It’s wonderful to see your cat enjoying the outdoor world safely, exploring all those exciting smells, sights, and sensations as it takes a peek around your yard.
But many cats need to be kept safe and secure—you don’t want them wandering freely if they aren’t equipped to handle the dangers of the modern world.
So you might want to invest in a cat fence topper to help keep your kitty from escaping – letting them freely enjoy the garden but acting as a barrier against the risks of the wider world.
Why Use a Cat Fence Topper?
A cat fence topper is something you can add to your existing fence to stop your cat from climbing over it.
They’re extremely useful because they mean you can keep your existing fence but customize it to stop cats from wanting to climb over it.
You have several different options, all of which can effectively stop your cat from climbing over.
Some are cheaper but can be less visually appealing, so you need to balance your budget against the look of your fence and how much you want to prevent it from looking like a military installation.
Cat Fence Extensions
One of the most common options for a cat fence topper is to use extension poles with a mesh fence.
This lets you add height to your fence, but most cat fence extensions are also angled inwards so that they lean back over your yard.
With this angle, your cat cannot climb over when they run up the fence panels – the angled mesh acts as a mini-ceiling that stops your cat from getting over.
Extension Pros & Cons
The pros of cat fence extensions are:
It’s relatively easy to install—you just need to attach the angled poles to your fence and then run mesh between the poles.
It’s one of the cheaper options for cat-proofing your yard.
You can buy kits designed to be installed easily or opt for a DIY solution to keep costs low.
There are some downsides to this option, though:
It’s one of the least appealing options visually – they can make your yard look a little like a prison.
They tend to work one way. Suppose the mesh is angled inwards over your garden, and your neighbors have cats. In that case, they can get into your yard easily but find it impossible to escape.
Check out this cat fence topper extension here.
Cat Fence Rollers
Another good option for a cat fence topper is rollers. These are precisely what they sound like—a roller you attach to the top of the fence and spins.
The idea is that once a cat tries to put any weight onto the roller, it spins and stops them from getting any traction so that they can’t push off from it and jump up and over.
You can sometimes get cylindrical rollers, but ones with paddles, such as the Oscillot system, tend to work better. A cat cannot put any weight onto it and hold it firm against the central axle, so it will always spin.
Roller Pros & Cons
There are loads of great reasons to choose a roller for your cat fence topper:
Low-profile – some are even available in a range of colors to match your fence so that they eventually blend in, and you hardly notice them.
Effective while being easy to install and maintain
Flexible installation options – add them on top of the fence to act as a two-way barrier to stop cats climbing in, or place them on an angle leaning over your yard to guarantee your cat can’t escape
However, there are a couple of drawbacks to using rollers:
It is not an easy option to DIY – you’ll need to buy pre-existing kits
Cat fence rollers can be expensive, especially if you have a fence at different heights, needing lots of sections
If you have the budget, there are a few better options for a cat fence topper than a roller system such as the Oscillot.
Fence Spikes
Spikes are another option for a cat fence topper.
These aren’t metal spikes—metal spikes risk injury to your cat and wouldn’t be an appropriate option.
Instead, they consist of rubber strips with rubber spikes incorporated into them. The rubber spikes are designed to be uncomfortable rather than painful – your cat won’t want to put its paws onto the spikes and so, in theory, is deterred from climbing over the fence.
Spike Pros & Cons
There aren’t too many pros to choosing spikes, but there are a couple of reasons you might consider it:
Relatively low profile – while they don’t look too appealing, they aren’t too big and can become unnoticeable.
It can work as a two-way barrier, stopping other animals from getting into your yard and stopping birds from landing on your fence to act as a temptation to your cat.
One of the cheapest solutions
The cons will usually outweigh the pros for spikes, though:
Not consistently effective – cats can sometimes jump over the spikes or find a gap between them to place their paws
Causes discomfort for your cat – not the nicest way to treat them
Here are some cat fence spikes if you want to consider this option.
Which is Best?
It’s hard to say which option is best for a cat fence topper because it depends on your priorities.
Typically, it’s a straight fight between extension poles/mesh and cat rollers. Spikes can be effective, but not always, and they aren’t the kindest way to treat your cat.
Using a cat fence extension with mesh panels between is the best option if you’re on a tight budget.
But a cat roller like the Oscillot system is the better option if you have the money available.
It looks better, and it’s more flexible for installation. It can be used as a strong one-way barrier to keep your cat in or as a two-way barrier to stop other cats from getting into your yard to fight yours as well.
It will depend on the size of your yard and whether your fence is split-level and needs many sections. However, if a cat roller like the Oscillot is affordable, it may be the better option to consider.
