Hi guys,
I live in a 1st floor appartment that has no windows, just glass doors with juliet balconies, and I'm seriously struggling to figure out a way to cat-proof it.
This is what it looks like;
Gap beneath the glass barrier and also a gap between the railing at the brick wall on the left side
Usually it's not a problem and I can just open it a crack with a heavy doorstop, and I've also put a large flower planter and pots on the narrow balcony bit of one to block the gap under the glass barrier but as the weather is getting warmer I want to be able to have them fully open occassionally.
I am also bringing home a new kitten soon and so she will be able to squeeze through tiny gaps.
I didn't think my cat would be able to fit through 1) The gap underneath the glass barrier or 2) the gap at the side between the black railing and the brick wall.
But the other week I accidentally left the bedroom balcony door open too much overnight, or the wind blew it open more, and woke up to no cat
Fortunately I found him hidden in the deep bushes in the garden below, uninjured and just scared, but it completely woke me up to the fact that he could escape.
* I have looked at cat meshes but I don't see how this is going to be possible given the design of the balcony including the difficulty in fixing it up high as I can't step onto an actual balcony. Plus I want to be able to lean out to shake out mats, duster etc.
* I have also looked at door screens but again, a sliding one is not possible and nor is an external one really as I wouldn't be able to close it from the inside.
As the door opens inwards I couldn't put a barrier up from the inside either. I'm at a loss.
The nearest thing to a solution I have come up with so far is;
Buy a wide pressure-mounted baby gate like this;
And mount it just outside the door, in front of the glass panel, so the 4 pressure cups push against the brick wall either side.
Now obviously a kitten and possibley even a cat would be able to fit through the gaps. So the next step would be to cat-proof the baby gate.
I thought maybe I could wrap cat netting / mesh around it or attach the mesh with cable ties so that the cats cant fit through the gaps. But could they climb up the mesh and go over the top of the gate ?
If so, perhaps some clear sheets of vinyl, a flexible plastic that could be attached ?
But even so, is it likely to be enough ? Could they just jump straight over the top ? My cat has shown no attempts whatsoever to jump onto/over the top but whos to say he never will, or the new kitten won't when shes bigger ?
If anyone out there has a similar juliet balcony to mine and has found a way to cat proof it or if anyone has more of a 'DIY mind' than me, please please share your thoughts.
Thank you!!
- Bailey
I live in a 1st floor appartment that has no windows, just glass doors with juliet balconies, and I'm seriously struggling to figure out a way to cat-proof it.
This is what it looks like;
Gap beneath the glass barrier and also a gap between the railing at the brick wall on the left side
Usually it's not a problem and I can just open it a crack with a heavy doorstop, and I've also put a large flower planter and pots on the narrow balcony bit of one to block the gap under the glass barrier but as the weather is getting warmer I want to be able to have them fully open occassionally.
I am also bringing home a new kitten soon and so she will be able to squeeze through tiny gaps.
I didn't think my cat would be able to fit through 1) The gap underneath the glass barrier or 2) the gap at the side between the black railing and the brick wall.
But the other week I accidentally left the bedroom balcony door open too much overnight, or the wind blew it open more, and woke up to no cat
Fortunately I found him hidden in the deep bushes in the garden below, uninjured and just scared, but it completely woke me up to the fact that he could escape.
* I have looked at cat meshes but I don't see how this is going to be possible given the design of the balcony including the difficulty in fixing it up high as I can't step onto an actual balcony. Plus I want to be able to lean out to shake out mats, duster etc.
* I have also looked at door screens but again, a sliding one is not possible and nor is an external one really as I wouldn't be able to close it from the inside.
As the door opens inwards I couldn't put a barrier up from the inside either. I'm at a loss.
The nearest thing to a solution I have come up with so far is;
Buy a wide pressure-mounted baby gate like this;
And mount it just outside the door, in front of the glass panel, so the 4 pressure cups push against the brick wall either side.
Now obviously a kitten and possibley even a cat would be able to fit through the gaps. So the next step would be to cat-proof the baby gate.
I thought maybe I could wrap cat netting / mesh around it or attach the mesh with cable ties so that the cats cant fit through the gaps. But could they climb up the mesh and go over the top of the gate ?
If so, perhaps some clear sheets of vinyl, a flexible plastic that could be attached ?
But even so, is it likely to be enough ? Could they just jump straight over the top ? My cat has shown no attempts whatsoever to jump onto/over the top but whos to say he never will, or the new kitten won't when shes bigger ?
If anyone out there has a similar juliet balcony to mine and has found a way to cat proof it or if anyone has more of a 'DIY mind' than me, please please share your thoughts.
Thank you!!
- Bailey
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