To date we have had less than ten confirmed cat escapes from our various systems (from a total of 60,000 cats – 99.99% effective). In those situations where escapes are reported we worked with the cat parent to address the root cause of the escape 100% of the time. Often times, this is due to a mistake during installation, environmental issues such as trees, window sils next to the fence, or other common yard features assisting in the escape such as furniture. Even so, our incredible track record is due to several factors, but most importantly to the flexible/unstable nature of the polypropylene grid, the arched top, and the chew resistant bottom that gets overlapped 6" onto the ground. For the handful of expert climbers that might be able to make it near the top of the fence, they will then be denied escape due to the effectiveness of the pivoting extender arms that turn your cat(s) back toward the ground. Having said this, installation technique is still very important because any small opening can be a potential escape route for a cat. It is important that our written and video instructions are followed.

To our knowledge we have never heard of any animals getting tangled in any manner in our system. Birds are able to see the material well enough to not fly into it. The fence material is very flexible but is not prone to tangling due to its large mesh size (almost 2” x 2”) and overall sturdiness.

The fence material itself was originally designed for deer exclusion including handling a deer impact. How well it works with dogs very much depends on the dog. Even large breed dogs would be hard-pressed to breach the fence with a full speed impact but aggressive chewers and diggers may be able to damage the fence or form points of escape for cats. If you are using this sytem with dogs known to be chewers or diggers, we encourage you to review this with our expert staff so we can made modifictions to your component list that will increase durability for your dog! Additionally, we have now developed an existing fence system specifically for dogs that can be found at DogProofer.com

The fencing system is finely tuned for the specific purpose of keeping cats safely inside the enclosure you create based on which way the arms are pointing.

When the arms point in, it will effectively keep cats in. If they point out, then it will keep them out.

The good news is, because of the angle and flexible nature of the netting we use in our system, even cats trying to come from the other side are mostly deterred.

So, most cats will get to the netting, give it a try, and then retreat due to the angle and netting. For those 5-10% of brave unwelcome cat(s) that do breach the enclosure, they are unable to get back out, which they usually do not like, which means they are unlikely to try again.

We recommend installing and testing your system for a little while before making any adjustments. It is possible to install arms pointing in both directions which will put a stop to any cat(s) that do continue to breach the enclosure. We have only had few customers contact us to retrofit their kits with arms facing outward as the above mentioned factors tend to solve the problem. Even so, these arms are sold separately with a smaller width of fence material to create a “Y” formation at the top for those situations.

The heigh of our freestanding fencing system is adjustable in height from 6-7 feet. Due to this, the system will meet most zoning ordinances. The same hold true for pre-existing fencing that will be converted with our Cat Proofer system – the ultimate height here is within 6’. We always recommend checking with your local community or township requirements, but because Purrfect Fence is virtually invisible from only a few feet away it almost disappears and doesn’t draw attention. Also, Purr…fect Fence is not considered a permanent structure due to the posts being set with ground sleeves (no digging of holes or use of concrete). Other benefits of this style of installation are that it simplifies installation and allows the fence to be relocated if necessary.

Strength and longevity were strong considerations when we specified the materials to be used for our escape-proof and patent pending cat fence systems. The support structure (posts, ground sleeves, arches, and gates) are all galvanized steel and all of these parts are also polyester powder coated black except for the sleeve (component that is installed in the ground to hold the fence posts.) The fence material is UV stabilized polypropylene that has proven to last well over a decade in the deer fence industry. The mesh for our Cat Proofer system can easily be replaced if need be. We commonly have customers that have had our system for 15 years or more and still in use. With minimal maintenance, the Purrfect Fence system can last well beyond that by replacing individual components on an as needed basis. 

We recommend when planning and measuring your layout to take trees into consideration. This system should be placed at least 6-12 inches in front of any preexisting fences or trees. If a tree must be within the enclosed area, there are different ways of making a tree not be an escape route for cats. The best method depends on the tree and the location within the enclosure. Email us with pictures and a description of what you want to do or give us a call and we will do our best to help you. Example

Damage to the arch arms and posts due to weather is a rare occurrence, but it can happen if the right amount of snowfall and right temperature mix during extreme situations such as fast falling heavy wet (saturated) snowfall, ice storms and also in hurricane-force winds. If you see heavy snow accumulating on your fence, it would be beneficial to remove the snow. This would lessen the chances of extreme snow weight potentially damaging the fence. We understand that extreme weather situations DO occur, and are committed to keeping our customers (both human and feline) safe and happy. For this reason, if you do experience damage due to extreme weather, Purrfect Fence will offer replacement parts at a discounted rate. In order to qualify for the program, you will need to provide digital or standard photographs of the damage. The photos will be reviewed and a discounted cost will be determined on a case-by-case basis with respect to the amount and severity of damage.

We have been providing enclosures that keep cats safe outside for more than 15 years. We estimate that we have more than 60,000 cats inside our enclosures across the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. In this time we have not been made aware of a situation that resulted in a cat being harmed by a predator while inside our enclosures when installed correctly and properly maintained. These amazing results suggest that our fencing system serves as both a visual and physical deterrent. The flexible mesh material is very difficult, if not impossible to climb for any would-be ground predator. The imposing nature of the fence from above keeps aerial predators out as well. Some of the animal experts we have consulted with tell us that because the fence materials and configuration are so unlike anything an animal would have encountered before they will tend to stay away. They also tell us that birds will not enter/land in an area where they do not believe they can take off again. The overhanging nature of our fence extension arm gives birds concern that they may not be able to get back out. Though we did not necessarily design our system to handle all of the different types of threats, we are very proud of our track record of keeping cats safe regardless of the situation!

As an additional precaution we do recommend that cats have access to the indoors or some type of indoor space. We recommend pet doors designed specifically for cats - and that cats do not go outside at night if you are in an area where there are high levels of predation. We also strongly recommend that no food be left outside. 

 We recommend all of the precautionary measures listed above in addition to one other. Once you have your system installed you should not let your cats out in it for a few days. Allow raccoons that inhabit the area to get into the system. They will not easily be able to get out. This should scare them off and make them not want to return. Remember that most the dangerous animals are nocturnal so having indoor access to enjoy at night removes most, if not all of the possibly of an issue.

Positively. This is quite easy to do and makes for a seamless and uniform/aesthetically pleasing and highly effective enclosure. Specific instructions will be included with each order. In the photo below you can see how our extended height conversion system runs along the chain link fence and then comes off at a 90 degree angle with our Freestanding Fencing System to exclude a tree from the enclosure.

The great thing about our system is that you do not need to pour concrete or cement. The sleeves included in the kits hold the poles in the ground. They are 2’ long and only about two inches is left above ground. They are simply driven into the ground with a sledgehammer.

When dealing with sloping ground you are going to want to keep some things in mind. The first is that you will need a pole at each drastic change in slope. This may require that you purchase extra pole sets. You will also need to cut the fence at each change in slope and re-attach it to the pole to keep the fencing material parallel to the ground, thus keeping the fence height at 6’ feet or higher.

We sell two different types of tools, neither of which are essential to your installation. They are however effective in saving you time. First the hog-ringer/hog-rings offer a time-saving method of attaching the welded wire chew guard to the fence material (kit includes zip ties for attaching the welded wire to the fence. Hog-rings are “C” shaped staples that a hog-ringer bends into a circle. The hog-ringer is similar in function to a staple gun in that it automatically loads the next hog-ring while it is securing one. Since the welded wire needs to be attached every four inches, the hog-ringer and rings save considerable time on multi-kit installations. We also sell a zip tie tool. This tool attaches to the zip ties, tightens, then cuts off the excess, again saving you the time to have to go back and do that all by hand. The tool also allows you to get the ties tighter than is possible by hand. Although more time-consuming, tightening the ties tighter than possible by hand can also be accomplished with a pliers. Again this tool is not essential just a means to save you time. We usually highly recommend these tools for large enclosures.

The bottom portion is a welded wire, which is very durable. It is not only a chew guard and protection from predators, but is also durable enough for lawn maintenance. The stakes that go every two feet to hold the wire close to the ground should be low enough to avoid lawn mower blades. Grass will grow right through that portion of the fence. We recommend making lawn services aware that it is there and to use caution. Weed whackers can be used along the bottom of the fence but a nylon cord must be used and it is recommended that weed whackers are run at lower rpm's and with care while trimming around the fence.

Our kits come with four “post-to-wall” and two “arch-to-wall” mounts. Posts should be as close to the side of a building as possible to minimize any gaps. Please remember this is when abutting a wall not running along side it. If you are unable to drive the sleeve into the ground (due to concrete or pavement, etc) you may need to trim the pole to the proper height.

Inside Corner:

Outside Corner:

Overview of Arm Placement:

Wood, Vinyl (PVC), Block, Brick and chain link will all be effective. A five foot high existing fence is the minimum height requirement. If your fence happens to be shorter we offer a system that extends the height of your existing fence as well.

If your fencing is shorter than 5 feet, you can utilize our extended height conversion system which adds up to 3 feet of finished height to your existing fence! This means any fence that is 3 feet or taller can be equipped with our system.

#10 Wood Screws approximately 2" long are generally the best choice. The mounting brackets have 2 holes to run screw through. Bring a bracket with you to purchase the screws. You may need to purchase washers if the heads of the screws you pick are the same size or smaller than the holes in the bracket.

The Cat-Proofer will work on most fences that are 5’ high or taller. Though we offer a different system that can install on fences as short as 3 feet!

The idea behind this system is to cat-proof the top portion of an existing barrier that cats cannot get out of without scaling. Solid fence lines made of Wood, Vinyl, Brick, Block, Metal, PVC, etc will all work as long as the existing fence creates true barrier in all ways but the top. If your cat does not have to climb your fence to get out of the fenced area, it is likely that adding the conversion kit will not have much of an effect. If your cat can get through your fence we recommend that you use our Houdini-Proof free-standing system to cat-proof an area within your existing fence.

• WOOD: The easiest way is staples applied with a staple gun for wood. Use staples that are a minimum of 3/8” long. 
  
• METAL / CHAIN LINK: Zip ties are usually used to secure the mesh material to the metal portion of the fence. Kits come with zip ties but you may want to consider ordering an extra bag of 100 for this purpose.
• PVC / VINYL:You have the option of running a strip of wood on the fence along where the mesh material meets the fence and staple to the wood strip. Alternatively, You may also use this product designed to secure the mesh material to a PVC /Vinyl fence.
• BRICK / BLOCK:Similarly to Vinyl and PVC, you can run a strip of wood on the fence along where the mesh material meets the fence and staple to the wood. Alternatively, You may also use this product designed to secure the mesh material to a PVC /Vinyl fence for Brick and Block as well.

A couple of options are available to secure the brackets to a PVC fence. You may use wood screws like you would with a wood fence but a significant strain on the bracket may cause the screws to pull out of the post or otherwise damage the fence. A better option is to secure the bracket to the post with nuts and bolts. Make sure that you can remove the post caps. Use the bracket to mark holes and drill through the face of the post. With the bracket in place, push the bolts through the holes. Secure the bolts with washers and nuts on the inside face of the post. Wing nuts with intergrated washers may be your best choice for ease of installation. 

You may also drill through the post to the other side and secure with nuts and bolts. If you choose this option, be sure not to over-tighten the bolts as you may distort or crack the post.

The answer to this question depends on the type of wall you have. Bring a bracket to a hardware store you trust and describe the construction of your wall to a knowledgable worker.

The bracket mounting plate is made to work with U-bolts (see images below) that fit around 1 5/8” diameter and 2” diameter chain link posts. We offer both U-bolts in sets of (2) which are enough for (1) Cat-Proofer bracket. Check all your posts as gates and corner may have larger diameter posts than your in line posts. You need to determine the diameter of your posts and order accordingly.

For a 90 (inside corner)

The bracket should be set to point into the enclosure 45° from each converging section of fence. See example below.

For 270° (outside corner)

One bracket and two arms should be set to point into the enclosure 90° from each converging section of fence. See example below.

Attaching bracket on outside and Inside Corner

If your Corner has a post on the inside of the fence:

If your Corner has adjoining panels that make the corner:

If you are not able to attach the bracket to the corner post:

A single-door gate that opens in uses three fence extenders; one on the post where the gate hinges, one on the gate itself closest to the latch post, and one on the latch post. Diagram “Cat-proofer gate closed / Cat-proofer gate open” This will allow the gate to open without having fence extenders knocking into each other. A double-door gate that opens in will use four extenders; one on each hinge post and one on each latch end of both gate leaves.

Please see below image. Click the second Image to see an animated example of how this would work.

The animation below takes about 10 seconds to play through:

Our standard shipping is 3-7 days after leaving the warehouse. All orders leave the warehouse within a day or two of your order being placed and travel by ground shipping (FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.) We highly recommend not scheduling your installation until you have received all of your packages and confirmed all items have been received. Occasionally packages will deliver a day or two after others. You do not need to be there to receive packages and they will leave your packages for you. If your order is sufficiently heavy enough that ground parcel carrier will not accept it, then we may ship your order via freight (on a pallet) instead. If this method is used delivery is scheduled with you via appointment by the freight carrier prior to the delivery of you order. A representative will reach out to you by phone to make that appointment when the items arrive at your local freight terminal. See more about our shipping policies.

We do offer discounts to not-for-profit organizations with proof of a 501C3 or other proofing document (IRS determination letter preferred.) We also offer discounts to veterinarians as well as their staff. We also are happy to offer discounts to all active duty and military veterans. Please be aware discounts will not stack with other discounts, promotions, or coupon codes. Get in touch with us using our Contact Us page to take advantage of the discounts. You can see our active promotions here.