Converting Balcony for an area for Buddy.

mrod1

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I live in a small 2 bed apartment. I keep Buddy indoors, but he loves to be outside on the balcony to sleep or hang out. I don't let him unless I am with him. It is a pretty big balcony, about 6 feet by 4-5 feet. I would like to make it safe for him so he can hang out there safely. I have no issue's regarding our landlords, they're good friends, and they don't care what we do as long as we don't completly destroy the place
. My husband would also prefer to put his litter out there, since our bathrooms don't have windows, and he can sure stink up the place
, so I would prefer to make it waterproof if possible. The balcony has a wooden roof, and the rail is a combination of concrete and metal.

Does any one have any ideas on how I should go about it. Has anyone done this or have pics. Any suggestions would be great. Thanx in advance.


oops, I might have put this in the wrong forum, sorry!
 

hissy

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I would seriously look into this website www.wildwhiskers.com I have two of their products right now here at the house, and I am quite impressed. I would suggest that if you do buy this enclosure, you rope it down somehow just so it won't move. You won't be able to use the tent pegs that come with it on a balcony.
 

kwonghow

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Well I would say it a good idea to convert the balcony for that purpose... But one more thing you have to becare... that if there are lots of birds... around your apartment area you cat might turn him/herself into super man and jump out from the balcony.... so you might wanna fence up the area to higher and also all the put CHICKEN MESH to the grill...
 

carolpetunia

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I've been thinking about enclosing my balcony with what I believe is called "carpenter's cloth" -- a metal grid in roughly half-inch squares, prettier and sturdier than chickenwire. I would staple it to the inside of the wooden roof and wire it to the inside bottom of the railing, running all the way down to the concrete floor (some 1x4s might be needed to stabilize the bottom edge).

The reason I haven't done it yet is that I wonder whether letting my cats out on the balcony might expose them to the same hazards as outdoor kitties. There are no trees within 20 feet of the balcony, no adjoining balconies... nothing below the balcony but parking lot... but birds could still perch on the edge of the balcony, squirrels might visit... there are lots of tiny lizards out there...

I'd love to let my kitties have the fun of being "outdoors," but if there's any chance they could catch something, I don't want to take the risk. Am I being overcautious?
 

jcat

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Originally Posted by CarolPetunia

I've been thinking about enclosing my balcony with what I believe is called "carpenter's cloth" -- a metal grid in roughly half-inch squares, prettier and sturdier than chickenwire. I would staple it to the inside of the wooden roof and wire it to the inside bottom of the railing, running all the way down to the concrete floor (some 1x4s might be needed to stabilize the bottom edge).

The reason I haven't done it yet is that I wonder whether letting my cats out on the balcony might expose them to the same hazards as outdoor kitties. There are no trees within 20 feet of the balcony, no adjoining balconies... nothing below the balcony but parking lot... but birds could still perch on the edge of the balcony, squirrels might visit... there are lots of tiny lizards out there...

I'd love to let my kitties have the fun of being "outdoors," but if there's any chance they could catch something, I don't want to take the risk. Am I being overcautious?
You won't have to worry about cars, sadistic people, and probably about other cats. Our balcony is pretty high up (second floor), but open at the top, so the only visitors we've gotten have been birds, bats, and wasps/bees. Jamie has managed to catch two bats this year, but I wasn't overly worried because he's up to date on his rabies shots. If the grid you want to use extends down from the roof, I doubt that there's much chance of exposure to anything risky, other than bee or wasp stings.
 
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