We were play golf when a nest fell from a tree, by the foursome in front of us. All were visibly upset when they saw the collars. The sight of the collars has never left my mind. You wanted to let the owners know that there pet was gone, but the heartbreak of how they died was too much for us to imagine

I don't own a cat, never did. But if the area was so dangerous that you can guarantee your cat would be taken by predators how come there are so many feral cats? I am always amazed that just because something may happen it gets elevated into it will happen.
Most pet owners do allow their pets to be outside. Certainly nearly all dog owners do and the walled yards are specifically marketed to those pet owners. And somehow most of those little fluffy dogs live a full life and are not grabbed by hawks or eagles or dragons or snakes.

A simple google search finds that reports of birds killing cats are very rare. A bald eagle can only lift about 10 pounds. A hawk can lift less weight. Both birds sometimes will eat carrion or take it back to a nest to feed a baby. A hawk is limited to a maximum of lifting its own weight. And the largest hawks are four pounds.

So any cat over 4 pounds is safe from hawk kitnapping and 10 pounds from eagles. Eagles greatly prefer to not eat red meat and there are plenty of fish here for them, and very few eagles. Hawks can choose to eat at a kill site. Read up on the real risk of your pet from a raptor. For all the warnings posted here, I don't see anyone who posted that there cat or dog was taken or that they know of anyone who experienced this certain fate. An animal disappearing does not equal an animal killed by a hawk or eagle or gator.


I would be very interested in seeing a photo posted of the reported nest filled with animal tags. A goggle search for dog tags in eagle nests has no photos, just "a friend told a friend that someone once saw..."

There are stories of all kinds of things being found in eagle nests including bras and baby toys.

Walls won't keep snakes and other critters out anymore than they'll keep cats in.

Traps for snakes?

You don't need ideas to protect from flying critters. Just keep the cat inside, problem solved. You can even leash-train it so you can take it for walks; I know a couple of people who've done that with their cats.

A door can keep your cat in.

Also - I speak on my own behalf but I need to remind you that when you hit the "reply" button and don't use the "quote" button, no one knows who you are responding to, or what you're responding to.

You have several posts in a row, one that ways "aw, sad." Another one said that someone's remark was snarky. Having to look over several pages of posts just to find out what one post is talking about - is not fun. That's not snark. It's my opinion, and it doubles as a helpful suggestion. Use the quote button, unless you reference the poster by name, post number, or tell us in words who/what you're responding to.

I live in a major ohio city. My cat roams day and night without predator worry except the occasional stray dog. So let's pretend I DO live in a bubble, are you not going to help me now? Or do you just like belittling people to increase your self importance?

Please post your ideas here.

Leaving the cat inside is not an option. I needs other ideas.

Make a cat run, like a dog run, with prey resistant screen on all sides and top. Can be as large as you want.

Would that be approved here?

In her backyard if it is walled in who would know? Unless they climb over her wall. She could make a nice looking bird cage type cat run big enough to let her sit under it herself, plant some lovely bushes around it for pleasant viewing. For the sprinklers to work on the grass in the cat run, have the same type of top as sides. Custom designed, could be lovely. A garden for the cat.

Thanks for the tip. I think I have corrected this.

Very informative. Thank you.

Now we're talking! Who would make something like this and, like someone else asked, is something like this allowed?

You can build it yourself. See here for some ideas and plans that can be downloaded (they're a Seattle-based company so they wouldn't be able to do the building for you, you either DIY or hire a general contractor):

All About Catios & Cat Enclosures - Catio Spaces

Just don’t act surprised when someone mentions it to the ARC and they make you remove it.

Check with ARC first, of course that’s always the first step. But why would they have a problem in a fenced courtyard within your property limit if it was not too high or visible to outsiders?
They gave their blessing to the monster garage and that was visible to everybody.

Last Spring I was walking past The Lighthouse restaurant one morning when a mama rat followed by three baby rats scuttled out from the underbrush onto the sidewalk and then quickly scuttled back. A few moments later a black snake slithered out and then slithered in after them. Nature!

Do you think the ARC would have a problem with neutral colored netting, as long as neighbors couldnt see it?

Best to ask, ARC has been cooperative and reasonable in the past, in my opinion, but the deed restrictions that come with the property indicate what they can do. ARC Phone: 352-751-3912.

I have tried an invisible fence at another house I owned in the past. At the time I had 2 little dogs and a couple of cats...The invisible fence worked fine for the dogs, but not the cats! Plus the cats can jump outside that field of electronics. The cats totally freaked out and were traumatized with those electronic collars on.. I tried a "cat jacket" over here in TV on my cats figuring I would let them hang outside with me on my patio and put them on a cable so they could roam around while I was there to watch them..One cat did fine with the cat Jacket...The other one acted like an o'possum with it on and would not stand up at all wearing it. I think the younger the cat is the better they adjust. Another thought of mine was to try to get approval for a new product known as a "Catio"...Basically a fenced in sanctuary patio (kinda like a chicken coup)...Whatever you do...good luck to you with all that!

Wow, This seems an impossible task. If you could, PM me on what the ARC says about the catio. Even building one of the catios posted above, I would think you would need very heavy wiring to make sure a bobcat couldnt tear into it.

So I probably need to have a property in mind before even talking to them?

Depending on the size and age of a cat, a walled villa may be very effective. Unless you have trees that are near a wall, not many cats can leap 4-5 feet (the height of many of the walls). If your cat did get out I would think neighbors are a far greater threat to a cat than any natural predator. Back in the day we had an indoor/outdoor cat that shared the back yard with hawks, eagles, raccoons and numerous other creatures and the only trouble we ever experienced was from folks worrying about the safety of our cat (it died a natural death at 14+ years).

We have lots of rabbits and an occasional opossum in our walled courtyard villa here in The Villages. Coupled with the anoles our dogs have a great time sniffing and chasing critters and unfortunately chowing down on rabbit droppings. The rabbits and opossums are active at night chomping away on plants so it would be great to have something that kept them at bay. We randomly see a few smaller snakes but we don't live anywhere near a preserve which I would expect is where the real action is.

Good luck with your efforts. I hope it works out for you.

Thank you! It sounds like you are really enjoying your villa! Ohhhh I was hoping the walls were at least 6 feet tall....

Maybe try buying a chicken coop. I foundnone on amazon for under $100. It was about 4 ft high and 8 feet long. Put a cat door in your lanai and push the door of coop right up to cat door and then listen e bricks or something around outside so it cant move so the cat can go in and out but is 100% enclosed. And its enclosed by metal not screen so it should be coyote proof. Also the cat can quickly run into the house if needed

I just put in a new birdcage. It took some negotiating but I had the contractor erect the birdcage as he usually does but install Phifer"TuffScreen" screening that I bought from Home Depot. He did not offer the option of a heavier screen.

The cat occasionally climbs the sides and there has been no trace at all of his climbing.

The biggest surprise however is that the squirrels climb the sides and roof and freak out when the dog barks at them. Even though they jump around like crazy on the roof and run up and down the sides they leave absolutely no trace of their presence. Nothing at all.

I have been very impressed and really feel I made an excellent decision to do it this way.

Our cats love the ability to be outside in the birdcage and we feel much more comfortable knowing they are safely contained.

If rabbits and opossums can get in why can't a cat get out?

Excellent point.

The other day, I saw an opossum going down the street...dragging a step ladder.




:D

So that’s where my ladder went.

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What was the cost of the pet screens, if I might ask?