How to Keep a Cat From Climbing a Fence

Your neighbor's cats can jump the fence and they spoil your garden. Or your own cats keep escaping into your neighbor's garden. Although we love our cats, they can be a nuisance to some people, and they can cause tension between neighbors. Cats are naturally curious animals, and you can't teach them to stop climbing fences, but there are harmless ways to deter them from trying to get over your fence.

Things You'll Need

  • Aluminum foil
  • 2-inch PVC pipe
  • String
  • Broken CDs
  • Orange peels
  • Flowered trellis
  • Plastic fence
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Instructions

    • 1

      Nail aluminum foil along the top of the fence. The shiny reflections scare cats, and they don't like the feel of the foil under their paws. This may not stop the cats from getting over the fence, but it will deter them from walking along the top of it.

    • 2

      Attach some large (at least 2 inches in diameter) PVC pipe to the top of the fence. This will be hard for cats to grip with their claws, and since it hangs over the edge of the fence it will be harder for them to get over.

    • 3

      Fit a length of string so that it hangs about 1 foot above the top edge of the fence, which will discourage cats from trying to walk there. Orange peels, aluminum foil, or bits of broken CD hung from the string will deter cats further.

    • 4

      Put a trellis along the top of the fence. Cats will find this harder to climb over, especially if there are flowers, like roses, on the trellis.

    • 5

      Install a plastic fence. These are more durable than wood, and they're too slippery for cats to climb.