Are neighborhood cats making their way over your back fence and getting into your garden? It’s not always easy to keep these little intruders out. They can easily maneuver through small fence holes and are masters at jumping and climbing. But several people have found a solution with cat deterrent fence spikes.
Now, at the first sound of a name like “cat” and “spikes” many are afraid that this might be somehow dangerous for the cats. No one wants that! But you may be interested to know that cat repeller fence and wall spikes are actually designed to be humane. They're meant to provide a non-harmful way to help keep unwanted cats out of your yard and garden.
I have two inside cats myself and wouldn’t think of harming a single whisker on any that wander around our neighborhood. So in researching these plastic fence spikes, I make sure to look through resources that talked about their safety and how they are designed.
Read on for some detailed information about this specific type of cat deterrent. I'll also include answers to the most frequently asked questions about this type of product.
Will Anti Cat Fence Spikes Hurt the Cats?
The first question that comes to most people’s mind when trying to find humane ways to discourage neighborhood cats is "will it hurt them?" The fast answer is, "No."
They aren’t metal or barbed spikes at all, these fence spikes to stop cats are actually made of plastic to ensure they cause no harm to animals. You’ll get an idea of the design if you envision those plastic spikes on the underside of a rubber desk mat. If you walked on it barefoot, it’s not going to be pleasant and you’ll jump off pretty quickly. But most likely you won’t suffer any major injury.
Take a look at the Cat Repeller Fence at this link: Check Price on Amazon.com
You’ll get a great idea of how the fence is designed. It is made to only cause discomfort, so the cat doesn’t want to climb your fence again, but not cause any lasting harm to the animal.
They’re also available in many colors so you can find one that blends in well with your fence and home. And as a bonus, the design also provides you with added security from unwanted human intruders.
What Are Other Ways to Discourage Unwanted Cats?
Cats are crafty little creatures. Even if you use plastic fence spikes, some may still get through because they are determined to get into your yard. You can increase your chance of success by employing some extra measures. These in addition to the spikes make your yard less attractive to roaming felines.
Here are a few other things you can do to mount a defense and help keep cats out of your garden safely.
- Motion Activated Sprinkler with Day & Night protection
- Ensure all holes in fences or hedges are secure
- Don’t leave food outside
- Keep flowerbeds watered, because some cats don’t like the wet earth
- Use aromatic plants that are natural deterrents, like Coleus canina, rosemary, or lemongrass
- Make sure any outside trash can lids are tight and secure
Things to Look for When Buying Fence Spike Products
The most important thing to look for when buying fence spike products as a cat deterrent is that they are not made of metal, but rather plastic or rubber. A metal spike could do serious injury to an animal. There's also a very good chance metal spikes are outlawed by local animal cruelty regulations.
The safe spike products are typically made of a plastic material and the spikes are shaped like cones and have flattened points. There should also be no wire or barbed wire whatsoever on them, as this could cause serious injury.
You’ll also want to look for products made to be durable and weather resistant, so you know that they’ll last well beyond just a few months. Having plenty of color choices is also a bonus.
How Are Plastic Fence Spikes Installed?
Most fence spikes come in a thin strip that can be anywhere from 17” to 20” in length and about 1.7” in width. They’re designed to be easy to cut to fit any type of fence. They also will typically come in packs of 6 or 8 strips.
The three main ways of installing them are:
The spike strips have holes built in at various points throughout the strip so you can securely screw or nail them into place on the top of the fence.
For concrete or brick, that isn’t quite as easy to bore holes into, a strong adhesive can also be used to glue the plastic strips into place on the top of the fence. You’ll of course want to clean the top of the fence thoroughly to ensure good adhesion.
Installation is quick and easy with the proper tools. The plastic material makes it easy to drill more holes if needed to fit around a short fence corner, for example.
Things To Do Before Installing Plastic Fence Spikes to Keep Cats Out
To ensure you’re not caught with any surprises, such as a Homeowner’s Association (HOA) restriction, there are a few things you’ll want to research. And it's better to do that before you buy and install them on your fence.
No one wants to make a purchase, go through the time and effort to install something, only to find out they have to take it down for one reason or another. So, save yourself the worry by first researching these things before you install.
- Is it your fence or is it shared with a neighbor that you should ask?
- Are there any HOA restrictions on installing safe fence top spikes?
- Contact your local animal control office to see if there are any town or city regulations that would cause a legal issue.
- Take measurements to ensure you know exactly how long and wide of an area you need to cover.
- It’s a good idea to get a warning sign to also affix to your fence to warn neighborhood children.
Deterring Cats Safely with Plastic Spikes for Fences | Conclusion
You can be an animal lover and still want to keep your garden safe from roaming neighborhood cats. There’s nothing wrong with trying to keep everyone living in harmony in your neighborhood as long as you do it safely so no one gets hurt.
Safe, blunted, plastic spike strips for fences are a great option for humanely discouraging cats from come in to your yard. They’re specifically designed to cause discomfort, but no harm.
It’s also a good idea to use some of the other rules of thumb, such as not feeding the neighborhood cats if you don’t want them to try extra hard to get in. Planting some lemongrass or other natural deterrents with scents that aren’t attractive to felines can also help.
The term “spikes” can sound like a negative because it conjures up images of metal spikes that are on weapons. But these are more like small plastic cones that have the points blunted. If you have any family members that are balking at the thought of the spikes, here's a suggestion. Show them the product at the Amazon link and its animal-friendly design to help put their mind at ease.
The bottom line is that you don't have to live with the frustrating issue of unwanted felines getting into and fouling your garden. These fence strips with plastic spikes can make a great cat deterrent that still allows everyone to live in peace.
To view other cat repellent products that can help view here: View Cat Repellent Products
References:
RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/environment/gardens
Instructables: http://www.instructables.com/id/Friendly-but-Effective-Cat-Repellent/
