Keeping a cat indoors can be difficult. Every time you open the door, your cat is ready to bolt through it.
Having a fence in your backyard is a great way to keep children and animals safe, but as we all know, cats are excellent at climbing and jumping.
They are also curious and that bird flying over the fence might be all the enticement needed to check out the other side of the fence.
Why Do Cats Like Jumping Over Fences?
Cats tend to enjoy exploring, especially outside. From my experiences, I learned that cats will jump at anything resembling prey in order to catch it.
In my case, my cat spends a lot of time indoors and will jump six feet to trap a fly.
If cats explore outside of their bounds and feel safe in doing so, they usually will. If your cat goes outside, it’s best to have it spayed or neutered beforehand to prevent unwanted litter.
Male cats can smell the scent of females when they go into heat and will try jumping fences to get to her.
How High Can A Cat Jump?
How high a cat can jump relies partly on how strong the muscles in its back legs are. Every cat has a different jumping capability influenced by many factors. These factors can include:
- Sex
- Weight
- Breed
- Health
- Motivation
How High Can Cats Jump?–Petozy
How To Stop A Cat From Jumping A Fence?
Build A Taller Fence
Building a taller fence to protect your cat from outside predators is necessary if you want your cat to have outdoor freedom. Cats have extraordinary jumping abilities from six feet, all the way up to eight feet.
Every cat is different, and if there is something on the other side of the fence that a cat is adamant about seeing, the height of the fence will not matter much as cats are avid climbers and jumpers.
Most jurisdictions state an allowance of how high a fence can stand depending on the area in which you live. Build your fence to the maximum height allowed without a ledge.
A ledge will make it easier for a cat to jump over as it gives them a place to grip and perch.
One way a ledge would serve a purpose would be to slant it at an angle and adhere the material to it that cats can’t grip with their claws such as metal sheeting or plastic.
If possible, install a cat fence deterrent such as roller bars or a cat fence enclosure which can be installed at the top of your existing fence.
Install Roller Bars
As mentioned earlier, installing roller bars on the top of an existing fence is a great way to deter your cat from jumping over it.
Roller bars make it difficult for a cat to get a foothold because they move when its paws come into contact with the rollers. They can also prevent other animals from jumping into your yard.
DIY Vinyl Fence PVC Rollers – Bing video
Cat Deterrent Fence
A fence deterrent system is another way to stop your cat from scaling the fence. It’s made from installing slanted brackets facing into your yard and applying netting to it.
This allows your cat the freedom to roam the backyard without the worry of it escaping.
Building A Catio
If a fence is not an option, there are other possibilities to allow your cat a bit of fresh air safely, such as building a catio. A catio is kind of like a patio for cats with an enclosure, and there are many ways in which to build one.
They can be small enough to fit on the outside of a window frame or large enough to fill the space of a backyard or balcony.
Catios can be made easily with supplies you would find at a home improvement or hardware store and can be built within a day depending on the size.
DIY “Catio” – Outdoor cat patio! (Made it all by myself!) – YouTube
Can A Cat Be Trained To Stay In Its Own Yard?
Cats can not be trained as easily as dogs, and typically can only be trained up to a certain point.
That’s not to categorize all cats as being untrainable, as I’m sure there are cases in which an owner has been successful in doing so.
Cats are independent animals.
Although you may train them to come when called, or have their utmost attention outside when you are present. They will wander around if given the chance, either from curiosity or boredom.
Can Cats Be Leashed Outside
Cats can be leash trained, although it will take time for them to get used to the idea of it.
For walking purposes and short times in the yard, it is perfectly fine. However, cats should never be on a leash outside for an extended amount of time unattended, as they pose a choking hazard by entanglement.
Other Exits Cat May Find
Cats are notorious problem solvers.
Once you have cat-proofed your fence, there may be other areas in your yard that may need attending to. Check the bottom perimeter of the fence for any spots in which your cat may crawl under.
On the other hand, check for larger than normal gaps between each board as cats seem able to crawl through the tightest of spots.
If you have trees near the fence, look at ways to deter your cat from climbing to avoid them from escaping.
One deterrent that works for some owners is a slanted cone placed approximately six feet up on the trunk of the tree and covered in chicken wire.
Tree guards can be made from any material that a cat can’t grip onto with its claws, such as metal. This will deter the cat from climbing.
Final Thought
There are things you can do to help prevent your cat from jumping over the fence. What you do depends on the ability and motivational aspect of your cat.
Some cat owners have to face the fact that no matter what we do, our cat will always find a way under or over the fence. However, keeping our cats kept is a way to protect them from potential threats.