How to Make Cat Repellent

Cats are creatures with fine taste, which may be one of the reasons they love to hang around gardens so much. Loose earth is great as an outdoor litter box and there are tasty young plants to chew. If you enjoy bird watching in your garden, then the presence of a cat will keep all birds away. Although there are many commercially made cat repellents, they are very expensive as compared to homemade cat repellent.

Plants

There are some plants that cats really do not like the smell of. These include lavender, rue, rosemary and chives. If you plant some around the edges of your garden or any particular place to be cat-free, then the cats should stay away.

If you don't have time to wait for the deterring plants to grow, then you can use essential oils from these plants. Get the real therapeutic grade oil and not any oil that is just for filling oil candles. Lemon, rosemary and citronella are the least expensive to work as a cat repellent. Place a few drops in a clean mister or spray bottle, add tap water and it will be safe enough to spray directly on plants.

Chicken Mesh

Where possible, like over vegetable rows, protect garden patches by covering making a protective fence of chicken mesh wire around it. Try to get as small a mesh as you can so that the cats can't get their claws in. You can always dab some undiluted essential oils on the mesh as well.

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Litter-Robot Automatic Cat Litter Box - New Product Announcements

Litter-Robot is in my opinion, the best self-cleaning cat litter box that is available. Other automatic cat litter boxes such as Litter Maid and Cat Genie, work, but not as well and not as consistently as the Litter-Robot. I have met people personally who have been using their Litter-Robot for over five years with absolutely no problems. Litter-Robot lives up to consumer expectations better than most electronic products available today.

Recently, there have been new product announcements by the Litter-Robot manufacturer. The new Gray Litter-Robot is partially made from 100% recycled plastic. That is, 84% of its total plastic volume uses the recycled kind. This keeps plastic out of landfills and saves energy over making plastic from scratch.

Also, there is a new "bubble globe". The bubble globe has a see-through window at the back that adds light to the litter surface. In other words, kitty can see what he is doing more easily and he can look out while he does his business. The bubble globe adds 3" more depth, so it may not be for everyone. The bubble globe may be purchased separately so one may upgrade their Litter-Robot if they already own one.

In addition, the manufacturer has added several new accessories. The first new accessory is a cardboard scratch ramp. The ramp encourages scratching, while providing easy entry into the Litter-Robot, which can be essential for aging cats. It also catches a large amount of litter if the cat happens to kick litter out of the entry hole.

There is also an optional lip extender. The lip extender protrudes out the entry hole to catch kicked litter. The lip extender can also host the litter fence, another new accessory. The litter fence also helps trap litter. The cat simply steps over the fence to enter the Litter-Robot.

The Litter-Robot comes with a carbon filter and odor seal. Consumers may want to replace these parts from time to time. These are also available from the manufacturer.

We are pleased to see all of these product improvements from Automated Pet Care Products, the Litter-Robot manufacturer. It is more evidence of a well-engineered and well-supported product that will be here for many years to come.

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Tips on How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden

Keeping cats out of your garden is an age old, common problem for most gardeners, especially with the UK cat population exceeding 7.2 million in 2008 last year.

The following tips explain some popular methods on how to keep cats out of your garden. When cats enter your garden, they will often urinate and/or leave a special surprise for you - freshly squeezed poop.

After covering the mess by scratching away at your quality soil, they lay down to rest, suffocating your now squashed bedding plants. The problem of cats in your garden is not limited to gardening. Leaving cat crap scattered across your lawn or urinating in your healthy soil, also poses a health risk, especially for children.

Odour Neutralising Cat Scent
As with dogs, cats mark their territory. By removing any feces or urine smells, you are taking one step towards making the garden less welcoming to the problematic cat(s).

Masking Odours
After removing cat feces and disinfecting any areas the cat has urinated, you can add some proven scents such as chili powder, orange or lemon citrus peel and/or instant coffee which cats are not fond of. Alternatively, citrus scented cat repellent pellets can be purchased from most good garden centres or pet shops.

Other scents disliked by cats are toilet cistern blocks crumbled and scattered, Jayes disinfectant, garlic, moth balls, Olbas oil (eucalyptus oil), cayenne pepper, pine cones and mustard.

Plants Cats Don't Like
There are a number of plants cats are known to dislike. These include geraniums, marigolds, petunias, lavender and coleus canina which will emit a foul smell if the cat was to brush up against it.

Electronic Cat Deterrent Devices
There are a number of devices on the market aimed at keeping cats out of your garden including ultrasonic sounders that emit a high frequency sound, inaudible to the human ear but ear piercing for cats and dogs.

A popular product is the CATWatch Ultrasonic manufactured in the UK, endorsed by the RSPB and recommended by a good few gardeners. The CATWatch Ultrasonic cat deterrent normally retails at around ￡55 which doesn't include a required 9v PP3 battery or mains adapter, all available separately.

Most of these devices are activated by infra-red, the same technology used in outdoor lighting and some intruder alarms. When a cat or dog approaches the vicinity of the device, the sound will activate for a set period.

Controversy Surrounding "Silent Roar" Lion Poo
I could have included this method above under "Masking Odours" but wanted to describe this product in greater detail. Silent Roar is, from what I understand, effectively lion poo pellets. There is mixed public opinion of this product with some good and bad experiences with its use. In the EU, Silent Roar is not able to be sold as a cat repellent chemical due to the inconsistency of the products make up. No two lion poos are the same. However, a quick search on Google clearly shows that it is now being sold as cat repellent so this may no longer be the case.

In 2000, the BBC conducted some cat repellent product tests on its consumer complaints programme - Watchdog. BBC Watchdog found Silent Roar as their most effective cat deterrent from their extensive testing of various products on the market at that time.

Silent Roar is normally sold in 500g packs of pellets for ￡8.99. In wet weather, more pellets need to be applied after each rainfall.

Physical Deterrents
As cats are quite agile and can jump great heights, a simple fence will not suffice. Use one or two lines of string tied tight above the fence. Cats will be unable to grip the top of the fence and get over in to your garden.

Cut bamboo canes into 12 inch (1ft) lengths with a hacksaw and stick them halfway into the ground with 6 inches sticking out. Keep them close enough together so cats will not be able to sit or lay down.

Scare Aways
Try placing realistic looking toy snakes in your grass or cut a short length of hose and bend to look like a snake. Both cats and birds can be scared off with snakes.

Spray With Water
Sometimes a quick blast of water with a super soaker type water pistol or a garden sprayer (make sure its cleaned out and doesn't contain any chemicals) normally used to insecticide or fertiliser. Do not use a garden hose as this could be seen as cruelty.

Express Your Concerns With The Cats Owner
If your cat problem is bad enough, you should maybe consider discussing it with the cats owner if known. Maybe suggest they start using an indoor cat litter tray if they don't already.

If the owner objects to using an indoor litter tray, you could ask them to dig a pit in their garden, 2 or 3ft in diameter filled with peat for the cat to use as a toilet. The advantage of this is there will be no hygiene concerns as with indoor litter trays and far less maintenance. The cats owner will just need to dig the pit over every few weeks.

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What's Up With Cats and Heights?

Ever wonder why your cat is able to land on its feet almost every time he or she falls or jumps from seemingly all heights? Ever wonder why cats are able to survive falls from 10+ stories with barely any scratches and yet cats that fall from lesser heights such as 4 stories often sustain fatal, or near-fatal, injuries? Have you heard the term 'high-rise syndrome' applied to cats and wondered what it meant? Do you wonder what you can do to protect your cat from heights? Let's explore this fascinating and important topic!

How are cats able to consistently land on their paws when they fall?

Cats have an innate ability to right themselves in mid-air when they fall from an inverted position. This is usually referred to as the 'righting reflex' but is also known as the 'labyrinthine reflex' and occasionally is also categorized as a 'neck righting reflex.' The term righting reflex is actually a bit misleading because it infers that there is one reflex that is triggered when a cat falls, when in actuality, there is a sequence of reflexes that take place in order for the end result to be that the cat lands on its paws. The combination of reflexes that compose the sum effect of the righting reflex are: the labyrinthine righting reflexes, the optic righting reflexes, body righting reflexes, and cervical righting reflexes.

When cats fall they gather information from their vestibular system, which contains the labyrinth of the inner ear and is responsible for equilibrioception, or, in other words, is responsible for spatial orientation and balance. They also gather visual information to help them assess what direction is up and what direction is down, and, with a combination of other sensory input, and their flexible spines and rudimentary collarbones, cats are able to quickly orient and right themselves. Cats begin to develop this reflex at about 3-4 weeks, and it is typically functioning at 7 weeks of age.

How are cats able to survive falls from great heights?

There are multiple factors that enable cats to sustain fewer injuries from particular heights in comparison with humans. Cats are relatively small and light, have flexible spines, thick fur, and they reach a much slower terminal velocity relative to humans. The terminal velocity that a falling cat reaches is the constant speed at which they fall when they have reached their maximal acceleration and are no longer gaining velocity. Cats reach a terminal velocity of approximately 100 km//hr, whereas humans reach a terminal velocity of approximately 210 km/hr, and, fortunately for cats, they reach their terminal velocity at a height around 5 stories, whereas humans tend to reach terminal velocity at a height of around 32 stories.

Cats employ their excellently developed righting reflexes, and once they reach their terminal velocity their vestibular systems are less stimulated, and instead of maintaining rigid body posture, they relax. Once cats reach this more relaxed state, they spread their limbs horizontally to increase drag in the air, and to more evenly distribute the forces of their impact when they hit the ground.

Studies have shown that cats that fall from heights greater than 5 stories are better able to survive because they are able to employ the above survival techniques. Cats tend to sustain more serious injuries when they are not able to reach terminal velocity and relax. That said, cats can receive fatal injuries when they fall from any height, and every fall has the potential to be traumatic or even deadly.

What is "High-Rise Syndrome"?

High-rise syndrome is the term used when cats fall from heights greater than 2 stories, including the injuries sustained from the fall. Unfortunately, despite the fact that high-rise syndrome is 100% preventable, it is seen very commonly in the veterinary industry, particularly during summer months when owners open windows and leave balcony doors open.

High-rise syndrome frequently involves chest trauma such as bruised lungs, pneumothoraxes (air trapped in the chest cavity from lacerated airway tissues), and broken ribs. Frequently there are fractures to limbs, and sometimes spinal fractures. High-rise syndrome frequently causes traumatic myocarditis, which is injury sustained by the heart. Oro-facial trauma is common and can include a fractured jaw, fractured skull, fractured teeth, and fractured palate. One of the scariest components of high-rise syndrome is the damage that is much less visibly obvious - damage to organs of the abdominal cavity. Cats that fall from heights frequently suffer from bruised and bleeding organs such as liver, spleen, and kidneys, and can even have these organs rented, or avulsed, from their locations within the abdominal cavity.

What can you do to secure your cat's safety from heights?

Secure all windows! Cats are notorious for jumping/falling out of windows! They are easily stimulated by birds flying by, bugs, and other attractive stimuli. Even if you live in a house in which the highest window is two stories above ground, it is still essential to ensure the windows have very secure screens in place. As you now know, cats are more prone to suffering greater injuries when they fall from lesser heights than those that fall from greater heights (6 stories and above).

Fence in balconies all balconies! Balconies are another cause for "high-rise syndrome." Just because a balcony is high does not mean that your cat will not jump or fall off of it - loud noises or construction may startle them so that they reflexively back away off of the railing or between the railings, or a bird flying past can create a great enough stimulus that they leap for it without thinking twice about how high up the balcony is. Balconies should be fenced from the ground to the bottom of balcony above so that jumping off is an impossibility - there are many types of aesthetic fencing options available that will pass most building standards because they are visually unobtrusive. Also, consider using a harness and leash while allowing your cat on the balcony - supervision and restraint are the most certain methods of ensuring your cats safety.

Do not use childproof window guards since cats can fit through them.

What should you do if your cat sustains a fall?

If your cat has fallen from any height (even a single story!) it is imperative that you bring to your veterinarian immediately. Symptoms of internal damage may not become obvious to you at home immediately, and by the time they do, it may be too late to effectively help your cat. There is much that your veterinarian can detect from a physical exam that you will be unable to assess at home by simple observation of your cat, and early intervention and supportive care will be crucial to your cat's survival. Even if your cat is eating, drinking, and acting altogether 'normal,' it is still best to have your cat checked out by your vet! Cats have high survival rates when they receive immediate veterinary treatment post-fall.

Dr. Ko is a passionate believer in the importance of preventative medicine and educating cat owners about its benefits for their cats. It was this ideal which was the motivation for the creation of the Dr. Ko website.

catdoctorko.com is a brand new site dedicated to providing cat owners with information to help them provide effective and preventative health care for their cats. Within the site, Dr. Ko, a licensed veterinarian, has created Know-How Videos, Cat Health Articles, Ask Dr. Ko tips (in which she answers your cat health questions), information on toxic substances, product recalls, dangerous household items and much more! In addition, the website houses a store filled with products specifically selected for their benefits to optimizing your cat's quality of life!

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Keeping Your Garden Free of Cats

If you want to make sure that cats don't get into your garden, the first step would be to secure the boundaries. For example, check for gaps in the fence and block them so that you don't make it too easy for the cat to get in. Because they're so agile, cats can easily jump high and over a fence. The solution to that is to buy a taut or string wire and put it on the top of the fence.

Once the cat gets in the garden, you might find it hard to get rid of her. A lot of people will simply use dogs, for the simple reason that cats and dogs don't get along. Dobermans and pit bulls are two races of dogs that are especially aggressive when they see cats. Simply seeing one of these types of dogs will make a cat run away.

Another thing that cats don't like is water. When you want to get rid of a cat, try using water on it to make it run away. Just squirting some water from a garden hose or a water bucket will do the trick. Once you've scared the cat a few times by using this method, he'll probably stop showing up. Just keep getting water on him each time he comes and he'll understand that he's not welcomed.

If you want to protect the plants in your garden, then you can try using mothballs, since cats don't stand their smell. You can place the mothballs near garden borders, around plants and near the fence. Besides mothballs, there are a few other repellents for cats, like tobacco, mustard oil, cayenne peppers, lemon grass oil, citronella oil and lavender oil.

Going to a local lawn or hardware store will also give you some more options, in the form of sprinklers that are activated by motion. Install a system like this in your garden, and when a cat enters the area the sprinklers will start shooting water. If the cat has this experience a few times while coming to your garden, it will eventually learn to stay out.

One other method of scaring cats that works very well is using devices that emit sound at high frequencies, which humans can't hear. There are a number of options out there that work on this principle. You can choose one that starts when it detects motion and another that keeps doing the noise all the time. Just make sure you check for the area that the device can cover. As long as it can protect the entire garden, it should be all you need to get rid of unwanted visitors.

There are a number of commercial options also, like products that use scents to make the cats avoid going into your garden. However, you shouldn't use such a product in the vicinity of your food crops. It's not recommended because these repellents have a lot of chemicals in them. Look for these products in local department stores.

Having a garden means that you can expect unwanted visitors from time to time. Cats and other types of animals will show up if you don't take some precautions. If you do take precautions, you can make them leave your garden alone. As I said here, the first step should be securing the fence, followed by using water. If none of these works, you can try some commercial repellents as a last resort.

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Keeping Cats Out of Your Yard

If you want to keep your cat from leaving your yard there are a couple of things you can try. Cats can very easily jump fences so you need to make sure they are high enough to keep Fluffy within your yard. If you don't have a very high fence you can always install string or wire along the top to keep them off the fence. You can also invest in a cat leash. Just make sure it is long enough for the cat to walk around the yard but they won't be able to jump on a fence and hurt themselves.

Now, if you have neighbouring cats that you want to keep out of your yard there are a couple of things you can try. One of the easiest ways to keep cats out of your yard is to have a dog. Since they don't get along, Fido can probably chase Fluffy out of the yard.

Another way to keep cats out of the yard is by using water. Cats actually despise water so this is an easy way to get them to stay away from your yard. The first time you see a cat in your yard, you can either throw a bucket of water on them or spray the cat with your kid's water soaker or the garden hose.

To protect your plants from cats you might want to put mothballs down around your flower beds, shrubs or even along the fence. Other repellents to use are cayenne pepper, tobacco, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil or lemon grass oil. Some of these repellents will need to be replaced after a rain fall however.

There are also commercial repellents available as well but these shouldn't be used near your vegetable garden as they contain chemicals. They can be used to keep other animals out of your yard as well.

You might also consider using a motion activated sprinkler. These can be found at hardware and lawn stores. The sprinkler is triggered when the cat walks in front of it. It might take a few times but the cat will get the idea sooner or later that they are not welcome in your yard.

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The Cat - An Ultimate Athlete!

We all are aware that cats can move and move rather swiftly. We know that they are considered cunning and great hunters, but what most of us do not know is why are they can move so easily.

As a life long cat lover and the caregiver of many (notice I did not say owner) I decided to do some research on the agility of the cat and thought maybe you would like to know what I found out.

With the information found researching the Internet and articles I have found in various veterinary journals, I have learned how a cats moves.

If you were to ask Mother Nature, who is the most athletic animal in the world, she would answer, "the cat." Biologists say cats have not changed in the last 10 million years. Big cats and little cats all move the same. Their agility and flexibility is almost identical. All cats do the same pouncing, stalking low to the ground and running at top speed to catch their prey. It is an inborn trait that has never changed.

Compared to humans and dogs, cats are superior athletes. Not only can they move in ways we cannot imagine, the neurological transmission of signals to the brain and back to the body are faster than that of a dog, this gives them a faster responsive time in order to catch their prey.

All cats have 7 cervical vertebrae like almost all mammals, 13 thoracic vertebrae (humans have only 12), 7 lumbar vertebrae (humans have 5), 3 sacral vertebrae like most mammals (humans have 5 because of our upright nature.) Cats also have (except for the Manx and Bobtail) 22 or 23 caudal vertebrae (humans have 3 t0 5 fused into an internal coccyx.)

The extra lumbar and thoracic vertebrae take into account the cat's great spinal ability and flexibility. The caudal vertebrae form the tail of the cat and are used as a counterbalance to the body during quick movements.

Cats also have free-floating clavicle bones, which allows them to pass their bodies through any space into which they can fit their heads.

Interestingly enough, the tail of a cat acts like a rudder and in moments of speed and turning will move to the opposite side of the turn in order to keep the cat balanced. Cats without tails have trouble with balance.

The tail is also used as sort of a decoy, when a cat is hunting a bird. You may have seen the tip of a cat's tail moving back and forth, and thought it was from the excitement of the chase. It really is a type of ploy, to keep the bird interested in the movement of the tail, so it does not notice the cat.

Birds do not like snakes, but birds need to eat a lot of food and many birds when seeing a snake will keep an eye on it. Since the tail does resemble a snake, (with a little stretch of our imagination,) the bird keeps eating and our friend the cat sneaks up on it unnoticed.

Cats have unique shoulder blades (the scapulas); they are connected to the cat's forearms in such a way that the cat can crouch low to the ground for long periods of time. This ability to crouch down aids the cat in catching its prey.

Cats also have collar bones, (the clavicles) which are considered to be free-floating and allow the cat to move its body into any space it can fit their heads. Our clavicles are fixed and a dog only has what can be called a remnant of one, however a dog can also fit into tight spaces.

Cats have such powerful hind leg muscle power that even the strongest of humans could not compete with a cat when it comes to jumping. The front legs are equally powerful and cats can rotate their legs back and forth at a much greater range than most mammals.

Cats and dogs walk directly on their toes, with the bones of their feet making up the lower part of their leg. Cats also walk very precisely, like all other felines; domestic cats walk with what is known as a direct register. They walk by placing each hind paw almost directly in the print of the corresponding forepaw. This minimizes noise, visible tracks and provides sure footing for the hind paws, when cats navigate rough terrain.

All cats have retractable claws with the exception of cheetahs, which allows them to silently stalk their prey, you may have also noticed that cats have a protrusion on their front paws, often called the "sixth finger." This 'sixth finger" is the carpal pad which is located on the inside of the front "wrists" and it does not function in normal cat walking, but it is thought to be an anti-skidding devise used while jumping.

Cats can voluntarily extend their claws on one or more paws at a time; most of the time cats keep their claws sheathed with skin and fur around their toe pads. This keeps the claws sharp by not wearing them down by walking around and allow silent stalking of prey. Some think cats are ambidextrous and can use either paw, some cats however favor their left paw, which is controlled by the right side of the brain and controls movement and also shows that your cat is highly intuitive.

Cats have rather loose skin, which allow them to turn and confront an enemy even when it has a grip on them.

A cat's senses are attuned to hunting; they have a highly advanced state of hearing, great eyesight and touch receptors (whiskers) which make them great hunters. Whiskers help a cat with both balance and determining the width of a space. The whiskers help a cat feel its way around, especially at night. These whiskers act like tiny fingers transmitting information to the brain, they are an important part of a cat's awareness of its body and motion in space.

However, as athletic as cat is, it can suffer injuries. A cat has the natural ability to right itself during a fall, so that it lands on its feet. A complex organ in the inner ear, which determines a specific sequence of events, governs this ability.

In simple terms, this organ sends a message to the brain about the position of a cat's head in relation to the ground. In fractions of seconds, the brain commands the head to change position, in order to protect it. When the head is level, the cat flips the top half of its body around to face the ground, then flips the rear and uses its tail to adjust for any over balance. The cat lands on the ground with all four feet and its back arched to cushion the impact.

A cat can do this whole sequence from a distance as short as one foot and it takes a total of 1.8 seconds to accomplish it. Experts say a cat can survive a fall of more than 60 feet. All I can say to that is "wow."

In case you are wondering how does a cat know how high to jump. We have a six-foot privacy fence around our back yard and when our cats want to go out front they generally jump to the top of the fence and then jump down. I am always amazed to see them do this in one quick leap. Apparently this is a rare ability in the animal kingdom. A cat's face is flat between the eyes, so that both eyes can easily work together, it is because of this, that the cat can visually judge distances with remarkable accuracy. The cat can actually see three-dimensionally and focus more sharply. Amazing is it not?

Cats generally stay active for a good many years of their lives, the only thing that can impede their normal flexibility and balance are injuries and arthritis. Sometimes we are not aware that our cats have been injured and it is during their later years that these pre-existing conditions show up. Arthritis of course, can show up any time.

Cats are secretive about how they feel and you need to be alert in order to notice any changes in your little athlete's movements or behaviors. Some things you should be aware of are:
Excessive licking over the hip area, which may indicate pain Not wanting to jump anymore on the couch or bed A change in gait, walking a little strangely Crying out when being picked up Lack of interest in playing or doing other things it liked to do.

Many of these symptoms are treatable and you should take your cat to the vet should you notice anything different about its behavior.

The reason cats do not like to let you know they hurt, is that it is ingrained in their brain, as a protection against predators and is something they have never forgot. So it is up to us to be more aware of our cat's actions.

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Electrical Fences for Garden Use

When one thinks about electric fencing its tempting to automatically think of farms, rural living or maybe horse owners, either that or military installations! But more and more people are using these fence systems in a more domestic setting, for gardens and small holdings.

Electrical fence kits are available for use within home gardens where they are used to control or contain domestic pets. For example, they can be used to deter dogs from digging up flowerbeds or cats trying to catch fish from the pond, stop animals escaping or deter vermin from entering your garden.

These electrical fence kits are easy to install and are designed to have minimal impact on the look and feel of your garden. They are both affordable and cost effective, and are often light, so they can be easily transferred from one area to another.

Some common uses include:
Protecting pigeons and other birds from unwanted visitors Protecting smaller animals such as rabbits from cats and wilder predators Creating an open run for dogs rather than caging them Creating a temporary perimeter for troublesome animals or to encourage certain behaviours

Most 'pet deterrent' kits are very low voltage and pose no danger at all. The short, sharp shock your pet receives from the fence will get their attention, but will not harm the animal. It will teach them to avoid the fence in the future and stay within the boundary.

So, if your fed up of your dog tearing up the garden, escaping onto the streets or simply keep losing pets to that pesky cat down the street it may be worth considering installing a fence as a possible solution.

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Home Remedies to Make Stray Cats Stay Away

The majority of people either love or at least tolerate cats. However, there can be nothing more guaranteed to upset a home owner than other peoples cats using their garden as a public toilet or mating ground. This can be even worse if the person is a keen gardener or has young children who play in the garden.

Although most cats will attempt to cover up their business when they have finished they are not always successful. What they leave behind can be dangerous to others health, smelly and messy. So what steps can you take to solve the problem that does not involve considerable expense?

One of the most common remedies used to be to spread moth balls around the garden. This though just seems to replace one strong small with another although it will deter the cats. However, there have been claims that as the moth balls degrade the residue can be poisonous to other wildlife so this may not be the best solution.

One effective method to deter cats is to spread Black Pepper seeds around your garden or use a pepper spray. Another recommended deterrent is Citronella Oil which can also be very effective. To make the solution, simply mix a 25% solution of the oil with water and spray it around the areas that the cats use.

There are some plants of which cats are not particularly fond and if you plant some of these in your garden this can also act as a deterrent. It is strong smelling plants such as peppermint, geraniums lavender, garlic which if grown around the edge of the garden will work best. Do not make the same mistake as a friend of mine who planted cat mint instead of peppermint and had practically every cat in the district visiting.

Possibly the best method of keeping stray cats out of your garden is to strengthen your defences. Make sure there are no gaps under your fences or hedges that the cat can get through. Top your fences with chicken wire to stop the cat climbing up the fence and block any holes with chicken wire as well.

A simple method that has claimed the effective is to simply take an old garden hose and cut it into pieces and places these around the garden. Whether the cat mistakes these for snakes is not certain but there have been cases where this plan has worked. It is at least worth a try.

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Pet Fencing in Your Home - Things to Remember

Pets are domestically owned animals which are basically adopted for the purpose of companionship. One can have a large number of different pets such as: dogs, cats, rabbits, etc. All these animals are very lovable. They really make you feel special. We all love our pets. We really enjoy playing with them all day long. I would like to tell you that pet care is very essential for all the animals. So, if you really love your pet then you must read this article carefully.

Further in this article we are going to talk about pet fencing around your home. It is of utmost importance if you have pets in your home. Well, it happens sometimes that a dog runs away from the house or may be an outside predator enters your house and attacks your dog. So, for this purpose, pet fencing has been evolved. These pet fencings allow your pet to remain in a safe and sound environment. So, if you don't want your beloved dog or cat to get hurt then you must think about getting a fence around your house.

Pet fencing is certainly the best and the most economical option available with you. However, I would like to tell you that some of the pet fences are very ordinary. So, you must consider purchasing a good one. For instance, a wireless pet fencing is an excellent option for you to pursue. It is quite modern as well. It would not only protect your pet but also give your home a stylish look. These pet fences are quite simple to fix. You just need to follow some proper guidelines and instructions.

However, if you want you can even appoint a trained professional for this job. He could definitely provide you some essential help. Some of the individuals even make use of security alarms. In such fences, when your dog comes near the fence or tries to run away, the alarm starts to ring. This is quite a good option for you to pursue. I would like to bring this to your knowledge that pet fencing can be very expensive. You will certainly have to spend a lot of money in this regard.

So, it is important to note that one should consider his budget and overall needs before purchasing pet fencing. Make sure you read this article once. It could really help you a lot. Have fun!

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Keeping Cats Out of Your Garden

Cats are very agile and can jump very high making your first line of defense to secure the boundaries of your garden. Any gaps in your fence will allow access to your garden, so be sure to block them. A string or wire strung tightly across the top of your fence could discourage a cat from jumping into your garden.

Once a cat has made its way into your garden it might be difficult to discourage it from returning. A dog is a simple and natural way to discourage cats in your garden. Several breeds to consider are Pit Bulls and Dobermans, which completely dislike cats. Cats are very fearful of these breeds and will respect their presence.

Water also is a natural way to discourage cats in your garden. All cats are known to despise water. Water is almost always successful. When you see the cat in your garden, a well-aimed squirt with the garden hose or a bucket of water will send the cat fleeing. A cat that returns will get the hint that it is unwelcome if you continue to spray water at it.

Mothballs will protect your plants and are very effective because a cat does not like the smell. Use the mothballs around your plants, the border of your garden, and along fences and walls. Other repellents you can try are tobacco, cayenne pepper, lavender oil, citronella oil, mustard oil, and lemon grass oil.

Consider visiting your local hardware and garden store and ask about their motion activated sprinklers. Install a sprinkler system and once a cat enters the garden, the detector will pick up the cat's presence and an activated jet of water will soak the cat. The motion activated sprinkler system monitors your garden for any unwanted visitors, leaving you free to do other things. All it takes is a few encounters with the sprinkler before a cat learns to stay out of the area.

There are several different high-frequency devices that also provide a great way to scare off cats. The sound of the devices is not detectable to humans and they are available in models that stay on all the time and those that are motion detected. The model you choose should be strong enough to cover the entire area you are trying to protect.

Remember to secure the boundaries around your garden by physically blocking any areas that would allow access to your garden. Once you have done this you should try water first. If water does not work you can try some of the other suggestions mentioned in this article. Be persistent and determined and you should be successful in keeping your garden free of cats and other animals.

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Electric Fences Insure Pet Safety

There are two types of fences that will keep a pet in your yard: a high frequency fence and an electric fence. Both fences are effective at keeping animals from roaming, and will not hurt the animal. Electric fences emit a small electric shock to the collar the animal wears when the they have stepped past the property boundary line.

Eventually, the pet learns where that boundary is and will not go beyond it, risking a pesky shock reminder. This type of electric fence is very popular and easy to install. Only animals wearing a special collar will be shocked. This means that people can walk through the fence and not be harmed in any way.They will not even know it is there.

Electric pet fences are popular with people who have small dogs and cats. Many times, these pets want to roam around the backyard. Small dogs, however, will try to leave the yard especially to investigate noises. Small animals can put themselves into dangerous situations when they leave their yards. Dogs can sometimes get lost and will roam around the neighborhood until they (hopefully)find their way home. Electric pet fences provide the security people want for their pets. If people work all day and want to let their pet outside, they can do so and not have to worry about them. There are many cats that enjoy the outdoors. Protecting them from harm is every pet owner's mission.

Installing electric fences is easy. There are companies that will come to the house, inspect the yard, and give an estimate for electric fences. Usually an electric fence can be installed in a few hours. Many homeowners have them and other people do not even know it. The pet will have to wear a collar that will be activated if they cross the line and leave the area. Training a pet is easy and they will usually learn after a few tries. Having a fence is an extra security measure people take when protecting their pets.

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How To Keep Cats Out of Your Organic Garden

At my first gardening class, even the teacher mentioned that she had problems with her cats using her vegetable beds as a litter box. She adored her cats, but wanted to also eat fresh out of her beloved garden. What to do? She solved the problem by surrounding each plant that fruited low to the ground with flexible plastic fencing erected on sturdy stakes. You can usually find that fencing at hardware stores; the colors are usually orange or green.

When I saw that Turtle, our cat, had buried poop close to some green beans, I was immediately nauseated. What was I to do about the lettuce that grew in that bed? Even some of the green beans were touching the soil. I also had to wonder where else Turtle had buried her scat? Gross...

There are many suggestions for solutions to this problem. Some approaches involve chemicals: I steer clear of chemicals, and don't want them in my organic garden. Others involve deterrents like the fence that my gardening teacher erected or barriers that can be placed over the plants. I didn't want to do that because I deplore being blocked and having to work around barriers. Besides, who wants to take the time to erect a whole barrier?

Some clever person told me that cats need room to use the bathroom. Cats like to scratch, dig a hole, and turn circles around their "toilet." This person suggested that I poke sticks in the ground at regular intervals, with no space left over large enough to provide room for cat bathroom procedures. I had lots of chopsticks from Asian restaurants, bamboo stakes for vines, and tomato cages. I arranged them in my gardening plot in a way that discouraged cat usage AND acted as climbing fences for various plants. Double purposed procedures, I like that. I noticed Turtle went elsewhere after that.

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How to Train Your Cat to Recognize You

Imagine the joy of having someone at the door eagerly waiting for you, after you come back from work? Feels amazing, isn't it? Unfortunately, with humans this feeling dies down after a few years when the person waiting at home might get a bit accustomed to your timely arrival. It is not so with the pets, fortunately! Year after year, they will show the same enthusiasm when they find you coming home after a hard day's work. And that moment of joy is certainly enough to spruce you up!

Dogs jump and wag their tail to show their delight but in case of cats, they will come to you and lazily stick to you and more often wrap their tail around your leg! That is the way they show their joy and share their happiness. Cats are also known to have a short memory. In case you're not that active with your cat, they might even laze around the house looking confused with the people around it! Worst still, it might not be waiting for you to come back home.

Appropriate Training

The idea is to train your cat such that it recognizes your voice and sounds of the family members. The training ideally starts from a young age; naturally the older your pet member is the closer and the more comfortable will it be in your company. The appropriate word for this type of training would be 'reinforcement'. You have to condition your cat to have a positive reinforcement with you and your family. The best thing that could instill confidence in the cat could be hugs which you give it.

Interestingly, irrespective of the type of animal, it is the hug which makes one feel really special and close to your heart. Animals sense this feeling pretty well. In case you're not feeling like giving your feline mate a hug, don't fake it. It will understand your predicament and might very well go against your cat conditioning training!

Animals can sense the 'tone' in your voice. They will tell it when you're angry from when you're not. Calling your kitty by its name and sweetly is a great reinforcement exercise. With suitable voice modulations and hand movements, you can teach your kitty what to expect from its master. One of the fastest ways of sound-training would be to pat or scratch its back while you talk to it. It may seem to be lazily enjoying the 'treat' but it is actually all ears to what you're saying. Kittens learn faster than their adult counterparts.

Look at Them

As is taught in personality development classes, eye contact holds true even for pets as well! When you talk to your kitty lovingly, make it a point to look at it, while you're talking. This will help them reinforce and re-instill their faith and confidence in you. It shows them that their master actually cares for them. And never appear to have a frowned look; a pleasant look and calming eyes will teach them faster and train them better!

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A Simple Life, a Complicated Man: Finding Balance with Red Snow Fence

Cahuenga Press has just released Red Snow Fence by Harry E. Northup (Cahuenga is a cooperative press and Red Snow Fence is the 15th book they have published since their inception in 1989). The collection includes poems written from October 2002 through September 2005.

As I read Northup's poetry I would have felt like a voyeur were it not apparent that Northup's generous heart was inviting me into his private conversations about poetry, film and love, those most universal and thus most intimate themes. This is the delicate balance of Red Snow Fence, that tilted structure that holds the cold, harsh realities of the world at bay in order to allow us to live in a protected place. Artists like Harry E. Northup, gifted and yet generous with his gift, embody that structure. A constant theme in the book is his quest for a listening, open community of souls, willing to participate in a shared exchange as in past periphery:

communion requires depth,
mystery, respect, a listening to one
another

As I read and listened to his day-to-day life with his wife (poet Holly Prado) and his cats and his work, I could not help but weep at the simplicity, at the clarity of love, of passion and compassion that he embodies - just a man writing in the middle of the night with a cat on his lap and wife sleeping in the next room as in the night:

the night has always been a friend
& i am with cats, my wife sleeps
& i write, no longer alone

The book also chronicles his trials and triumphs as a working actor in Hollywood and in that world of material rewards, Northup reminds us that while some find only modest success and most grow bitter, there is something more important at stake in the reason heart:

& in 2 or 3 are there caring and comfort
& in most a desire to work, an uncaring
for films & directors i hold dear

& in hemmingway was the theme
of continuing life with grace & dignity
even though physical damage &
damage to the psyche has taken place

& the spiritual pain has an inner
indefinable reason to hope
& it is why i read & why i write

While the first two thirds of the book is grounded in the physical daily realities, the last third of Red Snow Fence takes us on a journey of night visions which seem to me to be part memory, part premonition. I was struck by the beauty in these abstract images and in awe of an artist who could go from the basic reality of everyday world to the surreal terror and hope and spiritual soaring of these poems. In particular, I responded to recluse of light, perhaps because the visions reminded me of my North Dakota roots, so similar to the earlier images of Northup's native Nebraska:

seclusion, green valley & then a
rolling disc, giant wheels turn
golden wheat, grain elevator, moon
full & golden also, an eye above a
dark ship, pushing in the darkness

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Stop Cats From Ruining Your Garden

Are the neighbor's cats getting into your garden? Are they coming over and using it as their personal restroom? Would you like to know how to get them to stop?

Does your yard have clearly defined boundaries? The first line of defense is to secure the area around your garden. If your yard is fenced in, be certain that there are no holes or gaps in that fence that would allow a curious cat to wonder into. Gardens are very inviting to the feline persuasion so if you make it too easy for him, he will come into your yard. When that part of the fence is secure, invest in a string or wire fixture above the fence line to detour the cat from trying to jump over. A few spills off the fence and he'll stop trying.

Once a cat has made its way into the garden, they will use it to their advantage over and over again. When they leave presents in the dirt, it's an invitation to keep coming back because they will smell their own scent. One excellent line of defense is to own a good watch dog. I'm not saying to get a dog simply for the purpose of chasing cats but only if you truly love dogs and would care for him like family. Having him out there in the yard is just a bonus and will definitely deter any kitty from coming into the yard.

Water is a cat's enemy. If you know of certain times that you spot the neighborhood cats frequenting your garden, just be sure to set your sprinklers to go off every so often, not in long watering jags, just short one minute intervals throughout the day. Your grass will get a good watering and you won't be wasting a lot of water. Not only will you have a mess-free yard, your garden will be in bloom with all the specialized attention. If you don't have automatic sprinklers, just squirt him with the water hose when you catch him coming into the yard. He'll get the hint after awhile. There are plenty of other gardens in the neighborhood he can spoil.

What about your plants and flowers? Well, mothballs work great in your garden because cats do not like the smell of these things. They will avoid a yard with such an odor so get some and place them all along the borders of your garden and along the fence line. No cat will cross that barrier.

The trick to keeping your garden growing green and healthy is consistency. Anyone who loves their garden will work at it diligently. If you're consistent in your efforts to keep those kitties at bay without harming them, your garden will be the best on the block bar none.

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Three Cats and a Dog

A section of the fence in my back yard is directly up against one of our neighbors fences. This has created a small hollow space between the two fences, which has been the birthplace for a number of cats. I always know when there is a new litter because my Lab Rocky starts spending a lot of time sniffing at the fence.

My six year old granddaughter is always trying to catch our wild cats. One day, she came running into the house carrying a long drooping corrugated black plastic tube about five feet long and three inches in diameter. The tube was wobbly and bouncing around as she frantically tried to tell me that a cat was inside the tube.

"Grandma the kitty's are stuck, they can't get out".

The limp black tube was covered in spider webs and dust so I quickly turned her and the tube around and followed her outside to the deck. I wiggled the floppy corrugated tube gently but it just bobbed up and down. Squeezing the tube with my hand, I felt a hard bump toward one end. Tiny scratching sounds and muffled meows could be heard. Out tumbled a little black and white kitty startling everyone. No sooner had it tumbled out than it ran under the wood pile at the end of the deck. Like an ostrich with its head in the sand, the little kitty's bottom half was stuck up in the air and not moving while the top half was covered by the wood.

All the while my big lab dog Rocky had been on our heels chomping at the bit trying to get to these little babies. Granddaughter is crying. I am yelling at Rocky while holding the corrugated tube that was bobbing up and down like an elephant's trunk. Out tumble two more little puffs of fur from the bobbing tube, one orange and one brindle. Rocky's ears and tail point upward like car antenna as he pounced. However, the kitty was a little too quick for him. In the blink of an eye, the orange puff of fur leaped off the deck into the pond. The brindle kitten has not been seen since. It was a perfect example of the fight or flight syndrome.

Meanwhile back at the other end of the deck, the world was coming to an end according to my granddaughter, who was wailing. By this time my husband had come out of the garage just in time to see the orange kitty swimming for its life as he reached down to pluck it out of the clutches of our Koi. The scene was chaotic. There were three little kittens being scattered in all different directions and Rocky was bouncing from one to the other and almost making contact with his paw. In the excitement I had dropped the corrugated tube on the deck. As I picked it up and turned around I saw a white kitty fly out of the tube and spread eagled against a blue sky up and over the Bird of Paradise. I have never seen a kitty walk on air before.

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How To Get Rid of Stray Cats and Live Happily!

This article outlines 9 steps that you can use to get rid of cats and live happily. Each step is listed and discussed below so that you can start benefiting straight away. Stray Cats are uninvited guests in one's home and this upsets so many people.

Because of their small size, domesticated house cats pose little physical danger to adult humans. However, in the USA cats inflict about 400,000 bites per year, with 90% of these bites coming from provoked animals; this number represents about one in ten of all animal bites.

Many cat bites will become infected, sometimes with serious consequences such as cat-scratch disease, or, more rarely, rabies. Cats may also pose a danger to pregnant women and immunosuppressed individuals, since their feces can transmit toxoplasmosis. A large percentage of cats are infected with this parasite, with infection rates ranging from around 40 to 60% in both domestic and stray cats worldwide

Let's list and describe the how-to steps involved when you want to get rid of cats and live happily.

Step #1: Installing chicken wire along the fence top

This initial step involves the fixing of chicken wire along the fence top to prevent cats from climbing over the fence into the yard.

Step #2: Remove food source from your yard

The second step in the process is to remove food source from the yard.leaving food bowls of your dog and other food sources would attract stray cats to your yard.

Step #3: Repel cats with fruit peels

The third step involves the use of peels from grapefruit, oranges, tangerine, citrus, lemon and lime. Eat the fruit and keep the peels which you cut into smaller pieces and put in your flowerbeds and other places in the yard.Cats detest the smell from these peels and keep away. Replenish peels at least once a week.

Step #4: Install a motion activated sprinkler

At this point you need to install a motion activated water sprinkler. Cats don't like getting wet and would keep away with the water sprinkler in action.

Step #5: Grow plants that are repulsive to cats

Now we move on to naturally repel cats by planting peppermint, geranium, rue, lavender, garlic, lemon grass and thyme.

Step #6: Sprinkle coffee grounds in your yard and flowerbeds

The sixth step is to make use of coffee grounds which you sprinkle in your yard and flowerbeds. Coffee repels cats and also keeps slugs and snails away.

Step #7: Apply coyote and fox urine granules around your yard

The seventh step is to apply coyote and fox urine granules in your yard especially the perimeter.Cats cannot afford to sniff the granules and so will keep away.reapply after rainfall or snow.

Step #8: Install a cat proof fence

This step involves building your fence in such a way as to make difficult for cats to pass through.

Step #9: get an outside dog

Lastly you may need to get an outside dog. This will prevent the cats from having a field day in your yard.

When you follow the listed steps you will be in a splendid position to achieve more benefits whenever you decide to get rid of cats and live happily.

This how-to article has provided an overview of the 9 recommended steps in "How To get rid of cats and live happily.

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The Effective Use of a Cat Deterrent to Maintain a Cat Free Garden

Many home owners living in built up areas find themselves plagued by the neighbourhood cats sneaking into their gardens where they spend their time digging up flowerbeds, chewing plants, scratching trees and worst of all using the whole area as a giant litter box.

They are active both at day and also at night when nobody is around to chase them away. They are also very territorial. If one or more cats take a liking to your garden you will find it very difficult to get rid of them.

Cats mark their territory by spraying plants with urine and fouling. Other cats will will see this as a challenge and soon you will find you have a garden full of cat mess as each cat remarks the area as their territory.

There are however a couple of tricks you can use to deter cats and reclaim your garden.

Cats are inherently lazy, so if you make a note of the routes they most often use to access your garden
you can take some easy steps to secure your perimeter. Block these up as well as you can - entrances under and around your fence should be blocked off with obstacles such as large plant pots, heavy wood or chicken wire. This will reduce the number of cats who prefer to get in via ground level.

More agile cats will climb up and over your fence, sometimes making use of window sills or nearby shed roofs to jump from. One type of cat deterrent that will come in handy here is plastic spiked security strips.
These can be deployed along your fence and on entrance ledges. Security spikes are uncomfortable for cats to walk on and will not cause them any harm.

The more seasoned cat that has already developed a toiletry habit in your garden will require a little something extra. Chemical, Mechanical and natural cat deterrents will need to be deployed to either scare away or dissuade a cat from sticking around long enough to get comfortable.

An important part of deterring cats from repeat visiting is to remove their droppings - they mark their territory with cat poo, so you must make sure you it away otherwise it will be an open invitation for them to come back. A pair of gloves and some of those plastic or brown paper bags can be used to bag and bin it. The area should then be disinfected with warm soapy water. Once this is done deploy some scented cat deterrent to seal the deal.

Chemical and natural deterrents are available which offend a cats sense of smell. Different cats react to different scents so a little trial and error maybe required to find the cat deterrent which is most effective against your particular visitors. For this reason you should try to minimize the number of cats getting in with physical means first.

Natural Cat Deterrents include:

Citrus - lemon juice or orange peel have been known to deter some cats. You can also buy Citrus sprays and Citrus infused sticks to ward them away.

Garlic, Vinegar, Coffee Grounds - these strong scents can deter cats, but bear in mind you don't want to make your own garden so smelly you wouldn't want to visit it!

Chili powder, Black Pepper, Cayenne pepper - cats dislike the scent, plus has the benefit of sticking to their fur so they get some negative reinforcement next time they lick themselves!

Lion Dung pellets - Cats are reluctant to compete with larger felines. Pellets soaked in the essence of lions urine acts as a very good cat deterrent. Put some of this around your fence perimeter to ward off curious but timid cats.

Next you should turn your attention to the cats favourite lounging spots and target the more aggressive feline visitors.

Ultrasonic cat deterrents such as The Big Cheese produce a ultrasonic noise which is outside the normal human hearing range and which cats find very uncomfortable. These devices are motion activated to save on batteries and should be positioned so that the cover the cats favourite lounging and messing areas.

An alternative device you can get is a motion detecting water sprayer. This acts in the same way as the ultrasonic deterrent, but will shoot a jet of water in the direction of the cat.
The sudden motion and refracted light will scare the cat away. Be advised - this device cannot tell friend from foe so be wary if you venture in front of it whilst it is on!

Cats which have gotten into the habit of being in your garden may take a while to deter. Don't be surprised if you see cat poop near your cat deterrent device as it tries to assert its authority. Some have even reported a cat trying to stare an ultrasonic device into submission, but it gave up after a while!

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Cat Enclosures - Treat Your Indoor Cat to the Outdoors

You may want to keep your kitty indoors for safety reasons especially after you see the statistics on outdoor cats' death rates, but everyone and everything needs some fresh air once and a while. So why not invest in something to let your cat enjoy the outdoors regularly and safely.

Sure you could go out with her and supervise, but cat enclosures make this process so much easier. And they come in such a variety of shapes and sizes you can us one on a deck or patio, in the yard or just attached to your apartment window.

Yes there are portable, fence like kennels that can be used for cats. Some can be attached to each other to create a large space for your kitty to run and play, and with the included hammocks and shelves there is plenty of space for lounging as well. These mesh cat enclosures set up quickly and offer a safe environment for your cat to enjoy the fresh air, watch the birds and soak up the sun. Both you and your cat will be happy. And you can even attach it to a cat door so your kitty can have secure, outdoor access any time she wants.

You can place one in the yard, by the pool or even in the home if you want a safe and fun place for your cat to be while you are not home. Simply place a litter box in the privacy section and don't forget their food and water bowls and they will be content. Yes, cat enclosures can help both you and your cat. Your cat gets a fun place to play and get exercise and you get piece of mind knowing where she is at all times.

If you want you can even create a carnival for your cat and some of her friends with a carousel and Ferris wheel shaped enclosures complete with colorful bell-topped flags on top that are purr-fect cat toys. You and your cat can easily enjoy the outdoors together worry-free.

If you feel a cat enclosure is not for you there are other options. First you need to equip your cat with a collar with ID. Then you can simply walk with a leash around the neighborhood. Or invest in an in-ground fence for cats to keep her in the yard. If you have a regular fence you will need to make sure she cannot jump out. A fence needs to be quite tall to keep your cat in the yard, but wire mesh hung at a 45-degree angle along the top is quite effective at limiting escapes.

So no matter what you decide to invest in whether it is a fancy cat enclosure or just a simple collar and leash; it is worth it to share the outdoors with your kitty. No longer will she stare longingly out the window at the birds she wants to play with or the yard she wants to explore. Now she can enjoy it whenever she or you want.

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Wireless Dog Fences - 11 WiFi Dog Fence Pitfalls to Consider Before Reaching For Your Wallet

Excited about the latest and greatest new wireless and WiFi dog fences on the market? Considered buying one to contain a pet in your yard? Before you do... there are some important factors you will need to make particular note of when determining if a wireless dog fence is right for you.

On the upside... wireless and WiFi dog fences are easy to install, fast to set up, no wires to bury and they're highly portable. Wireless dog fences are ideal for flat plots of land like we have here in Wilmington, NC and large country settings without many obstructions, but they're not ideal for all localities.

They are indeed faster to set up than a traditional underground pet fence because there are no wires to bury or attach to any fixed objects. To program your WiFi wireless dog fence, you place the wireless dog fence transmitter in the house, walk the dog fence receiver out to the outer perimeter boundary you desire, return to the base unit and save your settings. That does sound pretty easy right? "Easy" I've discovered is a relative thing when it comes to new technology.

If everything goes well during set up... yes it's easy. Setting up my home computer wireless router was supposed to be relatively easy in concept too, but it took a little trial and error, some "trouble shooting" guide reading, and system reloading to get it to work consistently. My Vonage internet phone set up was easy theoretically if all went well too, but it took a couple of attempts and still to this day (for whatever reason) I need to reboot the system to get it up and running again or I don't have proper service. My wired electronic dog fence? ...I just plugged it in and started training the dogs.

Because the wireless dog fence requires no buried wires, they are in fact, highly portable. (Underground dog fence transmitters can be moved from home to home as well, but you do need to have a second set of wire buried at the new location, or at least secured to the ground with landscape staples there. The dog fence transmitters themselves however can be moved simply by unplugging the antennae wires and power)

The wireless dog fences work differently than the underground dog fences in some important ways. Unlike the electronic dog fences that use buried wires laid out in a pattern that is customized to your yard and terrain, the wireless dog fences have a base station that sends out a signal in a simple circle pattern. You must place the transmitter in the center of this circle. Your dog or cat wears a receiver that constantly searches for this circular signal. If the receiver your pet is wearing loses the signal for any reason, the dog receives a warning tone and then a correction stimulation. Ideally this only happens when your dog leaves the circle you've determined is his/her safe zone.

Be certain the wireless or WiFi model you're considering is designed to NOT correct during power outage, or if battery back up unit fails. Remember, your dog receives a correction zap any time his collar receiver loses the base stations signal. Check also that there is a fast fail-safe shut off feature. Some shut off only after up to half a minute of repeated corrections! And make sure you charge the batteries each week if it's the rechargeable variety. They generally take 6-8 hours to recharge. If the base unit looses power, you may have only a half a day of receiver power because the dog's receiver will go into high gear to find that base station.

Because of their unique design, wireless dog fences are not practical in all situations.

Since most urban and suburban properties are rectangular, square, or irregular in shape, a circular safe zone for your dog may not be ideal. If you want your dog to be able to use the majority of your property, you may want a dog fence that can be laid out in straight lines as well as curves, circular patterns and around corners following your property lines.

Wired dog fences can be configured in nearly any shape and can also include additional "exclusion zones" such as a pool, flower garden or potting shed in the center of the yard to allow the dog full access to the entire yard, but not to these subzones. Additional zones can also be created with wired dog fences using just one transmitter to protect your dogs if they escape from the front door of the home accidentally; and also protects him/her in the backyard, but does not allow them to run around the house.

Another major consideration is the integrity of the signal.

Wireless units are ideal for flat yards without many obstructions. In order to work, the transmitter in the house must be within a "line of sight" of the dog. If you property has any steep hills or ditches, the dog could disappear from the range of the base station and receive a zap even if he's still in your yard.

According to manufacturers instructions, no radio signal can pass through metal, or may be reflected by any large metal object such as automobiles, water tanks, metal studs, metal buildings etc. The closer the metal object is to the base station, the greater the potential for unwanted interference and this will result in the reduction of performance of these WiFi units.

Here are a few other downsides to keep in mind if you're considering a wireless purchase:
Only 1-2 dogs can be put on the newest WiFi dog fences due to interference concerns, versus an unlimited number of pets on an underground wired dog fence system. Other wireless models do allow multiple dogs similar to underground pet fences, but have limited coverage areas up to a 90ft radius. Due to power requirements, battery sizes and weight of the receivers (twice that of some traditional wired dog fence receivers) some WiFi systems only recommend pets over 25 pounds be allowed on their wireless systems, others allow only pets over 15 pounds... what about your cats or small dogs? The WiFi transmitter base station must be in the heated portion of your home on a table, shelf and off the floor. This takes up space in your home and restricts coverage. Underground dog fence transmitters can be in the garage or crawlspace. If the base station is bumped, or moved by a child or other family member the coverage area outside changes too... your dog may wander into an area he was not trained to avoid, and thus receive a shock unfairly. Ouch! Wireless dog fence protection zones are limited to a 90 foot radius or 200 foot radius area. Underground pet containment systems can protect up to 50 acres in any shape desired. Some manufactures use contact posts that wear out. Rubber contacts lose conductivity over time. Those manufacturers recommend replacing them each time the rechargeable battery is replaced on the dog collar. According to set up instructions, if you experience interference with your TV or radio reception, you must experiment with new base station locations, different outlet plugs or call the dog fence dealer or an experienced radio or television technician for service. Special care must be given to the placement of the base unit in your home due to the "natural interference" of your homes walls and many obstacles. Place it in the back of the home for better backyard coverage and front of the home for better front yard coverage. And remember to not let it be moved once it's placed.

In summary, wireless and WiFi units are ideal for large, flat  properties without many obstructions. They work best if you want to limit your pet to a circular area surrounding your home. Other positives are that they're relatively easy to set up, fast to install, and are highly mobile.

The downsides are that wireless and WiFi systems lack layout flexibility, signal reliability and have limited coverage areas. If you live in an urban or suburban setting with a rectangular plot of land, or have a pool, flower garden or require other "exclusion areas", a buried wire system may be the way to go. If you have a yard bigger than a 90 to 200 foot radius circle will cover effectively, or it has uneven terrain, trees, outbuildings or other obstructions, a wireless outdoor dog fence is less than desirable.

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A Safe Cat Collar - Safety First For Your Cat

A safe cat collar reduces the risk.

You know how it is with cats they love to climb, they have got to do it! Up a tree like greased lighting, even if they can't get down once they are up, or with one push of those powerful rear legs they are on top of the garden fence. What skilled little climbing machines they are.

Usually cats enjoy their exploring and climbing adventures without any mishaps. But it does happen that collars get caught on branches, on bushes or on a nail in a fence post. When that happens there is a real risk of choking.

A safe cat collar reduces that risk considerably.

The are two kinds of safe cat collar available. One kind has a normal buckle or fastener, and a short section made of stretchable material. Should the collar get snagged on something it stretches out giving your cat a chance of escape. The other type is known as a breakaway collar or a safety escape collar. These have a buckle that snaps open under pressure if the collar gets hooked on something.

It needs to be said that the safety collar should fit your cat properly. Too loose a collar presents a real danger, loose collars get snagged far more easily than correctly fitted collars. Not only that but kitty can willfully remove herself from a loose collar. Out she goes through the pet door wearing her smart collar complete with ID tag. When she nonchalantly reappears she is collarless!

On the other hand a collar should not be too tight. As a guide, you should be able to get two fingers under the collar while your cat is wearing it.

Are safe cat collars expensive? No, you will find that escape collars are on average just slightly higher priced than ordinary cat collars. And you can kit your kitty out with a safety collar in just about any style you like. Plain, fancy and fancier.

Remember that kittens grow into young cats, and young cats grow to be adult cats, and some adult cats get overweight. The point being that you should regularly check that your cat's nice safe cat collar hasn't become too tight. If it has, adjust it so that it is comfortable, or if need be, buy a replacement.

If you like to walk your cat, as many folks do, do not attach the leash to a collar, any sort of collar, a harness should be used. If you attach a leash to a safety cat collar, when your feline strains against the leash, and she will - snap! The collar does its job and breaks open, come back kitty! Use a harness.

Identification tags are a good idea. Cats, as we know, have a habit of wandering and becoming lost, even indoor cats will make a breakout when they can, so ID is important for them too. But some cats will not tolerate an identification tag. They scratch at, bat at and claw at the tag, becoming quite stressed out. You can purchase a safe cat collar with your cat's name and your phone number embroidered on it. No need for a tag.

Fit your cat out with a safe cat collar - she'd feel naked without one.

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How to Keep Chickens Safe From Cats

Wondering how to keep chickens safe from cats and other predators lurking about your backyard? The first step is to build or buy a safe coop where your chickens can go to lay eggs and roost at night. In addition to a sturdy shelter, you'll need a protected yard space for flocks threatened by neighborhood pets, feral cats or any other predators during the day.

A simple, movable netting fence on stakes makes a great perimeter around a chicken yard, especially since it is easily repositioned to rotate the chickens' grazing area. This way, the grass will regrow while they scratch and range nearby. To protect the poultry from cats, electrify the netting with a battery- or solar-powered electrifier. This will both discourage predators and keep the chickens contained while still allowing them access to the grass they need.

To create a more permanent setup that doesn't involve moving fences or keeping them electrified, consider building two large pens on the grass outside your chicken coop. Having two separate areas allows you the benefit of pasture rotation, where they can be in one area for a time and then switched to allow re-growth. Chain link fence, built high enough to ward off cats or perhaps even continued across the top with more chain link to keep out hawks, is a very sturdy option.

Consider buying a livestock dog to guard the flock. Dogs bred or raised to protect sheep, goats, cattle and chickens are one of the best and least expensive way to ensure the safety and survival of your chickens. Shepherds, collie dogs, cattle dogs and other herd dogs are all good choices, but temperament, training and personality are more important than breed. Start with a puppy and introduce him to chickens from a very young age to help him develop a protective nature toward the birds. He will then protect them from cats as he grows up.

Vigilance is also key in keeping backyard chickens from coming to harm. Watch your chickens as they go through their day, and keep an eye out for prowling cats and other threats. If stray cats abound, call Animal Control or inquire with your neighbors to find out where they are from.

The final element to keeping hens safe from a cat is to give charge of them to a large, confident rooster. Roosters have a natural instinct to protect hens; they will fly at predators with spurs flashing and loud, strong squawking to discourage would-be attackers.

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Your Cat's Life Is At Stake Pick The Right Cat Collar For Your Cat

Finding the Ideal Cat Collar

If your cat goes outside it's a really good idea to use a collar. It lets other people know that the cat has a home, and if your cat should stray or get lost then the contact details on the collar will have you re-united with your cat in no time.

Deciding what cat collar to buy can be a more difficult choice than you think. Do you go with a flea control collar, a reflective collar, an elasticated collar, a buckle-on collar, or no collar at all.

Do flea collars really work? My experience has been that they don't, but they don't hurt either, so we can look at form and fit. Fit is the most important consideration when buying a cat collar. If the collar is too tight it can cut off the cat's air and blood supply. Choking your cat is not a good thing!! If it's too loose the collar can get caught up on branches and fences while your cat is out playing. Cats have an uncanny knack of getting out of any collar that's too loose. For kittens and still growing cats you'll want an adjustable collar to allow for some growth, but make sure you check the fit on a regular basis.

Most collars have 2 methods of fastening around the cat's neck. You have the traditional buckle style which is easy to put on and take off but the buckle can break. Then there is the slide through adjustable kind. This is a more secure way of fastening but it's also more difficult to adjust, especially if you have a cat that doesn't like having a collar on.

Most cat collars come with an elasticated or a breakaway section. This is a safety feature that allows your cat to escape the collar if it becomes stuck on bushes or fences. It helps avoid strangulation as well as being trapped. Even though a smart cat can figure out how to escape its collar, this is an important safety feature that you should seriously consider. Along these lines, buy a collar made of a material that can be easily cut through in emergencies.

Another feature you may consider is a reflective strip in the cat collar. This can be helpful at night, especially in areas that have a lot of traffic. The number one killer of cats is traffic, so give the driver every chance to see your cat, especially if it's a dark colored cat.

Many collars come with bells or some other noise making device. This is designed to warn potential prey animals that your cat is out hunting. The idea behind these is to avoid your cat bringing home gifts and presents, especially ones that are still alive!! In the main these devices are ineffective and its usually best to remove them so there's less to get caught up in bushes and fences.

If you have an indoor cat that you'd like to introduce to the great outdoors, try buying a cat harness and attach a leash. You should first practice with this indoors until the cat becomes accustomed to it. The next step - take the cat for walks; to the park, to the beach, or to Aunty Jane's house! You can train your cat to use the leash but it will take some time, practice, and a lot of patience.

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Cat Repellent or How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden

Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from using garden as litterbox? Tell me how to keep cats out of my garden. These are common questions of concern to all gardeners but is there a real answer?

The first line of defence is to ensure that your yard boundaries are secure. Any gaps in your fence should be blocked to deny low level access. But cats can jump so fix a taut wire or string some six inches above the top of your fence to deter this approach.

Once inside your garden many people say that the best cat repellent is a dog who will soon see off any feline invader. If you are not a dog lover then you will have to resort to more passive methods. Since cats like to lie on freshly dug soil you should lay mulch on your borders so that no bare soil is left exposed. Seed beds should be covered with wire netting or twigs arranged as a barrier.

Young trees should have plastic guards fitted around their trunks to protect them against use as a scratching pole.
Your garden pond should be covered with netting to keep your fish safe.

Cats are generally known to dislike water so a well aimed bucketful or a squirt with the hose will certainly make an intruder run. After one or two dousings it may learn the lesson and stay away.

To protect plants and borders both mothballs and citrus are said to be effective deterrents. Place the mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind in the borders. Alternatively spray cloths with orange scented air freshener and place the cloths around the plants you wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and mustard oil.

Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In particular rue but not catmint which has the opposite effect. Coleus canina is another plant which is marketed by one merchant as a cat repellent.

The broadcaster Jerry Baker has suggested treating your yard with a tonic made from chewing tobacco, urine, birth control pills, mouthwash, molasses, detergent and beer. A smallholder has reported success using dried rabbit blood but you may feel that the ingredients listed in the previous paragraph should be tried first.

If you visit your local garden center or hardware store you will find several cat repellent products on sale. These range from electric water sprinklers and ultrasonic devices to sprays and granules.

Motion activated sprinklers act in the same way as a burglar alarm using an infra red detector. When the cat enters the area covered by the detector the sprinkler shoots out a jet of water to scare the animal away. It is claimed that, after one or two encounters with the jet, the cat will learn to avoid the area.

Ultrasonic devices emit a high frequency sound which is annoying to cats (and dogs) but is not audible to humans. There are various different models some of which operate continuously and others which have an infra red detector and only emit a pulse of sound when the cat triggers the device. To be successful you need to ensure that the model is powerful enough to cover the area you wish to protect. In addition make sure that the sound frequency is designed for larger animals since some models are intended to deter insects and so would be no use for cats.

There are also commercial scent cat repellents. Those that use chemicals should be kept away from any food crops but the essential oil based granule varieties act in the same way as orange and lemon peel mentioned above. Another way to keep a cat out if the garden is a repellent evaporator which consists of a container holding puffed rice which has been impregnated with essential oils. These are effective for three to four weeks and can then be refilled for a further period. Another natural product which many people claim really keeps a cat out of the garden is lion's dung. You may need to visit your local zoo to obtain this although some stores do stock zoo poo.

In Ontario, Canada the local township provides a cat trap service. Once the animal enters the cage it cannot escape but is completely unharmed. The owner has to pay to recover his pet and so should be encouraged not to let the cat stray in future. Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats but just obtain another kitten. However this sounds like a good way of dealing with a cat that cannot be deterred by any other method. If there is no such scheme in your area, just buy your own trap.

So, to recap, the first priority is to secure your boundary fences. Then you have the whole selection of suggested cat repellents ranging from homemade recipes to expensive commercial gadgets. I would suggest that you try the orange peel and prickly twigs for a start. If you are around when the intruder appears, try the bucket of water or hose. Even if you miss, the shock may be a sufficient deterrent. If these do not do the trick, then you may have to consider the commercial alternatives.

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Cat Scratching Posts - They Provide Your Pet With a Nice Place to Scratch

The new furry feline that you brought into your home like to do one thing and that is scratch your furniture as much as you can. So, you need a way to keep him from ruining your furniture, well, turn to cat scratching posts to solve the problem.

Cat scratching posts will provide your cat with a lovely place to do his scratching. The reason is because of this cat furnishing's design as it simply sits on a pedestal and has a post that sticks out into the air. The pedestal that the post sits on will be weighted so the whole unit will not fall over and one will typically be crafted from some type of wood and then covered in a durable fabric like carpeting. There are some options that are even made with sisal rope instead of just carpeting, giving your feline an even better spot paw and play.

And, speaking of places for your cat to play, there are a slew more options than simple cat scratching posts. For instance, maybe your cat loves to run around and jump on things, especially your furniture again. Well, you can give him his own special spot to play by purchasing him a cat tree. It has the same type of shape as a real tree and is crafted out of wood and typically covered in carpeting just like with the scratching posts. Your kitty can jump from limb to limb to have a good time. Or, if you want to give your kitty an even better place to play, you can purchase a kitty gym for him. This selection is like a more extravagant version of a cat tree because in addition to featuring limbs, it also comes with perches, ramps, tunnels, hanging hammocks, and even hanging toys built right into them. If you do not have a lot of room to work with, but want your furry companion to have something nice to play with, you can always get him some toys like those motorizes mice that move across the floor all by themselves or other toys that have catnip.

If you feel like pampering your cat, not only should you look into getting cat scratching posts for him, but other deluxe cat furnishings like a posh place to put his litter box. There are actually selections that will enclose his litter box so he can have some privacy when he does his business. There are also perches you can put on your home's windows so he has a nice place to enjoy the view of the outdoors and even cat fences to keep your cat in your yard if he goes outside. For a nice way to see all these cat items, just turn on your computer and do some online shopping. It is an easy way to check things out and when you do decide on something, you can generally get it at a pretty reasonable price.

In the end, if your cat likes to scratching, provide him with a lovely spot to do just that with cat scratching posts. One would be a nice way to make sure your furniture does not get ruined.

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Underground Fence Review and Guide

Introduction and Considerations

What is every dog owner's first priority? Keeping your dog safe and secure! In many cases an underground dog fence may be just the ticket. Perhaps your homeowner's association does not allow unsightly fencing that will contain your dog. Maybe the expense of a traditional fence is just not in your budget. Maybe your determined dog keeps finding ways through, under or over your traditional fence. Whatever the reason and underground dog fence, when properly installed and your dog properly trained, is an effective, humane and low cost solution for most dogs.

What is an underground dog fence? An underground dog fence is a system consisting of a radio transmitter, wire that acts as a transmitting antenna and a collar with a receiver that picks up the radio signal from the fence when your dog gets too close. When your dog enters the warning area near the wire the collar beeps warning him to stay back. If he continues to move toward the wire he will receive a static shock or correction. Some systems have progressive corrections so that the closer the dog progresses toward the wire the stronger the static shock he receives. There is some controversy about the humane aspect of delivering a shock to an animal to deter him. Most experts agree however that when an underground dog fence is properly installed and the dog is properly trained to the fence that these systems are very humane and safe. Consider the alternative if your dog runs out into traffic or gets lost. There is some chance of your dog being traumatized by the shock of he is improperly trained and/or the correction levels are too high for your particular dog's size and temperament. Proper training is critical to success with these systems. Yes, it is true that your dog, hopefully, will not like receiving the shock no more than you like touching a door knob and getting a static shock. This is his incentive to avoid the boundary. While the shock is uncomfortable it is not in itself dangerous to the animal. Most systems have automatic shut offs if the animal does not move out of the correction zone to protect him from over correction.

Compared to a traditional fence an underground dog fence is fairly easy to install and should take less than a day with most applications. The hardest part of the installation is burying the wire. I offer four methods of burying the wire. The first is to use a straight edge spade shovel and use it to dig down about 3 inches and create a V-shaped trench to lay the wire in. The simply press the sod or dirt back in place. This is the most difficult and time consuming method. The second way is to use a gas powered lawn edger to cut a 3 inch deep trench. Lay the wire in the trench and replace the displaced dirt and press into place. The third method is to rent a trencher with a cable installation attachment. The trencher will cut the trench and lay the wire at the same time. The fourth method is to not bury the wire at all. Instead you can simple lay the wire above ground and use Pet Fence Staples to hold it in place. This method works well for low traffic areas and in grassy areas where the wire will lay deep in the turf. If you have to cross a driveway or sidewalk with the wire you will need to use a masonry blade to cut a groove in the concrete or asphalt and then use caulk to seal the wire into place.

There are many factors involved in choosing the right underground dog fence system. Some of these factors are discussed below. Later on I'll make specific recommendations based on these factors. Wireless dog fences are not considered in this discussion.

Size of your dog

The size of your dog is an important factor in choosing the right system. A small dog between 5 lbs and 12 lbs needs a receiver collar that delivers lower correction levels than you would need for a larger dog. By the same token a medium sized dog between 10 lbs and 60 lbs will need higher levels of correction than a small dog. And large dogs (over 60 lbs), depending on temperament, may need even higher levels of correction. Careful consideration should be given in the case of very large dogs to environment and temperament before choosing to install an underground fence. It may be necessary to install the underground dog fence in conjunction with a traditional fence for these dogs.

Temperament of dog

Another important factor in choosing the right system is the temperament of your dog. If your dog is mild mannered or timid (what I call The Home Body) then you may be able to get by with low levels of correction. If you have an energetic or curious dog (I call him The Explorer) then you will likely need higher levels of correction to overcome these traits. The Protector (larger, more aggressive breeds) might need even higher levels of correction. Underground dog fences have anywhere from 1 level of correction up to 8 user settable levels of correction. If you have a stubborn dog (I decline to name these guys) you will want to consider a system designed for stubborn dogs with the highest levels of correction.

Number of dogs or cats (yes cats) on the system

If you have more than one dog or even a cat, especially if they are significantly different in terms of size and temperament, you will need to select a system that is adaptable to these different traits. The PetSafe Deluxe Dog Fence Transmitter is compatible with the PetSafe Small Dog Fence Collar and the PetSafe Stubborn Dog Collar allowing you to mix and match collars for your pets. The PetSafe Underground Cat Fence is also compatible with this system.

Yard size

The size of your yard will influence your choice in Underground Dog Fence systems. Each system has a maximum size it can support from the DogTek Underground Dog Fence which supports up to 2 1/2 acres to the SportDog Underground Dog Fence which can enclose up to 100 acres.

Outside influences

When deciding to install an underground dog fence you might have a tendency to think only about keeping your pet home and from this perspective they usually work very well. There are, however, outside influences you should consider before purchasing and installing your fence. One of the biggest downfalls of an underground dog fence is that, while it will keep your dog in, it cannot keep other dogs, wildlife, predators or people out. If you live in a busy neighborhood with a lot of foot traffic or a lot of people walking their dogs past your boundary line you might want to consider keeping your boundary far back from these areas or installing a traditional fence of some kind in this area of your yard. While you and your dog know the fence is there other people cannot see the fence and your dog lurking near the boundary may frighten some people and may invite other dogs to enter the yard to say hello. Signs indicating an underground dog fence is in place might help but they can be unsightly and people unfamiliar with the technology might not trust it and still become frightened.

If you live in area where other dogs run loose an underground dog fence may not be for you as there will be no way for you to keep these dogs from entering your yard. The same goes for wildlife that your dog may chase or predators that may attack your dog. Most predators are active in the evenings and after dark so with proper precautions such as keeping your dog inside during these times you can usually avoid problems. With wildlife some dogs will get so hot on the chase that they will run through the fence and get stuck on the outside with no way to get back in until you notice their transgression. A fence with stronger correction levels and more intensive training may overcome this problem.

Existing fence

If you have an existing traditional fence and your creative thinking dog (The Explorer?) keeps finding ways out then you can consider adding an underground dog fence to keep him contained. This is the best of both worlds. Installation is much simpler too since you can simply attached the underground fence wire to the existing traditional fence.

Remote Training

A couple of these systems come with a remote control that allows you to use the collar for additional training functions where the dog may be some distance from you. These systems are the Innotek Fencing Standard Contain and Train Dog Fence and the Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Contain and Train Dog Fence. If you plan use a remote trainer then these systems will save you money and the hassle of switching between two different collars.

Compatibility with other fences and/or barriers

If you are planning to use your underground fence in addition to other containment products such as the PetSafe Pawz Away Indoor Barrier, the PetSafe Pawz Away Outdoor Barrier or the PetSafe Indoor Fence, or if you have dogs of different sizes and temperaments, you will need to choose a system that has collar compatibility between them. The PetSafe Deluxe, PetSafe Small Dog, PetSafe Standard and PetSafe Cat collars can be used with any current PetSafe underground fence and the PetSafe Indoor Fence. The Pawz Away and Innotek Ultra collars are compatible with the Innotek Ultra Transmitter as well as the PetSafe Pawz Away Indoor Barrier and the PetSafe Paws Away Outdoor Barrier. All other systems are compatible with their own transmitters only including the PetSafe Wireless Instant Fence which is not part of this review

System cost

For some of you budget for a system will play a role. All the systems listed below are time tested with maybe the exception of the DogTek which is new to the U.S. But you do get what you pay for. The lower cost systems will work well in the right environments and with the right pets but I would encourage to you buy the best system you can afford. The extra features could save you both time and money. For example, the cost of replacing batteries could become substantial over time. Also, expanding your system will only be possible if you purchase a system that allows compatibility. Features like a low battery indicator or battery backup could prove to be invaluable in the long run.

Battery cost

Battery life will vary depending on things like how often your pet approaches the barrier. Over time battery replacements, especially for the proprietary batteries used in the PetSafe systems could become a bigger expense than going with a rechargeable system.

Underground Dog Fences Considered...

Below are the pros and cons of the top selling underground fences available. Ranking for these products are based on a scale of one paw to five paws and rate the product for features and reliability.

Product: Innotek Fencing Standard Underground Fence

Price: $89.95

Rating: Two Paws

Pros:

Non-proprietary batteries Lowest cost system Progressive correction

Cons:

Single correction level No low battery warning Collar is not rechargeable Supports up to 5 acres No battery backup for the transmitter Not compatible with Pawz Away Barriers

Product: Innotek Fencing Standard Contain and Train Dog Fence

Price: $159.95

Rating: Two Paws

Pros:

Non-proprietary batteries Lowest cost contain and train system Progressive correction Includes a remote training feature

Cons:

Single correction level No low battery warning Collar is not rechargeable Supports up to 5 acres No battery backup for the transmitter Not compatible with Pawz Away Barriers

Product: PetSafe Standard Underground Dog Fence

Price: $119.95

Rating: 2 Paws

Pros:

Good reliable system Support up to 10 acres Compatible with PetSafe Indoor Fence Low cost

Cons:

Single Correction level Collar is not rechargeable Proprietary batteries No low battery indicator No battery backup for transmitter

Product: Innotek Fencing Rechargeable Underground Fence

Price: $169.95

Rating: 3 1/2 Paws

Pros:

Rechargeable Collar Premium transmitter Battery backup for transmitter 3 correction levels Supports up to 25 acres

Cons:

NiMH Battery Hums when recharging Not compatible with Pawz Away Barriers

Product: PetSafe Deluxe Underground Pet Fence

Price: $159.95

Rating: 3 1/2 Paws

Pros:

Compatible with other PetSafe collars Compatible with PetSafe Indoor Fence Reliable mid range system Higher quality Collar and receiver Supports up to 25 acres 4 correction levels Low battery indicator

Cons:

Proprietary batteries Collar is not rechargeable No battery backup for the transmitter

Product: Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Underground Dog Fence

Price: $279.95

Rating: 4 1/2 Paws

Pros:

Collar is rechargeable, uses a lithium ion battery Low battery indicator Contoured collar with collar fit feature Compatible with Pawz Away barriers ReadyTest feature to ensure collar contact

Cons:

No independent correction level for different size dogs

Product: Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Contain and Train Dog Fence

Price: $319.95

Rating: 4 1/2 Paws

Pros:

Collar is rechargeable, uses a lithium ion battery Low battery indicator Contoured collar with collar fit feature Compatible with Pawz Away barriers ReadyTest feature to ensure collar contact Included lightning protection Includes a remote training feature

Cons:

No independent correction level for different size dogs Larger collar than the Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Underground Dog Fence without the remote training feature

Product: PetSafe Stubborn Dog Underground Fence

Price: $159.95

Rating: 3 1/2 Paws

Pros:

Strongest correction strength available Compatible with other PetSafe collars Compatible with PetSafe indoor fence Supports up to 10 acres 5 correction levels Collar vibration Uses a standard 9 volt battery

Cons:

No battery backup for the transmitter Collar is not rechargeable

Product: PetSafe Deluxe Small Dog Fence

Price: $199.95

Rating: 4 Paws

Pros:

Smallest, lightest collar available Lower correction levels 4 correction levels Compatible with PetSafe indoor fence Compatible with other PetSafe outdoor systems Designed for dogs under 12 lbs Supports up to 25 acres

Cons:

Proprietary batteries Collar is not rechargeable No battery backup for the transmitter

Product: SportDog Underground Electric Dog Fence

Price: $219.95

Rating: 4 Paws

Pros:

Independent correction levels Comes with 1000 feet of wire Supports up to 100 acres, the largest available 4 correction levels Collar vibration feature Very durable collar Uses a standard 9 volt battery

Cons:

Collar is not rechargeable Large clunky receiver No battery backup for the transmitter

Product: DOGTEK Pet Containment System

Price: $149.95

Rating: Unrated

Pros:

8 correction levels Separate configurations for warning distance and correction distance

Cons:

No low battery indicator Less wire and flags than other systems Supports only 2 1/2 acres New and unproven

Recommendations

Okay you say, that is all fine and dandy but which underground dog fence do I want? Well read on and I'll do my best to point you in the right direction...

Single Dog, or Multiple Dogs of Similar Size and Temperament

For most situations I recommend the Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Underground Dog Fence. It has a good balance between features and value and is our most popular underground dog fence. It is very reliable and holds up with time. This fence has 3 levels of correction which are progressive meaning the correction gets stronger as the dog stays in the correction zone. It has a lithium Ion rechargeable collar which will likely save you money over the long run. The contoured collar with collar fit test is a great feature and it is compatible with the PetSafe Pawz Away Indoor Barrier and the PetSafe Pawz Away Outdoor Barrier. This fence is not for dogs 12 lbs or under and can enclose up to 25 acres with additional wire and flags. The only real downside to this system is that the collars do not have independent correction levels making this system unsuitable for dogs of different sizes and temperaments. There is a workaround for this which involves placing a resistor across the probes to reduce the correction level. You can pick up these resistors at Radio Shack. A 33k ohm resistor will reduce the correction level by about 50% and a 5.6K ohm resistor will reduce the correction level by about 75%. If you do this please make sure you remove the resistor before recharging the collar. Frankly, I believe this workaround to cumbersome for most and would recommend a different system for multiple dogs of different sizes and temperaments. Oh, did I mention that this system has battery backup for the transmitter? So when the power goes out your dog still stays in.

Multiple Dogs of Differing Sizes and Temperaments

For multiple dogs of different sizes and temperaments I recommend the PetSafe Deluxe Underground Pet Fence. With this system you can add on collars that are designed for the size and temperament of your additional dogs or cats. It is compatible with the PetSafe Standard Collar, the PetSafe Deluxe Collar, The PetSafe Small Dog Collar, The PetSafe Cat Collar and the PetSafe Stubborn Dog Collar making this an excellent choice for this situation. All these collars have independent correction level adjustments so each dog gets an appropriate correction. These collars are all compatible with the PetSafe Indoor Pet Fence as well. The biggest downside to this solution is that each collar uses disposable proprietary PetSafe batteries that can increase costs over time.

Very Small Dogs (5 lbs - 12 lbs)

The only real good choice for the very small dog is the PetSafe Deluxe Small Dog Fence. The collars on other systems are too large and bulky to be comfortable on very small dogs. Additionally the correction levels on the deluxe small dog collar are lower than on any of the other collars. If you already have another PetSafe underground dog fence you can add the small dog collar to that system as well.

Stubborn, Aggressive or Very Large Dogs

If you have a stubborn, aggressive or very large dog you may need the extra corrective level of the PetSafe Stubborn Dog Underground Fence which is 3 times higher than other collars. Often times people think their dog needs a higher correction level when the real problem is that the prongs on the deluxe or standard collar are not making good contact with the skin or they have not properly trained their dog. Before using the higher setting on this collar be sure that these two factors have been addressed.

Extra Large Yard (25 Acres to 100 Acres)

For extra large yards over 25 acres the SportDog Underground Electric Dog Fence is the only choice. This fence has a range of up to 100 acres unlike other's that range from 2 1/2 acres to 25 acres. The SportDog underground dog fence is one of the toughest, most durable systems. Beware though; the receiver on this system is one of the biggest out there.

In Conjunction with a Traditional Fence

If you already have a traditional fence and you need reinforcement you keep your dog from digging under, climbing over or otherwise escaping you may be able to get by with one of the entry level systems like the Innotek Fencing Standard Underground Fence or the PetSafe Standard Underground Dog Fence. Keep in mind all the other factors to though and remember that if you have a stubborn or large dog these systems may not have enough correction.

In Conjunction with Remote Training

If you have the need for a training collar in addition to the underground dog fence then I recommend the Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Contain and Train Dog Fence for all the same reasons I recommend the Innotek Fencing UltraSmart Underground Dog Fence. The contain and train fence includes a remote control that allows you to correct your dog from a distance. The collar on this system is slightly larger than the collar on the UltraSmart dog fence. This size difference makes it unsuitable for dogs less than 25 lbs.

Conclusion

I hope this article has been helpful. If you have questions about underground dog fences you can email me at the email address below and I will try to answer your questions a quickly as possible.

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