Make your balcony safe for your cat
01.07.2024 - Reading time: 3 minutes
Daniel Lozano Gonzalez/Moment via Getty Images
From some cat's point of view, being outdoors is an most exciting way to spend the day. However, for various reasons, not all cats can be given this freedom. In city centre apartments with lots of traffic around, they are safer when kept indoors. However, letting a cat have access to a balcony is an excellent compromise – giving them the opportunity to enjoy themselves safely and securely in the fresh air. The keyword here is “secure”: Make your balcony cat proof.
What advantages does a balcony have for cats?
An indoor cat is by no means at a disadvantage. Assuming they are not familiar with open spaces and the owner provides suitable equipment, food, entertainment and healthcare, an indoor cat can enjoy a fulfilling, relaxed life at home.
A balcony can be a nice area for indoor cats to use and enjoy the outdoors safely:
- Noises: Sounds such as bird song and children playing are exciting auditory stimulation for your pet.
- Weather: Wind, warm sunshine, snow – the ever-changing weather provides excitement in a cat’s life.
- Smells: With our limited sense of smell, it’s difficult for us as humans to comprehend the range of scents and odours our cats can detect in the open air.
- Watching objects such as birds, leaves, passers-by, cars from the balcony can be entertaining for your cat. If the balcony has a good view, the cat is also stimulated intellectually.
- Hunting: A fly whizzes by or a leaf is blown on the wind to catch your cats’ attention. Unpredictable movements of an object outdoors are more exciting than any soft toy.
But one thing should never be forgotten: Safety is the top priority. That is why cat proofing your balcony is a must for any household.
Why do I need to cat proof my balcony?
Cat proofing a balcony fences off the area to provide safety and security for your pet. This helps to prevent sudden escapes or falls. Even if cats have amazing physical agility – sure-footed, agile, excellent jumper – climbing up to the next floor or roof are dangerous adventures. However, the most important role cat proofing plays is preventing accidents. These can happen when, for example, your cat is startled and escapes to the balcony or leaps into the air while trying to catch a bird or butterfly. Other weak points include the balcony railings, particularly if they are spaced far enough apart for your cat to squeeze through. And there is a risk of injury from the door to the balcony.
Accessories and cat proofing the balcony: What do I need to consider?
How you cat proof your balcony depends on the rules of your property management company or residents’ association. Sometimes, building regulations limit what you can do. For example, hooks cannot be attached to the exterior wall or the external view of the block must not be changed.
Once you have permission, there are different ways to cat proof your balcony:
- Cat netting: Netting is available in various sizes. Double-check the size of the gaps: 3 to 4 cm is best for agile, slim cats; for larger cats or older pets, 5 cm is fine. The netting must be installed so it completely encloses the balcony or terrace. It is usually installed using hooks and tensioning rope.
- Visual protection: If your balcony has railings with large gaps, you can weave a bamboo mat in between to act as a barrier.
- Securing balcony doors: Access to a balcony is often through single or double doors, or perhaps a sliding door. Secure your doors with locks or block half-open access, so your cat does not try to escape. Doors or windows left ajar are extremely dangerous – never leave a pet unattended when airing a room.
- Cat flaps: Cat flaps can even be installed in glass doors – usually with the help of a glazier. For a “balcony cat”, a simple 2-way flap is fine. Your feline friend can then come and go onto the balcony without you having to open the door every time.
But you need to do more than ensuring your balcony is structurally cat proof. You should think about how safe your balcony is: Do not store plastic bags, rubbish bins, cleaning products, fertilizers or fragile items on the balcony.
Cats on balconies: The perfect outdoor space
Be inspired when creating a beautiful balcony retreat for your cat:
- A viewing platform: A raised viewpoint on the balcony is very important: An outdoor scratching post or an interesting tree trunk make ideal platforms. Make sure it is firmly secured and placed away from railings!
- Planting: Ensure that any plants on the balcony are non-toxic for cats. Ideal choices include young climbers (e.g. nasturtium or hops) which will use the cat netting as support as they grow or hardy plants such as bamboo or fruit trees that will survive the winter. You can also grow herbs, feline-friendly flowers and even catnip in balcony boxes. Using pesticides and artificial fertilizers anywhere on the cat balcony is strictly taboo.
- Cat garden: Your cat will love their small “garden”. You can grow grass, cat grass or wildflowers in a flat planter or small wooden box fitted with pond liner. A large balcony can also feature a raised bed, so your cat can enjoy an elevated viewing spot.
- Shady corners: On any balcony that gets lots of sun, your cat needs a shaded area also.
- Scratching spot: Your balcony should also have a scratching board or something covered in sisal for your cat sharpen their claws.
- Flooring: Consider covering a corner of the balcony with wood or cork tiles. These materials store heat and cats like to sit on them.
