Keeping cat in courtyard of rental

matai88

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Hi all, I'm not sure where to post this so I'll just plonk it here...

I'd love to be able to let my little guy outside without too much supervision/worry that he'll run off but we have a couple of problems.

1. We rent so can't make any permanent changes to any structures inside or outside.
2. The only access to our courtyard is a sliding door, this means that we can't really have an enclosure unless it still allows us to access the courtyard through it.
3. The courtyard is concrete and there is nowhere to fix anything to (i.e pegged down).
4. We can't afford expensive fence fixings that stop cats jumping over.
5. We have windows but they all have fly screen covers and open outwards, an enclosure would need to cover the whole window somehow (over 6ft high) and so far I can't find anything remotely affordable that size!

The courtyard has 6ft high wooden fencing and wraps around the entire back part of the property. We use it a lot and love have BBQs and sitting in the sun out there. I also like to keep the sliding door open when I'm home on nice days to let lots of air into the house.

I let Pebble out with me when I'm outside but as soon as he jumps up on the fence I pull him down. He's still very young (5 months) and I don't want the neighbours dogs getting at him (we have dogs on all sides).

Any ideas on ways I could ensure he stays in our courtyard, or ways he could get time outside without the need for constant supervision? It needs to be non-permanent, rental friendly and low cost.

Thanks!
 

SeventhHeaven

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That's a puzzle, wooden fence all around but dogs on either side. Can you harness tether  in middle

of yard therefore not able to reach fence at all?  A few cement bricks will work fine. 
*if you don't know neighbors or dogs

go ahead meet them see how cat friendly they are to ease your mind just in case.  If a tiny tare ever exists

in a screen it won't take long for a cat to rip it wide open.
 
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matai88

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A tether might be the only option, however it doesn't exactly allow Pebble to go in and out as he pleases. I've tried him on a harness once, he hates getting into it but once he's outside and distracted he seems OK.

Are there any risks with using harnesses on cats unsupervised? I'm a little paranoid, I don't even put a collar on him as I'm worried he'll get it caught in something! 

As for meeting the neighbors and their dog:, neighbour 1 has 2 yappy little fluffy white things that bark at anything that moves, wouldn't trust them; neighbour 2 has an old dog that's tied up most of the time and shouldn't be an issue; and neighbour 3 had an understimulated beagle that also barks at everything that moves, and that doesn't move, and that makes noise - I've seen her almost clear the 6ft high fencing, she growls and tries to dig her way out when people walk by and she barks all. the. time. I wouldn't trust that dog with anything and I wouldn't trust Pebble to get away from her in time (she's quick, he's a bit clumsy). I feel very sorry for her being left alone so much.
 
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talkingpeanut

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A tether might be the only option, however it doesn't exactly allow Pebble to go in and out as he pleases but I guess it's better than worrying about him. I've tried him on a harness once, he hates getting into it but once he's outside and distracted he seems OK.

Are there any risks with using harnesses on cats unsupervised? I'm a little paranoid, I don't even put a collar on him as I'm worried he'll get it caught in something! 

As for meeting the neighbors and their dog:, neighbour 1 has 2 yappy little fluffy white things that bark at anything that moves, wouldn't trust them; neighbour 2 has an old dog that's tied up most of the time and shouldn't be an issue; and neighbour 3 had an understimulated beagle that also barks at everything that moves, and that doesn't move, and that makes noise - I've seen her almost clear the 6ft high fencing, she growls and tries to dig her way out when people walk by and she barks all. the. time. I wouldn't trust that dog with anything and I wouldn't trust Pebble to get away from her in time (she's quick, he's a bit clumsy). I feel very sorry for her being left alone so much.
Yes, it's extremely dangerous!  They can't avoid any predator or danger, and can also get tangled and strangle.  It's not a good idea.
 
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matai88

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True about the strangulation, I could see disaster happening if he tried to go after a bird and got tangled up. I don't think predators are a concern in my area (Melbourne), unless you count an angry magpie as a predator!
 

talkingpeanut

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True about the strangulation, I could see disaster happening if he tried to go after a bird and got tangled up. I don't think predators are a concern in my area (Melbourne), unless you count an angry magpie as a predator!
A dog getting over tfe fence would be a predator in this case, I think.
 

Norachan

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Maybe something like this would work? I've wrapped this kind of plastic around the trees near my enclosure fence to stop the cats climbing out. It's easy to attach with a hammer and nail or an impact driver, if you have one.

 
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matai88

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That's a good idea but I don't think are allowed to fix anything to the fence or other parts of the property with anything but stick on hooks etc., and there's possible height restrictions on fences (e.g. attachments to the top) with the council.
 
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