[Raggedy Ann]

Hi I have just brought my first cat which is a ragdoll and I would like to do an enclosure for her.
I would like to close of one of my patios on the laundry side of my house. I was planing on enclosing from the patio to the top of the fence and sides. I would like advise on whether you think shade cloth or netting is best. I am in Geraldton which can be very windy. Any advise would be great

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[sealhope]

Netting would be stronger - although shade cloth would work in the short term. I can just see a cat shredding shade cloth where they'll take longer with netting. Also netting allows the cat to see out.

[kym_and_james]

I would go the netting as well. I am in Rockingham and I know what the wind can be like on the west coast. The shadecloth will probably wear a lot quicker as the wind will 'catch' it and likely rip it. Netting allows the cat to see through and the wind passes straight through it.

Try www.catnets.com.au. Very cheap and I just installed my own enclosure using it. I have a thread in the enclosure section with pics...

This post has been edited by kym_and_james: 27 December 2008 - 12:39 PM

[gazey]

What about shadecloth on the top and netting on the sides? They do like to see out and the shadecloth on top would give them some protection from the sun and weather.

gazey

[fluffybundles]

We used shadecloth on the roof of our enclosed patio and Molly eventually found a way to get around it and got out numerous times. Thankfully she didn't show her girls how to do it.

We replaced the roof with laserlight and now it is waterproof which they love as now nothing stops them from going outside.

[Mango's mum]

Hi

I just enclosed my whole backyard with netting - it was expensive because I had a company do it for me, but since then I discovered this information free from a Victorian government website;

http://www.pets.info...tenclosures.pdf

I would use stretched netting as it is safe for the cats and you hardly notice it - doesn't block your views or upset the neighbours. By the way if you roof the enclosure, make sure to put a zip in to the roof so you can get rid of leaves if you need to.

regards Gillian

[bluesnip2000]

Wow that's quite a nice publication

[bethers]

we have used chicken wire and we are gonna put some shadecloth under the chicken wire.... it can be removed to get rid of leaves etc taht way.

[Britzobeauty]

I know of a place that sells netting very cheaply by the metre and it is 14.2metres wide. As far as I know it is still $28/mtr. Pm me if you would like the site. They can deliver too.

Jules

[Analog6]

Someone wrote on here that cats can get their claws caught in shadecloth and tear out a claw. Just something to consider. I would go for netting. I used chicken wire for mine as it is a permanent free standing structure (se my thread in this area of the forum).

[Heather Sharada]

I would have a bit of both...but never shade cloth as the exclusive barrier to the outside - however it can work well on mesh that is widely spaced. The wire does the support and shadecloth does what it is designed to do - cut wind and sun.

[Raggedy Ann]

My Olivia will be one spoilt cat, as I have a colour bond patio down that side of the house measuring 17.6m long and from house to fence 6m wide, so I am only going to enclose from the roof of the patio to the top of the fence.
That is the laundry side and I already have a cat door in my security screen so she can go in and out as she pleases. I know it will be a very big area for her, but I have an half acre and have large patios going all the way around the three sides of the house, so I thought bugger it I wont miss the space. I am also planning on putting a few plants down the side of between the patio and fence so she has places to hide.

[fleabag]

Heaven for cats

Well you may want to use some of these ideas ...grin ..paradise I reckon .

[Raggedy Ann]

Yay I have sheeted half the patio today and Dad finished the welding of the last frame so I should have the patio finished next friday as dad only helps me one morning a week (he trys to tell me hes retired). I am lucky as on my own with three kids and dad is great help around the house. The boys were happy and said yay next friday patio finished then I notified them of having to enclose it for olivia. I went to a cat heaven cattery in Ego creek and she has enlcosed it with cyclone fence and the heavy duty avery wire. She told me that the chicken wire the cats can chew through... So still in two minds how to enclose it. I will put old carpet down for a good portion as wont be able to concrete under the patio for a long time. Oh well rome wasn't built in a day....lol.... I will put photos through when finish patio then you can see some progress...

[blackcat1]

There's shadecloth and there's shadecloth... buy the good stuff and they are extremely unlikely to be able to break through it. Buy cheap stuff and it'll be ripped in minutes.
Big difference in price too though.