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When I think about cat on an apartment balcony I just HAVE to ask how can cats be so stupid to jump from such a height – and very often to their own death? I mean don’t they have survival instincts? How can they not estimate the height from the point of jumping? It simply amazes me.
My neighbor living next to my apartment in the building had a big black cat with yellow eyes. It loved sitting on the balcony. Then one day I saw a gentle white net hooked around the whole balcony. I thought it was for mosquitoes, but the wholes were just too big. I wondered what it was. And it was quite subtle, you had to come close to a meter or two to notice it. The next time I saw her she explained it was a protection for the cat not to jump from the 6th-floor apartment balcony. To be honest her cat seemed too lazy or too indifferent to do such a thing but you never know.
So that was my inspiration on how to make my balcony safe for my cat. It’s a shame I didn’t search online because now I see that I have reinvented hot water. People have already known the solution but still, I am very proud that I came to the same practical idea. Let me show you a picture of what my cat-safe balcony looks like :
How To Cat Proof A Balcony
As you can see my balcony is completely made for adults. It has these wide gaps which are dangerous for a cat or small dog. Actually, even for a toddler they could be potentially dangerous.
As I didn’t want the cat litter box to be inside – at least not in the warm months of the year I put it on the balcony. But I couldn’t risk my cat falling from a 6-floor height. I remembered my neighbour’s net and I decided to get something similar.
But in my case, I had to find something firm enough to prevent my cat from falling or jumping over and something not to distract the view as well. My apartment is quite small and I need to have an open view. So one thing led to another and I found my perfect wire fence with small square openings, in perfect grey color to match my balcony fence. It was also not a distraction to the view so it was the perfect way for kitten-proofing an apartment balcony:
This wire fence looks not so tough and easy to handle but let me tell you that I had quite a hard time stretching it over the balcony. I must have looked funny too doing this in a summer dress :), but it was one really hot day.
I must have spent about one whole hour stretching and pulling the thing until I had it placed right:
I had a little problem with the corners but you can see that with a little curve the wire fence fit quite good over the balcony length. There was no way that something other than a bug could get through this fence.
I was happy, my cat was happy – although not consciously knowing it and I felt like a real pro that day. It was such a big problem for me and I solved it – in a very good way too. All by myself!
Anyway although I don’t have my cat anymore I left the fence. I must say I am very satisfied with this solution, it worked perfectly in terms of protection and is easy on the view. It’s good protection and you never know what the next pet will be.
If you are interested in cat proofing your balcony this way I have picked some very similar mesh fences like mine. I promise you that this solution will not let you down and will serve you well in case you have a balcony structure like mine.
What To Use For Cat Proof Balcony
Heavy Duty Cat Balcony Fence
I have seen the image this customer has posted – it looks very much like my creation here and it is used exactly for cat and dog. I believe this is among the best balcony cat netting that you can get, it will give you maximum protection and durability. You can expect it to last 3-5 years and because it is UV treated it will probably last you even longer than this.
This one comes in black and green color and in different dimensions – make sure you do your measurements before buying.
Black Cable Ties For The Above Suggested Balcony Cat Fences
(Super Cheap)
Similar Alternatives For Cat Proofing Your Balcony
This is the most similar high-quality cat balcony net that I have found and believe to be excellent for your cat.
One of the features that I was looking for when getting my balcony cat fence was that it is see-through (in my small apartment the balcony view is extremely valuable to me) while strong and durable at the same time. This cat fence for apartment balcony has exactly those features so I warmly recommend you take a look – I know you won’t be disappointed. Here is what you will get:
- Durable balcony cat fence netting that has UV protection for longer usage (here is a real customer testimony about the durability and the type of the material)
- Very sturdy and resistant to cat claws and bites which is *super important for cat owners*, as shown here with an image
- No view distraction
- Easy to install – you can cut the material with scissors and it comes with everything you need included
- Solid balcony protection for your cat, it will not be able to pass through
- Inexpensive solution for a very important issue for us cat onwers
Do not buy zip ties for this net: they are already included in the package.
Cat Balcony Mesh – The Most See Through One
My neighbor had installed a similar white fish net on her balcony for cat protection. Top to bottom on hooks. I was so jealous because I could not find a similar one. Let me tell you: it looks so nice, the view is still open and the cat is protected.
One thing I am not sure though: how it will hold a cat’s weight. The products description states:
- Made of nylon
- UV resistant
- Strong (but still lightweight)
- To get a better understanding of the product a customer described the material here
Here is a review of how it performed when protecting from a cat, but it really depends on the balcony structure and how temperamental your cat is. The neighbour’s cat never attempted to jump on their fish net – not even once, and I have specifically asked this. Maybe if the cat has a visible limit of the space it will not attempt to jump through it.
What I really love about this net is that it is almost invisible. If you really want to preserve your balcony view you can use this clear netting for the upper part of the balcony and have the bottom part guarded by a stronger net.
If you decide to get this white balcony net for your cat’s safety I suggest you also get these white zip ties.
Attractive White Cat Fence For Apartment Balcony
This balcony fence net looks especially nice if your balcony is white. The mesh material is made with heavier-grade fabric that is resistant to pulls and tears, making it appropriate for a cat too.
Cat Enclosures That You Can Use on Your Balcony – A Fast And Easy Solution
Outdoor Enclosure for Indoor Cats
Big Cat Outdoor Enclosure
If you have a big balcony you could lead your cat via the tunnel from inside of your home to the balcony and the netted “house”.
