“Since this is an urban rooftop, the concern was that the two cats would run and fall off,” Gaffney says. “So we had to measure their heads and make sure they couldn’t fit through the screen. It’s one of those things we never thought we’d do, but it worked.” The cats love their outdoor freedom above their owners’ loft, where they can safely admire a garden with trees, shrubs, vines, and container plants. Fences are an easy and effective way to achieve privacy in a yard, though don’t forget to check your local ordinances for height and placement. For fencing materials, Marinaz prefers hardwood over softwoods. “Hardwood lasts longer; it’s like iron,” Marinaz says. “It’s more expensive than a softwood, but it’s more durable and nicer.” If you can’t put up fencing, consider planting trees, hedges, or vines. Marinaz favors evergreens from the Taxus genus.
