Right after I moved in February 2005, (with only 23 cats), I wanted to do something to let the cats outside. I ended up with one enclosure that was 25' x 25' which was fine for a while. But after our population kept growing and growing, and the ferals in the basement were too scared to come up the stairs into the house to make it to the enclosure, I knew I had to do something else for them.

I investigated some of the fencing systems but was just too afraid to make the leap. What if someone escaped and was killed or injured? What if one was hurt trying to escape? Lots of worries (I'm a worrier....) So I put it off. That was until we had a few deaths beginning January 2006 and I changed my mind. All of the cats deserved to be able to go outside and run full speed through the grass and climb the wonderful trees in the yard. So, I took money from my IRA and ordered PurrFect Fence. In my research, it seemed to be the safest and most reliable fencing system out there. I had the chain link in the back yard already and by sitting the cat fence inside that, I added an extra layer of protection from intruders. And the dogs usually do a pretty good job of keeping other critters away.

So, I put up fencing in the front yard first as my test. I had a skywalk built from a front bedroom window over the driveway and down into the enclosed area. Only friendlies that come to me get to go outside there - as they have to be let in and out of that bedroom that leads to the skywalk. The first couple of nights, I was very nervous about letting them stay out all night and put a door up so they could stay out on the skywalk but weren't allowed down into the yard. After a few days of watching their reaction when a perceived threat was around (they all flew to the skywalk), I realized they would run there at night, too, and so, I let them stay out all the time.

The very first night I opened the enclosure though, I did put them in at night, and the next morning when I let them out, they went through the window but ran back in. Strange, I thought. Until I saw why. A cat named Chris was out there and I couldn't figure out how he got there. I didn't remember letting him in the room. Then I realized it WASN'T Chris. It was a stray who had gotten INSIDE the fence and couldn't get out. So, here was my test feral. I watched him run the perimeter of that fence for about 30 minutes trying to get out (even though I had the gate open for him). So, I thought, it really works. He eventually got out and even though I set traps for days to try to get him for neuter, I've only spotted him twice since.

It took me a few more weeks to install the back fence but I did get it up after Memorial Day. The cats are having a blast and it's just incredible to see them all out having such a good time. There's a window open in the basement for the ferals that hang out down there and they come out now, too. Every cat in the sanctuary has access to the outdoors now.