Marija's story
“I fully support the new regulations as I am all for keeping cats safe and confined! Ever since I got a cat, I have been looking for ways to keep her confined to my courtyard in Epping, where she is safe without impacting her wellbeing.
My cat Piper, who was adopted from a rescue, ended up in a shelter initially because she escaped. After Piper managed to jump the back fence and escape, leading to a very stressful day of searching, I decided to start proofing the fences in my courtyard.
My backyard is not very large, so I felt the best way to cat-proof it was to put cat netting around it. It was an easy DIY project with help from my family, and it didn't take much time at all. It was fairly inexpensive too, and I sourced the materials from Catnets and Bunnings.
When researching cat proofing options, the best resource I found was the Agriculture Victoria – enclosures and fencing website. It has an entire section on cat confinement, including information, plans and DIY info on various types of cat enclosures as well as where to purchase materials. I also found useful information on the Catnets website and the Bunnings Cat Hacks Australia group on Facebook. These are great resources for everyone - owners, renters, DIYers – I would highly recommend them.
People often think that cat proofing your yard or making a cat enclosure is a difficult and expensive task, but it doesn't have to be – you are only limited to your financial options and your imagination!
Piper is very happy to have the backyard to explore and enjoy some fresh air. I enjoy gardening and have lots of bird and insect attracting plants, so there is still lots going on in there. As Piper is a nomad, she still gets to go for a wonder outside – safely on a lead and harness.
We regularly go out for walks with the dog too, and she enjoys this very much. Walking a cat is a great conversation starter! Piper and Woofy (my dog) are well known in my area and people are always delighted to see them out on a walk together. If you are wondering whether to explore harness walking your cat – if your cat wants to go outside, absolutely go for it.
For me, keeping the cat safely on my property is a no-brainer – compared to the vet costs to treat an accident or injury, a cat enclosure is well worth it, and the peace of mind of knowing my cat is safe while still having outdoor access is priceless.”