Cat-proof Balcony/catio?

So a couple months ago, I put up a bunch of netting around my balcony to cat-proof it. I ziptied it to the railing. It looks great, and it's sturdy. But now my apartment complex is going to be painting the building, so I'll have to take it all back down again.

I don't think it's worth putting the netting back up. It's a pain. Is there anything better I can make?

I was thinking of using some of these cubes:


Ideally, I'd set it up as a box that encompasses the entire balcony. I'm not sure if that's doable? I was thinking I could maybe attach it to the balcony's posts somehow.

I'm not sure whether that would stay sturdy when climbed.

Has anyone cat-proofed a balcony before? Is there a way to do it without spending too much money, and without making holes anywhere on the balcony? Strictly speaking, I'm not allowed to attach anything to the balcony.

I love the cubes, I have used them to make crates for kittens I have rescued. Now I am using them to cat proof my bed, so kittens that haven't been tamed yet can't hide underneath. And I made shelf's with them in my closet. Anyway, I think they would work great for you balcony, the only downside is the cost, because you would need a lot of them.

surya said:

I love the cubes, I have used them to make crates for kittens I have rescued. Now I am using them to cat proof my bed, so kittens that haven't been tamed yet can't hide underneath. And I made shelf's with them in my closet. Anyway, I think they would work great for you balcony, the only downside is the cost, because you would need a lot of them.

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Yeah, I just calculated how many squares I'd need to get the job done... 120! Which is about 40 cubes, I think... easily over $100. And that's just for the basic four-sided skeleton. I'd have to have more to make shelves. Hmm.

I'm thinking about trying to make something that can stand on its own, using the leftover netting I have. Like a cage or proper catio, with PVC pipe as a frame. Something I could take apart when I need to, like if management is doing inspections or remodeling. That might be a cheaper option.

That sounds good. I saw some really cool cages made that way here:

The cubes are milk crates (more or less, but cheap and flimsy compared to "milk crates"). You should be able to find used plastic milk crates. Might ask your grocer, or if you can flag down a dairy delivery truck at a grocery store, convenience store, etc.
Probably be cheaper. But, I would actually pay more for the real thing. (sturdier)

Older, Wire milk crates would be AWESOME! But, those be hard to find and probably pricey (eBay be your best bet there).

Another option would be "horse panel". Found at farm, garden implement, hardware stores like Tractor Supply, Atwoods, Co-Op.
It will stand easily with very little securing.
You could actually build your own crates, whatever size you want, out of horse panel.
You'd need a little hand held grinder or some lightweight bolt cutters to cut it though.
And heavy duty zip ties to tie it back together, or hog rings.

Used wire storage cubes for my rabbit cages... you have to ziptie them together otherwise they won't be too sturdy. They're pretty good, but may look tacky as some are pretty thick. They're also not very cheap. You probably won't be able to see very well off your balcony either, but I don't know if that matters to you or not haha.
When I was in my apartment on the third floor, I used netting, like you. I'm in a house now, but Jinx really misses having around the clock access to the outdoors. I also built them a 6 foot by 6 foot "cat box" that was potting soil, planted some grass/catnip/flowers, and they loved it! I don't have a picture of it but it was really easy to make. Didn't end up being cheap though. Just an extra idea if you want to give them an outdoorsy feel on the patio.

Update: The PVC didn't work. It wasn't sturdy enough.

I'm not sure what to do now, as I've spent over $200 on this balcony and haven't found a solution that fits my needs: easy to take down, covers the balcony parameter from top to bottom, see-through, and doesn't require putting holes in the balcony or walls.

Meanwhile, my kitty begs at the door for hours at a time. *sighs*

I think the boxes I posted about above may be the best option. But I'm hesitant to spend that much money on something that may not work.

It will work, here is an example:

How to build your own catio from Cat and Caboodle

Get the big heavy zip ties and zip tie it all together. You could figure out a way to block off part of the door and make a small one, if you don't want to buy enough cubes to do the whole patio. I think you could also incorporate the mesh you already have and use it to make some of the walls, attached to the cubes. There are other things you could use too, like large wire shelves. If you could find some cheap or free on craigslist. I found some by the dumpster. They might look a little tacky, but maybe you could use them where they aren't that visible.

I'm thinking the cubes are too expensive. And my stubborn kitten will likely see a cube structure as more of a cage than a safety net of sorts. Hmm.

As I don't have a place where I can construct anything with tools, I'm seeing if my family members could make a sort of wooden frame for me with hinges, that I can put up around the balcony and take down when needed. But that might be difficult to construct just right.

Did you ever find anything Fiorya? I'm facing the same conundrum now, need something that is secure but easily detachable, on a rounded balcony no less. Would be keen to know what you ended up using! Thanks

katycat1190 - did you search for 'catio' on amazon.com? They might have some that you would like.

katycat1190 said:

Did you ever find anything Fiorya? I'm facing the same conundrum now, need something that is secure but easily detachable, on a rounded balcony no less. Would be keen to know what you ended up using! Thanks

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Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I did! I ended up using screw-in hooks to attach the netting to the sides and top of the balcony. And where possible, zip tie to the railing at the bottom, so the cats can't escape.

I was wary of using hooks, because they create holes. But the apartment management didn't notice. And if you buy a netting that's invisible when more than 3 ft away, it helps it go unnoticed.

Looking for some pics to upload, but can't find any