Installation Tips for Cat-Proofing a Storey Balcony

There are various ways to make a storey balcony cat-safe with a net. The ideas below are suggestions only, not requirements. They can be combined and adapted to suit your individual needs.

New: We have compiled all installation methods as videos. Watch installation videos at boy-katzennetze.de and also in our installation video library.

When Drilling Is Permitted:

1 – Plastic-coated hooks are screwed into the underside of the balcony above at intervals of approximately 30 cm. The BOY cat net is later hung into these hooks. To ensure the cat net has a neat finish at the top and does not sag too much between the hooks, thread our 3 mm braided rope (tensioning rope) through the first row of meshes of the cat net. This is then hung into the hooks together with the cat net, tensioned, and knotted at the hooks.

As an alternative to the braided rope, we can also attach a border chain link to the upper long side of the net (please note the minimum net size - see custom orders).

2 – Another option is to attach the BOY cat net to the underside of the balcony above using a batten (e.g. made of wood or aluminium – available at any DIY store), which has been threaded through the top row of meshes of the cat net beforehand, and securing it to the ceiling with a few screws (you should obtain permission from your neighbour or landlord before doing so).

To guide the cat net properly around the balcony corners, you can use our pull-out telescopic poles, which are secured in the balcony corners using corner wall brackets.

Keep in mind that the net should not be pulled too tight. Depending on the weather, it will contract or expand.

3 – For a brick balcony parapet, our pull-out telescopic poles can be used. They are attached (screwed) to the brick parapet using wall brackets and corner wall brackets, at spacings of approximately 2 metres. The wall brackets can be mounted on the inside or outside of the balcony (to allow easier access to plant boxes).

The cat net is attached to the telescopic poles using net ties. A braided rope must be threaded through the top row of meshes to prevent the net from sagging or collapsing between the telescopic poles.

As an alternative to the braided rope, you can connect the pull-out telescopic poles with our frame system. This gives the entire net construction even greater stability, and the net will not sag between the poles.

Recommended Installation Accessories (with drilling)

• Telescopic Rods (pull-out)
• Pole mounts for walls/corners
• Screw hooks
• Screws
• Braided rope
• Net ties
• Cat net
• Battens (from a DIY store)
• Frame system

Installation WITHOUT Drilling:

1 – If drilling is not permitted – which is the case in most situations – there are fortunately still several ways to securely attach a cat net. One good option is the use of tension telescopic poles. The prerequisite for this type of fixing, however, is that both the balcony floor and ceiling are made of concrete. Balconies with soft materials (e.g. wood or older buildings) are not suitable, as they cannot withstand the pressure of the telescopic poles and the tension poles will topple over.

Tension telescopic poles also need to be placed at spacings of approximately 2 m to prevent the net from sagging too much between the poles. To stop the cat net from collapsing between the poles, a braided rope must be threaded through the top row of meshes.

The telescopic poles have a hole at the top for attaching the net together with the braided rope. Please do not thread the braided rope directly through the holes, as the rope will chafe through very quickly. Instead, use a net cord threaded through the hole, and then attach the net together with the braided rope to this.

The cat net is attached to the tension poles using net ties of approximately 140 mm in length. For a larger mesh size, the telescopic pole can also be threaded through the meshes. However, this is not straightforward and is quite time-consuming.

To prevent the cat from escaping under the net, a batten should be threaded through the row of meshes resting on the floor and secured to the tension feet of the telescopic poles using net ties.

2 – For a balcony parapet with a handrail, our pull-out telescopic poles are used together with the telescopic pole brackets for square or round handrails. The telescopic pole brackets are attached to the balcony handrail with 2 screws. A very stable and long-lasting fixing.

The telescopic poles should be installed at spacings of approximately 2 metres. For added stability, the telescopic poles can additionally be connected to one another at the top using our frame system.

With this construction, instead of threading the braided rope through the top row of meshes, you thread the connecting rods of the frame system through it.

At the bottom, the cat net is also attached to the railing with net ties. If there is still a gap below the railing, allow the net to hang down to the floor. Thread a batten (made of wood or metal) through the row of meshes resting on the floor. Then secure the batten to the railing base posts using net ties.

Required Installation Accessories (without drilling)

• Telescopic poles
• Telescopic pole brackets
• Net ties
• Plastic-coated hooks (with wall plugs)
• Braided rope
• Cat net
• Battens (from a DIY store)
• Frame system