The use of electric fencings not visible by animals as well as the use of anti-runaway devices compounds of a thread buried on the verge of the ground and of a necklace which sends an electric shock to the cat as soon as it approaches this invisible limit are strictly forbidden in Switzerland. We thus do not speak about it in this article.

PIXIE : Look, Zorro, look at the gift that offered me Claire and Momo ! It’s immense ! We have now access to all the garden in front of the house !
ZORRO : Pixie, you exaggerate … This present is not only for you.
PIXIE : Yes it is ! It was my birthday on Wednesday, it’s MY park !
ZORRO : *sigh* The fate makes that our new fence was installed the same week of your second birthday, Pixie, that’s it. We already had an enclosure (see here and here for the story of the enclosure), but for financial reasons, it was small. This time, our humans made every effort to offer us a dream enclosure !

What are the characteristics of a good fence for cats ?

• It is high enough : cats can jump on average until a height of 1 m 80 (5,9 ft).
• It has a “return angle” of 60 cm (23,6 in) : cats climb everywhere. Without a “return angle”, a cat can easily cross a 2 m (6,5 ft) high fence by climbing and passing over.
• It goes up to the ground : a motivated 4 kg (8,8 lb) cat passes easily under a 8 cm (3,1 in) high space (we tested !).
• It has stitches from 3 to 5 cm (1-2 in) wide : young cats manage to sneak through wider spaces (if the head passes, all the cat passes).
• There is no tree, no table, or no wall too close which allows the cat to jump directly on the return.
• It is in compliance with the local regulations : it’s better to ask competent authorities before building a special fence : it would be really stupid to have to remove it hardly installed, right ?

If you have a garden, did you secure it in one way or another for your cat ? Or can your cat walk as he pleases ?