely until I am sure each one has got the message about staying in the yard. I'm just thankful it's a big enough yard that they at least won't feel seriously confined in it. What I might do, though, is build an enclosure they can use instead of going out in the yard when I am not at home. That way I will be able to stay gone for several days if I wish, without having to leave them totally cooped up in the house yet free from worry that they might find a way to escape the yard in my absence. |
#4
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Preparing cats for the big move
Pat wrote:
wrote Have you ever considered just building an enclosure and forgetting about trying to fence the entire yard? Even an 8x10 enclosure, enclosed at the top, would be very safe and much less expensive. You wouldn't have to use a fence charger either. You could furnish it with all kinds of ramps, ledges, perches, scraching posts, climbing trees and leave a grass floor. I would really be concerned about the safety of the cats. I'd be afraid they'd get zapped by the charger, then panic and get hung up on wire fence. Or it wouldn't be effective in keeping them from escaping. No I hadn't considered that idea because we are talking about seven cats, who have had free run of a *very* large territory all their lives. There won't be any danger to them from the fence I described. They may initially try to climb it, sure, and get zapped, jump back down and probably never try it again. I'm trying to picture whatever you're picturing that you think they could "get hung up" on, and I can't. Do you know what welded wire is? I need to fence the whole yard anyway for security reasons and to protect the garden from other folks' pets roaming at large (not to mention the people themselves, who might find my produce mighty tempting when they know I'm gone for the day). Besides, I will introduce the cats one by one to the yard and fence, and be watching closely until I am sure each one has got the message about staying in the yard. I'm just thankful it's a big enough yard that they at least won't feel seriously confined in it. What I might do, though, is build an enclosure they can use instead of going out in the yard when I am not at home. That way I will be able to stay gone for several days if I wish, without having to leave them totally cooped up in the house yet free from worry that they might find a way to escape the yard in my absence. Ok so why not build or by an enclosure for the cats, and fence the yard in for security/privacy and leave the cats free reign in the enclosure, and forget about the electric fence, etc? Lots of people keep their cats in enclosures with no issues. Also with certain parts of the country being lawsuit happy - could you be leaving yourself open to one with the electric fence? I presume you will have a warning posted? Here if you leave a hose on your own property, and someone trips over it and hurts themselves the homeowner can be liable for damages to the one who tripped over the hose EVEN though it was on what is essentially private property. |
#5
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Preparing cats for the big move
"rrb" wrote Also with certain parts of the country being lawsuit happy - could you be leaving yourself open to one with the electric fence? I suppose someone could try to sue me if there was a tort involved (negligence, e.g. I didn't post a sign), and actual damages. But how much damage can be done by an electric fence? Indeed I wonder how many people here have ever touched an electric fence. I've done it dozens of times by accident. If I ever tried to sue someone over it, the court clerk would bust out laughing when I filed the complaint. |
#6
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Preparing cats for the big move
Pat wrote:
"rrb" wrote Also with certain parts of the country being lawsuit happy - could you be leaving yourself open to one with the electric fence? I suppose someone could try to sue me if there was a tort involved (negligence, e.g. I didn't post a sign), and actual damages. But how much damage can be done by an electric fence? Indeed I wonder how many people here have ever touched an electric fence. I've done it dozens of times by accident. If I ever tried to sue someone over it, the court clerk would bust out laughing when I filed the complaint. As a kid, it was fun to hold onto an electric fence then touch other kids as they walked pass, for some reason the shock seems worse if you're not expecting it. evil grin Another time, when my brother and I were quite small, we had metal frame beds which we wired up so my mother got a shock when she touched them. I've grown up now, honest! -- Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera) A House is not a home, without a cat. http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk |
#7
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Preparing cats for the big move
"Pat" wrote in message ... By the end of this month I will be moved over to the new house. Probably won't get the fence completed for a while yet so meanwhile the cats will just have to stay inside. I am preparing them for it slowly. It's not hard to keep them in when it's cold, and we're finally getting some cold weather. It may last for another few weeks. I think it's a good thing to keep kitties inside for a while after a move, anyway, until they are thoroughly familiar with the house and they've adjusted to living there. I decided against putting up a board fence like I originally planned. Not that I wouldn't like to have a wooden fence, but it would just been too costly. What I'll do instead is use welded wire, with electric at the top, and plant bushes for privacy and a windbreak. Anyone had any experience with "Austrees"? http://www.rmausa.com/rma/trees/austree.html The neighbors on two sides already have their yards fenced with welded wire, so on those sides I can just plant steel t-posts with insulators on top and run aluminum wire close to the top of the existing fence. I already have a small charger and a post-pounder, 100' of w.w. and about 18 t-posts, and so the expense will be minimal, I'll just need one more roll of w.w. and maybe a dozen more t-posts for the other sides. I'm thinking that as long as the cats are kept inside they will spend time looking out the windows and seeing/hearing vehicles whiz past, and hopefully that will help them understand why they'll be finding themselves confined to the backyard once I let them go out. Please come up with a different alternative. If there is any possibility that a cat could come into contact with an electric fence (which is your reason for installing one), it could be dangerous and painful. Yes, I am familiar with electric fences. However, they are intended for larger animals. I was once riding a horse which touched an electric fence with his nose. The moisture on his nose probably intensified the sensation, and he literally went crazy (with me on his back!). An enclosure such as what Sherry described could work very well. In addition to my concerns about safety and the possibility of a painful experience for your cats, you might find that you could not legally install an electric fence. They are frequently used in rural areas, but they are prohibited in many residential areas. Unless you carefully check city ordinances (and even builders' codes, depending on where you live), you could find yourself with the additional expense and inconvenience of removing something that you had installed. Here are a number of linkes (with pictures) of some outdoor fences or enclosures for cats. Some are expensive, but many are simple and do-it-yourself: Design for do-it-yourself barrier to mount on top of fence (to keep cats in): http://www.lisaviolet.com/cathouse/backyard.html Outdoor fence enclosure (several views): http://www.just4cats.com/ http://www.just4cats.com/post1.html http://www.just4cats.com/page7.html A guide to inexpensive do-it-yourself fencing: http://www.feralcat.com/fence.html Cat fence-in containment system: http://www.catfencein.com/ http://www.fabcats.org (includes an information sheet that can be downloaded) "Friendly Fence": web site says it is virtually invisible www.friendlyfence.com Pictures from readers of "Cat Fancy" showing enclosures they have built: http://www.animalnetwork.com/cats/enclosure.asp Other ideas for outdoor fencing for cats: http://www.just4cats.com/page7.html http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-worldenclosures.htm http://www.lisaviolet.com/cathouse/backyard.html KittyKlips - addition to existing wood fence to prevent cats from climbing [note: but would not prevent cats on the "other" side of fence from getting in]: http://kittyklips.com/details.htm Cat enclosure made of planks and netting: http://www.cat-world.com.au/cat-worldenclosures.htm Modular cat enclosures: http://www.catnip.com.au/ Flippy's page: http://www.flippyscatpage.com/enclosures.html MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: 'o' Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 |
#8
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Preparing cats for the big move
Pat wrote:
wrote Have you ever considered just building an enclosure and forgetting about trying to fence the entire yard? Even an 8x10 enclosure, enclosed at the top, would be very safe and much less expensive. You wouldn't have to use a fence charger either. You could furnish it with all kinds of ramps, ledges, perches, scraching posts, climbing trees and leave a grass floor. I would really be concerned about the safety of the cats. I'd be afraid they'd get zapped by the charger, then panic and get hung up on wire fence. Or it wouldn't be effective in keeping them from escaping. No I hadn't considered that idea because we are talking about seven cats, who have had free run of a *very* large territory all their lives. There won't be any danger to them from the fence I described. They may initially try to climb it, sure, and get zapped, jump back down and probably never try it again. I'm trying to picture whatever you're picturing that you think they could "get hung up" on, and I can't. Do you know what welded wire is? I need to fence the whole yard anyway for security reasons and to protect the garden from other folks' pets roaming at large (not to mention the people themselves, who might find my produce mighty tempting when they know I'm gone for the day). Besides, I will introduce the cats one by one to the yard and fence, and be watching closely until I am sure each one has got the message about staying in the yard. I'm just thankful it's a big enough yard that they at least won't feel seriously confined in it. What I might do, though, is build an enclosure they can use instead of going out in the yard when I am not at home. That way I will be able to stay gone for several days if I wish, without having to leave them totally cooped up in the house yet free from worry that they might find a way to escape the yard in my absence. Miranda and Caliban have a wonderful enclosure and I don't see why it wouldn't work for all of your cats. They'll get used to an enclosed space and still have access to the outdoors. Jill |
#9
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Preparing cats for the big move
Pat, good luck on everything. Hope the cats are not too hard to contain, and
we are happy that you finally have a place of your own. Take it easy, let us know about the progress. Lily & her mama -- Irulan from the stars we come to the stars we return from now until the end of time "Pat" wrote in message ... By the end of this month I will be moved over to the new house. Probably won't get the fence completed for a while yet so meanwhile the cats will just have to stay inside. I am preparing them for it slowly. It's not hard to keep them in when it's cold, and we're finally getting some cold weather. It may last for another few weeks. I think it's a good thing to keep kitties inside for a while after a move, anyway, until they are thoroughly familiar with the house and they've adjusted to living there. I decided against putting up a board fence like I originally planned. Not that I wouldn't like to have a wooden fence, but it would just been too costly. What I'll do instead is use welded wire, with electric at the top, and plant bushes for privacy and a windbreak. Anyone had any experience with "Austrees"? http://www.rmausa.com/rma/trees/austree.html The neighbors on two sides already have their yards fenced with welded wire, so on those sides I can just plant steel t-posts with insulators on top and run aluminum wire close to the top of the existing fence. I already have a small charger and a post-pounder, 100' of w.w. and about 18 t-posts, and so the expense will be minimal, I'll just need one more roll of w.w. and maybe a dozen more t-posts for the other sides. I'm thinking that as long as the cats are kept inside they will spend time looking out the windows and seeing/hearing vehicles whiz past, and hopefully that will help them understand why they'll be finding themselves confined to the backyard once I let them go out. |
#10
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Preparing cats for the big move
"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote Yes, I am familiar with electric fences. However, they are intended for larger animals. Electric fences are in fact used to contain all kinds and sizes of animals. I wish I could afford the type shown on this page: http://www.sureguard.com.au/cat_electric_fence.html |
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