Electric Fence to keep out cats?

[EddieWalker]

I have an elderly client who is a little wacky about her cats. Her backyard has a fencing system to keep her cats in, but it doesn't work at keeping a couple of stray tom cats out. She has stage 4 cancer and is driving to MD Anderson in Houston, 4 hours each way, for treatment. Between the cancer, her age, and being obsessive about her cats, she isn't able to function properly until her cats are safe from the visiting stay top cats. Shooting them isn't an option.

Her idea is to add more and more fencing to a degree that I'm not comfortable with. I think it's just a waste of time and money to do it her way. I suggested putting a hot wire around the top of her fence, across her house, and her shed. This way the leaves should still blow off of her roof, and it won't look like a concentration camp. She is open to the idea, but is afraid of hurting the cats. Did I mention that she's a little bit crazy?

I have a 2 Joule charger at my place to keep out coyotes and racoons. It works great, but it's overkill for her needs. Money is always a factor, and I don't want to buy more charger then I need. Does anybody know how much power I should be looking at to keep cats out? I'll run a solid metal wire on insulators, probably put in two ground rods. The yard is about 100 feet by 80 feet, so I'm looking at a total run of less then 400 feet. Just one lap around the top of the fence, house and shed.

Or should I try something different?

 

[oldnslo]

Will one strand keep them out or will the Toms figure out they can jump over the wire or if not grounded well on a roof walk right through it. Might require a little strategic placement so they have limited to no jump options vs climbing over the fence and will be grounded.

Best wishes on being a successful endeavor.

 

[K5lwq]

I am afraid a Tom cat will figure a way in regardless what you do. The best option probably is try to trap and relocate them. Maybe talk to animal control about it and get some advice.

 

[bcp]

Maybe consider a rotating top rail system. Here's one.

Bruce

 

[2manyrocks]

Bring her cats inside.

Temporarily put up chain link enclosure (dog pen).

Build a custom cat house outdoors.

One risk of the electric fence would be if one of her cats gets outside of it and then can't get back in.

They make a lower power fence charger for dogs, but I'm not so sure it's a good idea for cats.

 

[bigtiller]

How about trying a live trap and relocating the toms.

Does your town have a fix & release feral cat program?

 

[2manyrocks]

Several health risks are involved with her cats coming into contact with stray cats such as FIV. Cats are also susceptible to respiratory illnesses that can easily be transmitted through all of her cats pretty quickly if exposed to another cat that has it. Tick bites can also spread bobcat fever that is pretty much a miserable death in the majority of cases. So....my recommendation is to bring them indoors.

 

[bcp]

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Bruce

 

[ponytug]

I would feed the tomcats, trap the tomcats, and remove them to a shelter, a trap and release group, or offer them as barn cats. I'm not wild about free roaming intact cats.

I would be concerned about unsupervised electric fencing in any area where children might come into contact with the fence wire. The electric jolts can cause injury to young kids. I would also check the local laws.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

The only way you're going to keep the toms out is to trap them or kill them.

Sorry to be blunt, but there it is.

Set some traps outside of her yard and take the toms wherever your conscience dictates.

Anything else is a complete waste of time and money.