Cats constantly slipping outside...

Rocky is overweight by a pound or two. He's 14 pounds and should be about 11-12 pounds. The problem with him being overweight started when we started keeping them inside a year ago. They were born outside and kept outside up until we got them (at seven weeks old, they are now almost three). We still let them outside at our old house because we had nearly three acres and were in a pretty rural area. But we moved a couple years ago. We now live in a suburban neighborhood with 95% of the people owning one or more dogs. We have venomous snakes near our creek and there are just too many other dangers. So a year ago we started keeping them inside. And it's been living hell. Meowing all the time at the doors. Pestering us to be let outside. They slip out ALL THE TIME. Rocky always wants to eat. He'll try and bully the other two away to eat their food too.

We could fence in the yard with a cat containment system, but we don't have the funds to do that right now. And even if we did, they wouldn't have a very big area because of how our yard is (hilly, oddly shaped with a creek on part of it).
I don't know what the law is on fences here. Both our neighbors behind us have fences. One is six feet tall, but the other is only three or so feet tall, so they could easily get over that.

Ideas please? I'm stuck.

iirc most zoning laws want fences 6ft or under, to go over you would need to obtain a special permit. In some places they want you to get approval before building certain types of fences if there is not already an existing one there - usually this is for solid types of fencing or walls.
I believe the latter is mostly to prevent issues between neighbors.

Depending on what you have to start with and what you choose to use, it can be fairly cheap to cat proof a fence. If you don't already have an existing one, then it becomes more work.
Your other option for this is an enclosure off of a window or enclosing a back porch or deck.


But in the meantime you have to just work on discouraging them from getting out. Loudly say "PSSSST NO!" when they're right at the door trying to push past you. And never leave a door open, close it behind you as quickly as you can. If you have to bring in groceries or something, put the cats in a bedroom.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

iirc most zoning laws want fences 6ft or under, to go over you would need to obtain a special permit. In some places they want you to get approval before building certain types of fences if there is not already an existing one there - usually this is for solid types of fencing or walls.
I believe the latter is mostly to prevent issues between neighbors.

Depending on what you have to start with and what you choose to use, it can be fairly cheap to cat proof a fence. If you don't already have an existing one, then it becomes more work.
Your other option for this is an enclosure off of a window or enclosing a back porch or deck.


But in the meantime you have to just work on discouraging them from getting out. Loudly say "PSSSST NO!" when they're right at the door trying to push past you. And never leave a door open, close it behind you as quickly as you can. If you have to bring in groceries or something, put the cats in a bedroom.

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Many of our neighbors have fences 6 feet high. I don't think that would be a problem. Though when possible to build a fence we are going to check the local laws.

An enclosure wouldn't work. I already know that.

Since we don't have an existing fence, it would cost quite a bit to do it.

It's not as easy as not leaving a door behind you and closing it as a quickly as possible. We have ten people in our house as well as friends coming in and out of the house all day long. They're pretty good at slipping out. And we can't imprison them in a bedroom all the time.

Trying to scare them doesn't work, either.

I'm at my wits end. I want to let them go outside, but I can't and they don't understand why they can't.

There's a mod here that made a small enclosure out of PVC, netting, and zip ties. So anything can be done on a budget if you're creative enough.

I got a cheap wire "dog exercise pen", zip tied some wire over the top & viola - I had a kitty enclosure. If you can even get a child's playpen (the plastic type) for cheap you can make your own, too. Check local Craigslist or other local places to sell things cheap/give things away.