Safety of balcony in new home

cmeinck

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My wife and I are in the process of buying a new home. We found one home that we like and it has a balcony overlooking the great room. I'd say it's probably 20-25 feet ceilings. My first thought was my cats trying to balance on the railing and was concerned if they were to lose their balance it's a steep drop from the balcony to the great room.

Should I have more faith in my cats ability to sense the risk in playing on the railing?
Is this a potential hazard for my cats? We haven't settled on the house, but this was a major concern. If this was an issue, I suppose we could have them close off the balcony.

Our cats rank #1 in our house and any new home would have to pass their approval. This one has plenty of windows, so I think they'd approve overall.
 

menasmom

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Ihave the same concerns with a house we bought in NC as an investment, but plan to retire there in about 4 years. Our has a half wall upstairs and when you look over it, you see the living room down below. I told my husband I was afraid the cats might do the same as you said, so I'm thinking of maybe putting a railing between the half wall and that ceiling (even though it's a high ceilng) just to deter them.... ???
 

carolpetunia

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In my last apartment, I had a long halfwall alongside the upper half of a carpeted interior stairway, and a short one overlooking the foyer below -- which was a very long drop onto a ceramic tile floor!


At the time, I felt the carpet was soft enough that the long halfwall would be okay... but I absolutely had to do something about the foyer.

So I bought two "triptych" garden ornaments, sort of archtopped fences of heavy wire in three hinged pieces. I used those plastic locking ties they make for electrical cords to "hinge" the two little fences together in the middle, to make the piece wide enough. Since it was an apartment, I installed 1x8s painted white to use as a foundation, rather than put so many holes into the landlord's materials.

I used little U-shaped plastic pieces with screwholes (designed for installing wire shelves in closets) to attach it, reinforced it carefully, and draped it with silk ivy. It looked reasonably nice, once I got the ivy to hang naturally -- but obviously, the shot below was taken before I managed that!


Both Pearl and Clyde did go over the longer halfwall (where I had not put up a barrier) and fall down onto the stairs, by the way -- at least once each that I know of. They weren't really hurt, but they were both so shocked, and of course, I was panic-stricken trying to get down there to them... and they could so easily have been hurt much worse.

So I realize now that the stairway part of it was NOT safe after all, and today, I wouldn't take that risk. If you take the house with the balcony, I'd definitely install something the cats can't possibly climb over or wiggle through or knock down.

Bless your heart for putting your kitties first!
 

sillyjilly

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I would be worried myself and I really like the ideas Carol had in order to keep her kittys safe. I hope that you find something to keep your cats safe as well if you choose that house!
to you for keeping the safety of your cats in mind when house hunting!
 

nimbus

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My home has a balcony, surrounded by a thin, metal railing, with a 25 foot drop to the second floor. The cats can easily fit through the railing. My first cat, Muffin, never fell off it, even after she went blind (though, we did put a blanket over the railing after she lost her sight). Our second cat, Jerry, never fell either. I was nervous about little Nimbus falling...and he did come close to losing his footing once or twice (giving me several heart attacks!!!). However, he learned quickly and there hasn't been a problem. So, speaking from personal experience, I think cats generally understand the dangers of high drops.

I'd show your cats what is over the railing as soon as you bring them into the new house. When I brought Nimbus home, I held him tightly and showed him the 25 ft drop over the railing, then I walked him downstairs to let him understand how far a drop it was. I don't know, but I think it helped ease his curiosity.

Watch them for the first couple of days. If you see them start to be curious around the railing, I'd let them explore, but grab them if they get too bold. Let them know that the railing is not a play area.

You could also spray the railing with bitter apple spray or anything else that cats dislike, so they'll stay away from it.

I hope everything works out!

-Kristen
 

pami

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We bought 2 solid iron room dividers and had it soldered together and pieces soldered to it to screw into the wood. that we stained and had screwed into the wood floors.

I know at least one of my cats would have tried to do a balancing act on the rails .......and this solved the problem for us.

 

bonnie1965

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I don't have any helpful advice really. Just wanted to say there is something called "high rise syndrome". Many cats do not recogize the danger of high places and fall great distances - rarely landing on their feet


Perhaps you could do something nice with stained glass or something like that as a divider?

Good luck
 

danad

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Originally Posted by Pami

We bought 2 solid iron room dividers and had it soldered together and pieces soldered to it to screw into the wood. that we stained and had screwed into the wood floors.

I know at least one of my cats would have tried to do a balancing act on the rails .......and this solved the problem for us.
What a great solution & it looks beautiful too !
 
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