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Old March 26th, 2012, 10:23 PM
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danaekitty danaekitty is offline
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Cats on the Balcony

Hi friends! Long time no post.

So I'm moving into a new apartment, one significantly smaller than where I'm living now - my roommate got a new cat and three cats is too many for us!

Anyway, I have a balcony and am wondering about letting the cats out on it. It's a third storey, and I figure it should be ok if I line the bottom, between the balcony ledge and the floor with chicken wire? That way they can still see out the bottom and won't be able to slink out from underneath the bottom of the ledge.

Any thoughts? Anyone have experience with this issue?
This place is smaller than anywhere they've ever lived, and they don't get along that great as it is, so I feel inclined to let them sit out there so they're not scratching at the walls inside!
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Old March 27th, 2012, 12:15 AM
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Shaykeija Shaykeija is offline
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I would be chicken wiring the whole balcony. From top to bottom. Going under the rail is bad but so is going over the rail.
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Old March 27th, 2012, 09:54 AM
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danaekitty danaekitty is offline
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Thanks for the reply, but that's unfortunately not an option, as my balcony doesn't have a roof.

Also, I'm afraid that not letting my cats onto the balcony at all is not an option either - these girls will make my life hell if I don't let them hang out up there!

Does anyone have any positive experiences with cats on a balcony that they can share with me to ease my anxiety? At this point, all I can do is take advice on how to do this without killing anyone, and hope for the best!

I'm thinking if I have the furniture away from the edges of the balcony, and maybe hang some plants from the rail so they can't jump up, that they'd be satisfied just peeking from underneath the ledge down below. Thoughts?
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Old March 27th, 2012, 10:26 AM
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Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
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I would not count on them being content not to jump. It's what cats do unfortunately. The third floor is not so high that it would deter them from taking a leap. This is not a good plan. Is it possible to build them a pen about three feet tall that you could put a couple steps in for them to sit on sort of thing? I'd build a pen three feet high (roof and all) along the entire length of the balcony, making sure top bottom and sides are fully enclosed.
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Old March 27th, 2012, 11:00 AM
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Melinda Melinda is offline
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I've seen too many cats that have jumped from balconies, 2nd or 6th floor, cats are cats, I'd be making a huge outdoor cage for them before I'd let them out, a friend thought she had it beat by keeping hers on leashes....one hung itself when it tried to jump, the other jumped and was killed, she figures they were after the pigeons and as she said "I only went in to get a cigarette!!"
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Old March 27th, 2012, 01:40 PM
BenMax BenMax is offline
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I have to agree with Melinda.
At the SPCA we see horrors due to cats left on a balcony. We get them when they are 'off' the balcony of course.
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