WHY DO CATS ROAM?
Every astute cat owner knows cats are curious about everything which can get them into a lot of trouble! Cat in a tree; cat jumping onto a hot stove; cat getting into a tight space―just to name a few. But, by the same token, they are amazing escape artists. Many cats have a natural inclination to roam beyond the boundaries of their owners property to explore the surrounding environment.
It's important to understand that cats don't roam because they don't like the company of their owners; They roam because their natural instincts tell them that there may be interesting objects & scenarios to discover nearby. It's understandable even from a human point of view, why would a cat stay within the confines of their yard when it is so easy for them to scale the wall & make a quick exit to explore new surrounds?
Although we like to think our cats are intelligent enough to avoid danger whilst roaming, unfortunately most cats lack the foresight & awareness to stay completely out of harms way. Cats that roam freely can also become a significant nuisance to the community by using the neighbours gardens & yards as a bathroom, digging up plants, killing wild birds & small animals, & if they are not spayed or neutered, by reproducing and often leaving kittens that end up in shelters
It's a misconception that cats NEED to roam to be happy. Cats are generally highly adaptable to changes in their environment & can adjust well to being contained to their own garden. You can make your garden an enriching environment for your cat by adding objects your cat can explore & utilise such as a cat scratcher, a cat tree, a tree stump, cat grass, & a nice comfortable bed.
ROAMING CATS FACE MANY DANGERS BEYOND THE FENCE LINE
~ vehicle accidents
~ dog attacks
~ cat fights
~ catching infectious diseases from other felines
~ injury inflicted by 'cat hating' neighbours
~ consuming poisons
~ getting lost or 'cat-napped'
~ impoundment by Council Rangers
~ becoming stuck up a tree, in a shed, garage, drain etc.
NO CAGES. NO NETS. NO ELECTRIC CURRENTS. SO WHAT IS OSCILLOT®?
Oscillot® was invented by South Australian by filmmaker, Paul Bok, in 2006. Paul noticed an obvious lack of options for cat owners to keep their beloved feline friends safe at home. The only options on the market at the time appeared to be either cages or netting... & let's face it, who wants to turn their yard into a prison! After extensive research & development, Oscillot® was born, right here in Australia!
HOW DOES OSCILLOT® KEEP CATS SAFE?
With most yards, installing Oscillot® alone results in successful cat containment. Keeping in mind, if there are trees, or other ladders or platforms next to the fence, these may need to be 'cat-proofed' also so they cannot be used to aid in an escape.
For Oscillot® to be most effective, the cat needs to be jumping from the ground to the top of the fence in a single motion with no help or anything to climb on the way up!
WHICH FENCE TYPES ARE SUITABLE FOR OSCILLOT®?
Oscillot® is perfectly suited to metal fences; the Stratco Good Neighbour fence is perfect for installation of this system because of its clean lines & the absence of posts & rails. Oscillot® can also be installed onto other types of fence including Colorbond, Post & Rail, Timber/ Wooden, Masonry, Vinyl, Super 6 and Composite Fencing.
For Oscillot® to be most effective, we recommend that it is installed to fences with a minimum height of 1.80 metres (6" foot). This recommendation is made because this is the height at which the system has been tested & proven to be effective. For fence heights lower than 1.80 metres, the concern is that a cat could scale up the fence whilst still maintaining enough composure & steady momentum to place a paw under or over the top of the Paddles & get enough of a grip on the fence to scurry over.
FAQs
Oscillot® is a system that is designed to keep pet cats safely and effectively contained to their own yard.
Cats use a jump-grab-climb action to scale fences, Oscillot® is designed to counteract this technique by preventing the 'grab'.
The system itself consists of a series of four-bladed aluminium paddles, which are mounted along fence lines between end posts containing bearings. When a cat tries to jump and scale the fence, they place a paw on the paddle, which then spins; the cat cannot get traction and falls safely back to the ground.
Oscillot® is fast-becoming the most popular choice for cat owners to contain their feline family members because it is designed for DIY installation, there are no wires, cages, netting, or electric shocks, it is very unobtrusive and blends aesthetically with your yard and it is 100% Australian made and owned from high quality materials.
Oscillot® is made from several components including the Paddle, Dual Knuckle Post Kit and Bracket.
The Paddles are made from high quality extruded aluminium that is then powdercoated to its final colour. The Dual Knuckle Post Kit is made from long lasting, hardwearing acetal plastic that is designed to withstand outdoor weather extremes. The Bracket is made from stainless steel that is then powdercoated in a black colour finish.
Oscillot® is available in Cat-Proof Fence Kits ranging from 2 metres up to 100 metres. Each Cat-Proof Fence Kit is made up of Paddles which are all a standard 2 metres in length. The Paddles can be cut down to size as required.
Click here to view our colour options
Oscillot® is manufactured entirely in Australia
We don't promote Oscillot® to keep cats out as such. Whilst having Oscillot® installed around the perimeter of your yard can certainly help to deter neighbouring and stray cats from entering your property, it is not fool-proof. Cats may still find a way to enter using trees, sheds, garages etc. in the neighbouring yards to get up and over the system and into your yard.
We cannot recommend using Oscillot® to stop dogs from scaling fences because at this stage, there is no evidence as to effectiveness in keeping dogs contained nor has the required testing been carried out.
No. Oscillot® has one of its blades slightly weighted which prevents spinning or making noise in the wind.
Yes. We recommend that Oscillot® be installed on fences at a minimum height of 1.80 metres or 180 centimetres. This is the height at which the system has been extensively tested and demonstrated to be effective.
At least 1.80 metres in height &
• Metal (Colorbond, Post & Rail, Good Neighbour, Galvanised)
• Timber (Paling, Lap & Cap, Horizontal Slat)
• Super 6
• Walls (Masonry, Concrete, Fibro)
• Vinyl
• Composite
Balcony balustrade/ fences generally are not suitable because the minimum recommended fence height for installation of Oscillot® is 1.80 metres.
Balcony balustrade are generally between 1.2 metres and 1.5 metres, which is too low and Oscillot® will likely not be effective when installed at such a height.
The risk is heightened when installing Oscillot® against our recommendations in an apartment or unit that is several stories off the ground, because the cat may jump up, causing the paddles to spin, the cat will become off balance and the Paddles rolling may cause the cat to fall out of the balcony, rather than back in, resulting in a long fall to the ground.
We recommend that you obtain permission from your neighbour in writing if you plan to install Oscillot® on top of a shared fence. It is recommended that you check with your Local Council if you are not sure.
Local Council approval is generally not required to install Oscillot®.
However, to avoid issues arising, we recommend checking with your Local Council and getting their response in writing before installing.
Although we do not offer on-site measure & quotes or installation services, we have a list of Installer contacts across Australia offering their services for the installation of Oscillot®. Click here to find an installer. Our comprehensive Installation Guide contains everything your Installer will need to know.