New garden for the lads!

**Howlinbob** · 7th September 2010, 09:36 AM

Just spent the last week putting up cat-proof fencing and netting around our whole garden. We're on a corner plot in a leafy suburb, and the last owners planted conifers around the edge of the garden for privacy. In order to get access to erect the fencing, we had to chop off most of the lower branches, so for the first time in years the neighbours can actually see our house! The conifers are great for climbing (had a few nail-biting incidents recently, had to get the ladders out a couple of times!) and we want the lads to be able to climb safely, so we have put in a canopy of netting at around 6-8 feet up so they can't go any further. The garden looks really bare now but the netting is very discreet and we have cleared away lots of overgrown shrubs as well, so we have sort of a 'blank canvas' now. Next year we can put in some climbers and so on, and get a bit of privacy back.

So the lads tested the new garden yesterday afternoon, and didn't they just love it out there! They were up all the trees and testing out the new restrictions - and they all held! For the first time they worked out how to get down a tree (previously we've dragged them down, and once Larry fell down). There are a few natural perches created by the tree branches, and Larry stayed up there taking in the new views up and down the street, for a good half-hour! We are going to make a few more perches or platforms for them, so that they can jump from tree to tree and generally lark about. If they are not going to be allowed outside the garden, then we should make the garden as interesting as possible for them. They are tearing around so boisterously now, I think I'd prefer it if they could do it outside!

Also, when we open the door and they scoot out, we don't have to worry about grabbing them quick before they get over the wall. Exciting stuff! I'll get you some pictures!

**Karena** · 7th September 2010, 10:26 AM

Sounds wonderful for them. Would love to see some pictures.

**Scrapdragon** · 7th September 2010, 10:27 AM

Sounds great.... love to see some pictures!

**Karol** · 7th September 2010, 10:34 AM

Sounds fantastic!! I'm really curious to see some pictures!

**Antonia** · 7th September 2010, 10:40 AM

Congrats on your garden! I’d love you to post pictures so I can see how you solved the catproofing thing. And to see the guys larking about of course.

We are in a very similar situation… we also have a corner plot in a leafy suburb. And some huge conifers as well… aren’t they a nuisance?

We moved in here at the end of last year. The garden hadn’t been very well kept up by the previous owner; it was quite overgrown. In August we hired a gardener to get rid of a conifer and tons of ivy, renovate the shed which was ‘eaten’ by the ivy, and put up an extra fence. Today we ordered material for making mesh panels that will go on top of the fence in a 45 degree angle.
I so hope it will be finished soon, so our coonies can have as much fun as your boys! Really looking forward to see pics of them enjoying their new haunt!

**Howlinbob** · 7th September 2010, 11:36 AM

Thanks! We got the job finished just before our spell of hot weather in the UK came to an end and it started raining! (perfect timing eh?).

Ours is very much a DIY job so there are no guarantees that it's 100% cat proof. But it's quite a small L-shaped garden and we would still keep an eye on the lads when they are outside, just in case. We could not have afforded the professional cat-proof fencing installed by a proper company, and I don't know how they would have coped with driving fence posts into the ground when we have no lawn, a large patio and lots of shallow conifer roots where you just can't dig. So we attached long green garden rods to the exisiting wall, and attached netting to them, and then more netting at an angle, using the tree branches, to create a canopy.

I don't think they'll try to climb the netting, as it's too flimsy to take their weight, and there are lots of trees to climb anyway.

But how knackered are we after doing this job! Like any job, you discover complications along the way. For example, we noticed that the wall was unstable in several places, so we had to mix up some cement and re-set a few bricks, and re-point! Heavy, heavy work, but luckily the OH is a dab hand, and I am the willing assistant!

**jckkerrison** · 7th September 2010, 04:03 PM

Lucky cats being able to go into the garden,mine luv it,when I am at home or as soon as I get in from work I let them out to run around & hopefully tire themselves out a bit,the last show we took Welly too the judge commented on the fact that he must be a "Happy Cat" allowed out to enjoy the sunshine because his coat is totally brown instead of black,wondering at the moment if he will ever be black again as it is now nearly four months along.
We have had a couple of escapees but a little modification has worked,does provide entertainment for the neighbours though when you are running round half dressed trying to entice the cat down from the bungalow roof & shouting to the other half that "He is your side now,oh no he's coming back this way", not too good on the heart palpatations though when it happens...

**Antonia** · 7th September 2010, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Howlinbob

But how knackered are we after doing this job! Like any job, you discover complications along the way. For example, we noticed that the wall was unstable in several places, so we had to mix up some cement and re-set a few bricks, and re-point! Heavy, heavy work, but luckily the OH is a dab hand, and I am the willing assistant!

Well, hats off to both of you for your perseverance!

Discovering complications along the way... tell me about it!

When we encountered the first major glitch - that the shed started crumbling when we tried to remove the ivy - we decided to raid the piggy bank for a professional to take care of any further surprises. As luck would have it, a friend-of-a-friend recently set up his own business as a gardener, so we got a rather nice deal. And he did a great and very fast job too!

BTW, our garden is also L-shaped. We are only catproofing one 'leg' of the L - the one we can keep an eye on when we are inside. The other part is at the back of the house and next to a busy-ish road, so that will remain forbidden territory to the Coonies. I might use that plot to try my hand at growing herbs and some fruit & veggies, which has been one of my dreams for years.

**Howlinbob** · 7th September 2010, 07:17 PM

Thanks Antonia! Sounds like you have a bigger garden than us, good luck with the cat-proofing! And with the fruit n veg!

Funny thing is, some of our friends just think we're mad, doing this work. They don't understand why the lads can't just go outside like other cats, and they think we're being over-protective and a bit precious about it. Or they think we are protecting them particularly because they were expensive to buy. But that's not the reason - we love all our cats, moggies included, and they weren't expensive to buy, that's not the point. It's much safer to have them fenced in, in terms of the road, the risk of them wandering into other people's houses, or simply getting 'nicked'. Also, we have agreed with our breeder to restrict them, it is in the kitten contract.

There were some builders working a couple of doors down, and they watched in amazement as Monty ran across the garden and shinned up a tree, and hung there checking out the view. I went to fetch him down, and they shouted across to me 'I thought that were a monkey, love!' (Sheffield accent!) I replied, smiling, 'No, it's a koala bear!' and held Monty up to show them. It was a pleasant exchange but it shows how the MC can attract attention.

**Antonia** · 7th September 2010, 11:07 PM

Actually, our garden is not that large at all. The future cat playground is a patio of about 25 square metres and my future vegetable plot is only about 10 square metres. The garden used to be larger, but previous owners built an extension to the living room. Which is fine with us, because we use the extension as our 'office with garden view'.

I get the same reactions about not letting the cats roam free. Some people even say it's cruel to keep them inside the garden. To which I always answer: "You want to know what's cruel? A cat hit by a car. Or attacked by a vicious dog. Or poisoned by a cat hater. Now that is cruel." Which usually shuts them up.