Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 1703439)

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.

Originally Posted by blueash (Post 1703407)

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.

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1703448)

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

Originally Posted by Gigi3000 (Post 1703475)

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

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1703507)

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.

Originally Posted by daspiva (Post 1703744)

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!

Originally Posted by Velvet (Post 1703612)

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.

Originally Posted by GoPacers (Post 1703903)

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.