How to make your balcony safe for your cat
Most cats appreciate it very much if they can go outdoors on discovery tours. Unfortunately, this is not always possible for various reasons. In this case maybe you at least have a balcony that you can provide to your cat.
In the following we explain to you what you have to pay attention to when designing the balcony in order to ensure the best possible safety for your four-legged friend.
Don't forget a cat net in the balcony design
It is often said that cats have seven lives. The reality is of course different. Although cats are very skillful and land unerringly on their feet when jumping or falling, they can definitely get injured if they fall from the balcony. Depending on which floor in a block of flats you live on, the fall can even be fatal for your four-legged friend in the worst case.
Apart from that, even with ground floor apartments, it is only a matter of time before your curious cat will leave the balcony and go on a discovery tour.
It is therefore essential that you secure your balcony with a suitable net or grate. For this purpose, you can either buy a ready-made cat net or build an appropriate construction yourself. Since cats like to squeeze through narrow crevices, the meshes should be no more than five centimetres (two inches) wide.
Be careful when choosing your balcony plants
Plants are an integral feature of most balconies. As a cat owner, however, you should only choose plants that are not poisonous, since cats often cannot resist plants and are very likely to nibble on them.
It is therefore essential that you secure your balcony with a suitable net or grate. For this purpose, you can either buy a ready-made cat net or build an appropriate construction yourself. Since cats like to squeeze through narrow crevices, the meshes should be no more than five centimetres (two inches) wide.
Let your cat enjoy the view
If your cat is allowed to spend time on the balcony, it will of course also want to enjoy the view. For this purpose, you should provide your four-legged friend with at least one vantage point. A weather-resistant scratching post or a self-constructed platform are perfect for this purpose.
They also lower the temptation of the cat to climb the net.
Your cat needs a comfortable resting place
Of course, your cat also wants to be as comfortable as possible on the balcony. A
suitable sleeping place should therefore not be missing. Be it a cosy cave or a basket with a pillow - your cat will thank you if you ensure sufficient comfort in addition to safety.
A suitable floor covering increases comfort
If you want your cat to feel particularly comfortable on the balcony, you should think about whether you want to cover at least part of the floor with cork tiles or a wooden floor. This is usually much more comfortable for cats than a floor made of concrete or tiles.
Can the cat enter the balcony by itself?
If you want your cat can decide on its own when it wants to be on your balcony, you can install a cat flap. This way you don't have to leave the balcony door open all the time, which can quickly become a problem, especially in the cold season, or open the door every time your cat wants to get in or out.
Since the balcony door is very likely made of glass, you will need a glazier to install the cat flap, which of course involves additional costs.
What tenants should consider when designing a balcony
If you are renting and you want to screw the safety net or a viewing platform firmly into the masonry, we recommend that you discuss this with your landlord or housing association first.
Even if you are sure that they will not mind, that way you will avoid unnecessary arguments, because of which you might have to undo the adaptations of the balcony you have made for your cat. Of course, this also applies to the installation of a cat flap in the balcony door, which inevitably leads to a permanent hole in the glass pane.
Cat-safe balcony - our conclusion
As you can see, a balcony can be made cat-safe with a manageable amount of work. If your four-legged friend is purely an indoor cat, you can be sure that it will be enthusiastic about its little outdoor space and that it will use the balcony regularly.
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