Protect your cat from falls from balconies and terraces

Protection of balconies and terraces

Is your favorite animal one of the adventurerswho likes to see if the grass is greener elsewhere?

If you live in a city and have a balcony or terrace, you have probably noticed your cat's interest in outdoor activity and his desire to explore this area which is inevitably interesting for him.

Our first instinct is to say, "no you can't go on the terrace, it's too dangerous", like a child. And since he can't answer, he'll have to settle for a unilateral decision. We have all heard of frequent falls from cats wandering on the balcony or on a ledge. Their desire to explore the surroundings is part of their deep nature, so it is only natural to want to set up balcony protection. The first moments will be important to follow during its evolution on this new territory. We must therefore delimit it so as not to give him the possibility of feeling free to go wherever he wants.

Exploring the places:

Studies in this area show signs of very different characters and very distinct explored territories from one cat to another. Some will by nature want to try the experience, others will remain very well behaved despite our stereotypical thinking: a cat jumps, it jumps high and everywhere, it is fast and sometimes stupid.

He would obviously like to wander from balcony to balcony at his convenience without being worried, but for your part, you only fear one thing, that he slips and does not come back, because that is probably what risks arrive or with serious bodily damage.

Our prejudices:

Despite what one might think, we must teach them well-established rules of conduct and outing routines, there is a good chance that they will stick to them over time.

While you will enjoy this space during the sunny days, your cat would also like to lounge around or simply enjoy a good change of air. From experience, and as he goes out, you will see his character soften, become calmer, it is also good therapy to help him spend less long and boring days.  

We must therefore remove some constraints and adapt our balconies and terraces so that they can also enjoy this pleasant place when the sunny days arrive. You must therefore prepare your environment and avoid what we all fear.

Here are some often-highlighted practices that can help your cat avoid acrobatics and put him in danger.

What are the balcony protection solutions? 

 Install a plexiglass barrier up to the height of your guardrail. 

• Advantage: it does not pass through the bars, you let outside light through and you allow your cat to look outside.
• Disadvantage: You give him the possibility of being able to climb the railing more easily by giving him support.

 Advice: If you choose this solution, consider complementing it with the Catsafe solution to discourage him from climbing on the railing.

Install a Canisse barrier with an overhang from your guardrail. 

• Advantage: None, other than preventing your neighbors from seeing into your home.
• Disadvantage: You prevent your cat from seeing outside activity. By preventing him from seeing outside, you will force his curiosity and make him want to climb on the cane. Except that if it goes beyond your guardrail, the arrival risks being more than chaotic and a balance more than precarious. Another disadvantage is that you will alienate the co-owners who hate this type of unflattering design for the enhancement of your building.

Recommendation : Avoid and possibly prefer the first solution.

Use flower boxes as a prevention system:

• Advantage: It's simply prettier and if you have a green thumb you will have a beautiful final visual.
• Disadvantage: You will not necessarily prevent your cat from climbing onto your flower box and accessing the railing if curiosity takes over. This system should be linear over the entire length of your guardrail to avoid spaces between each planter and therefore a direct jump onto the guardrail.

In addition: Add the solution Catsafe to prevent it from climbing onto the railing from the flower pot or direct access. It will be content to stay on this promontory to watch the surrounding landscape.

See attached example: 

Use the nets as a partial or complete protection system:

• Advantage: It’s simply very safe and effective. Your cat will be able to have fun with the net, climb on it and enjoy the outdoor space without risk.
• Disadvantage: it is better to provide a return on the upper part to prevent it from climbing to the top or to completely close your balcony. There is a good chance that the co-ownership is not quite in line with this Design so generally you will have to override it. And in addition, it's not super nice to live with on a daily basis either. The other aspect concerns the installation which is not always easy and the cost of service which is generally tailor-made because each balcony is different.

Notice : none in particular except to think twice.

Why have some people taken the plunge to adopt our solution?

It is difficult to answer this question when everything leads us to think that our cats are capable of doing extraordinary things.

 And it's totally true since just look at TikTok and you will see some pretty crazy and funny exploits and behaviors at the same time.

And despite this we have hundreds of customers who have chosen to try, a bit like playing poker to see. And who were quite simply surprised by the merits of this Catsafe solution which simply stopped the somewhat suicidal behavior of our cats.

We therefore have the choice of trying the experiment at a lower cost or doing nothing. 

This solution is not 100% guaranteed of course, but feedback shows that nearly 95% of installations have had a beneficial effect on animal behavior, strange as it may seem.