"Fencing in" a balcony

[Whiskey]

You guys are an eclectic bunch and I dont even have an idea as to where to start with this.

Disclaimer: I don't even know if I'll be allowed to do this. I have a HOA (home owners association) and they're a bunch of picky bitches. Example: I am allowed to have 2 colors for blinds or curtains. White and Off White. You understand now? Yeah. :|


Anyone who's read my threads/posts about Sully (my cat) knows he LOVES jumping from my balcony ledge to the roof. I'm trying to figure out a way to fence it in so he can't jump up there. When he gets up there, he howls endlessly to get down (even though he can jump down) or "traps" himself on a neighbors balcony because he knows they'll rescue him. I would like to not have my cat annoying the shit out of my neighbors.

I try my best to keep him inside, but that little bastard is the flash if I'm just jumping out on the balcony and closing the screen. It doesn't always work. I've taken to locking Nermal and Sully (nermal isnt an issue but she gets upset if shes not near him) in my bedroom just to have my balcony door open and not have to slam the screen door shut as fast as possible if I go in or out.

So any ideas? It has to be as invisible as possible, I'm assuming and has to have a low likelihood of killing my animal. My grandma wanted me to grease the rail O_O

[Seshat]

So any ideas? It has to be as invisible as possible, I'm assuming and has to have a low likelihood of killing my animal. My grandma wanted me to grease the rail O_O

I'd grab some tough flyscreen, or a nearly invisible chickenwire.

Rent a ladder, and examine the top of the balcony doorway. If you're lucky, it's wood, and it extends the full width of the balcony. In that case, you can get some carpenter's staples,and staple the chickenwire or flyscreen to the top of the doorsill. If not, try using that as a place to attach a length of wood that is the full width of the balcony.

Attach more lengths of wood from the top of your horizontal, vertically down to the top of the balcony fence. Use something that won't damage the balcony fence to attach the wood to the fence, or nail/screw it to the wall.

Paint the wood the same shade as the walls of the building. (You may want to paint it first, actually.)
Staple the flyscreen to your horizontal, then to your verticals.

Pull the flyscreen or chickenwire taut from where it's stapled, to the balcony railing. Temporarily attach it every so often with bits of string or cable ties or some such.

Using outdoor grade string, or plastic-coated wire, or something else that won't damage the balcony fence material, sew the chickenwire or flyscreen to the top of the balcony fence.

If the cat can get out through the balcony fence, also sew chickenwire/flyscreen to the fence all the way to the floor of the balcony.

To undo your work, cut the string/wire off the balcony fence.

Detach your pieces of wood. (If screwed, unscrew. If nailed, use the claw of a claw hammer.)

Put putty in the holes. Smooth it flat with either a putty knife, or an ordinary kitchen knife. (Clean the kitchen knife well afterwards.) Wait for the putty to dry, then sand lightly until the only way you can tell the difference is visually.
Paint over the putty, and with an almost dry brush, paint lightly outwards from the putty mark over the rest of the paint near the hole.

Tadaa. One removeable, kitty-trapping balcony.