5 DIY Cat Fence Roller Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
By Oliver Jones
Updated on
Cats are curious creatures that can benefit from exploring outside in an enclosed backyard. However, their curiosity can sometimes get the better of them, and with their agility, they can easily hop fences and escape your yard. Fortunately, there are certain safeguards that you can place in your backyard to prevent your cat from leaping out. One of these safeguards is the fence roller.
You can purchase manufactured fence rollers and have them professionally installed, but this can end up costing you hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. So, before you look into buying a commercially made fence roller, here are some cheaper DIY alternatives that you can try out.
The 5 DIY Cat Fence Rollers
1. Basic PVC Pipe Installation by GoJo DIY & Vlogs
| Materials: | PVC pipe, zip ties |
| Tools: | Hand saw |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
This DIY fence roller is a basic design that can keep some cats from leaping over a fence. It provides a rounded surface so that cats have a harder time getting a solid grip.
It’s important to make sure that this DIY fence roller goes on a fence that’s at least 6 feet tall. The reason for this is that the PVC pipe is stationary and tied with zip ties. So, if the fence is too low, cats can easily jump over it and land on the other side.
2. Roller Bar Fence DIY Project by Your Sassy Self
| Materials: | 1-inch PVC pipe, 3-inch PVC pipe, steel wire, L-brackets, wire anchor logs |
| Tools: | Tape measure, electric drill, wrench, hacksaw, wire cutters |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
This roller bar is a little more intricate and requires some installation. However, cats will have a harder time jumping over a fence because the PVC pipe will roll when cats step on it. The roller consists of two differently-sized PVC pipes. One goes inside the other to keep the outer pipe rolling smoothly. This design allows the roller bar to work more effectively on lower fences.
However, since cats are very agile, some of them can still manage to balance on the roller before hopping over to the other side of the fence. So, you still might have to install other safeguards, such as netting.
3. How To Build a Roller Bar Fence by DIY Projects ideas 2 live 4
| Materials: | ¾-inch electric conduit metal pipe, 25-inch-long PVC pipe, L-brackets, 2×4 wood plank, wood screws, bolts |
| Tools: | Drill |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
The construction of this roller bar is customizable to fit your situation. The instructions provide an outline of the basic structure, and then you can use some of the example photos to modify the bar.
For example, with a few simple changes, you can have the roller bar installed on a wire fence instead of a wooden fence. You can also easily add another tier of roller bars on top of the first one to create a more challenging obstacle for cats.
4. PVC Pipe Roller by Neartownvet
| Materials: | L brackets, 3/16-inch light-duty clips, #10 x 1-inch flat Phillips head screws, vinyl-coated cable, 3-inch PVC pipe, 1-inch PVC pipe |
| Tools: | Screwdriver, socket wrench, wire cutters, saw, measuring tape |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
Here’s another video showing how to create a simple and effective cat fence roller using PVC pipes. Attach a horizontal PVC pipe to the top of your fence using brackets, ensuring it can rotate freely. When a cat attempts to climb over the fence, the pipe will spin, making it difficult for them to get a grip and preventing them from climbing over.
5. Mesh Fence Topper by cuckoo4design
| Materials: | Curved metal brackets, mesh, staples, zip ties |
| Tools: | Stapler, scissors/wire cutters |
| Difficulty: | Intermediate |
Although not a true “roller”, you can create a mesh fence topper that has a similar effect by attaching flexible metal or plastic fencing material horizontally along the top of your fence. The flexible material will make it difficult for cats to climb over as they attempt to jump and grab onto the surface. The mesh also creates an unstable barrier that cats will find hard to grip, preventing them from climbing over the fence. All you need to do is attach the curved brackets along the top of your fence and attach the mesh to the brackets and fence using zip ties and staples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keeping your cats safe while they explore your yard is a top priority, and a fence roller can help protect your cat to a certain degree. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions that many concerned cat owners have had about fence rollers.
Do Fence Rollers Work for Cats?
Fence rollers can work for some cats, but it depends on the cat and the type of fence that you have. If you have a particularly agile cat, using a fence roller alone will most likely not keep them inside your house. Cats can jump up to six times their height, so many can scale a 6-foot fence. They can also learn how to maneuver in between gaps or climb over a roller if they can get a good grip on the base of the fence.
So, cat owners of clever and determined cats will usually have to use a mixture of other fixtures and items to discourage cats from climbing a fence and escaping.
What Can I Put on Top of My Fence to Keep Cats Out?
There are several other things you can add to your fence to try to deter cats from climbing them. First, you can try putting a sticky tape lining on top of your fence. The tape feels uncomfortable and unpleasant, and it can discourage cats from approaching the fence.
Another option is to line your fence with netting that slants inwards towards your yard. This creates a concave cradle that makes it more difficult for your cat to escape.
Can You Put Spikes on Your Fence to Stop Cats?
There are humane cat spikes that you can use to line the base of your fence. These spikes are very uncomfortable for cats when they walk over them.
When shopping for cat spikes, it’s important to make sure that the mat is specifically designed for animals and has been tested to be humane. The last thing you want is to injure your cat or have any other injured animals stranded in your yard.
Final Thoughts
Fence rollers can be a helpful tool that prevents your cats from escaping your yard. However, you often have to use other methods in conjunction with the roller to cat-proof your fences. It can be a challenge to figure out ways to keep your cat from hopping over your fence, but it’s possible if you find the right combination of tools.
If you have a particularly clever cat, you can always use an outdoor kennel to keep your cat in a safe area while you find a way to cat-proof your fences.
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Featured Image Credit: Kalo Kanev, Shutterstock
