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6 Best Invisible Fences for Cats in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Kristin Hitchcock

Last Updated on February 23, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Two cats hanging by the fence

6 Best Invisible Fences for Cats in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Two cats hanging by the fence Outdoor cats often have shorter lifespans than indoor cats. After all, they are exposed to various dangers that indoor cats don’t have to worry about, like weather, cars, and predators.

However, a few of these dangers can be minimized through the use of an invisible fence. Traditional fences aren’t that helpful against cats, as they can typically just jump over them. But invisible fences may make a cat think twice about crossing a boundary.

Most invisible fences are designed for dogs, though, so while some are suitable for cats, others are not. This can make it difficult to find the right one for your kitty.

To help you out, we have reviews of different invisible fences for cats. Some of these are explicitly designed for cats, while others are made for dogs. Either way, they all work well enough and are safe for felines.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
PetSafe Wireless Pet Fence PetSafe Wireless Pet Fence
  • Small enough for most cats
  • Five levels of charge
  • Tiny, rechargeable collar
  • Best Value
    Second place
    PetSafe Pawz Indoor Barrier PetSafe Pawz Indoor Barrier
  • Discrete transmitter
  • Progressive correction
  • Less expensive
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    PetSafe Wireless Containment PetSafe Wireless Containment
  • 5 levels of correction
  • ½ acre coverage
  • Easy installation
  • PetSafe Wireless Pet Fence PetSafe Wireless Pet Fence
  • Add transmitters
  • Unlimited number of pets supported
  • 5 levels of correction
  • PetSafe Pawz Outdoor Barrier PetSafe Pawz Outdoor Barrier
  • 16 to 150 feet diameter
  • Designed to keep cats out of certain areas
  • Unlimited number of pets can be added
  • The 6 Best Invisible Fences for Cats

    1. PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Pet Fence — Best Overall

    PetSafe Compact Wireless Fence

    Range of Coverage: ¾ acre
    Neck Size: 6–27 inches
    Pet Weight: 5 pounds and up

    The main problem with electric fences for cats is the size of the collar. Often, the collar is too big. After all, cats are much smaller than dogs.

    However, the PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Pet Fence was explicitly designed to be compact. Therefore, it is small enough to fit most cats. The recommended minimum weight is only 5 pounds, which most cats are well over.

    This system uses a home base, not fences or buried wires. The collar is tiny and rechargeable. It is entirely waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about rain or anything similar.

    It works on a circular area of ¾ acre. Unlimited pets may be added. More wireless transmitters may also be added to expand the containment size.

    This system features five levels of static correction. There is also a tone-only mode that lets your pet know they have gone too far. You can train your cat on these beeps alone, eliminating the need for the shock.

    Setting up this system is fast and only takes 1–2 hours. It doesn’t require a professional to set up like some other systems.

    All of these features easily make this the best overall invisible fence for cats.

    Pros
    • Small enough for most cats
    • Five levels of charge
    • 1–2-hour setup
    • Covers an area of ¾ acre, with add-ons available
    • Tiny, rechargeable collar
    Cons
    • None

    2. PetSafe Pawz Away Wireless Indoor Pet Barrier — Best Value

    Pawz Away Indoor Pet Barrier

    Range of Coverage: 2–12 feet
    Neck Size: 6–27 inches
    Pet Weight: 5 pounds and up

    Invisible fences can cost hundreds of dollars. PetSafe Pawz Away Wireless Indoor Pet Barrier is much less expensive, though. It is small enough to be used on many different cats. The minimum weight is 5 pounds, which should work well enough for most felines. Few cats weigh less than this as adults.

    A sleek, discreet transmitter releases the signal. It provides both a static correction and a high-pitched tone. Your pet can be trained on this tone precisely, which reduces the chance of shock significantly.

    The main downside of this system is that the range is minimal. It only goes out to 12 feet, which is not nearly enough room to cover most yards. If your yard is more extensive than 12 feet, you’ll likely need to invest in a different system.

    This one is cheap because the range is tiny.

    Many cat owners appreciate the progressive static correction. The collar automatically starts at the lowest setting and increases as the cat refuses to return to the area. This feature alone quickly makes this the best invisible fence for cats for the money.

    Pros
    • Discreet transmitter
    • Progressive correction
    • Less expensive
    • Small enough to work on most cats
    Cons
    • Small range

    3. PetSafe Wireless Containment System Invisible Fence — Premium Choice

    PetSafe Wireless Pet Containment

    Range of Coverage: ½ acre
    Neck Size: 6–28 inches
    Recommended Weight: 8 pounds and up

    The PetSafe Wireless Containment System Invisible Fence is mainly designed for dogs. It isn’t truly suitable for cats in every sense. However, it will work for cats that are over 8 pounds. If the cat can handle the size of the collar, they can use this system.

    It is significantly more expensive than other options. However, you get a lot for your money. If you want a system with as many high-quality features as possible, this is the one for you.

    This waterproof collar covers an area of up to ½ of an acre. That is larger than most collars out there, which is one reason that this system is so much more expensive. Other transmitters can be added to the system to extend the range. It also can be used with an unlimited number of collars.

    The system provides five adjustable levels of correction. One of these is a tone-only option.

    You can easily set up this system in about 2 hours. It works alongside many of the other lines this company creates, allowing you to add it to an already-established system.

    Pros
    • Five levels of correction
    • ½-acre coverage
    • Easy installation
    • Compatible with many other systems
    Cons
    • More expensive than other options

    4. PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence for Stubborn Dogs

    PetSafe Wireless Fence for Stubborn Dogs

    Range of Coverage: ¾ acre
    Neck Size: 6–27 inches
    Recommended Weight: 5 pounds and up

    The PetSafe Stay & Play Wireless Fence for Stubborn Dogs is entirely portable. It does not require any buried wires and doesn’t involve installing a physical fence. The range is about ¾ of an acre, which is about average for an invisible fence.

    You can set up the system very quickly since there is no digging required. You simply have to set up the system and connect the collar to it. The system advertises that your dog can be trained in as little as 2 weeks.

    There are five levels of correction in this system. The collar is completely waterproof and can withstand the outside elements, even if your feline ends up being left outside.

    The ergonomic design should work on most felines. It can be used on all cats over 5 pounds. Most adult cats weigh more than this as an adult. You can add an unlimited number of cats to their system with extra collars.

    Add extra bases to your system by getting more transmitters. You can also carry this system around to use it in different locations. All you need is access to a power source.

    Pros
    • Ability to add transmitters
    • Unlimited number of pets supported
    • Five levels of correction
    • Quick set-up
    Cons
    • Battery doesn’t last long
    • No consistency
    • Expensive

    5. PetSafe Pawz Away Outdoor Pet Barrier

    PawzAway Outdoor Pet Barrier

    Range of Coverage: 16 feet (150 feet with wire)
    Neck Size: 6–27 inches
    Recommended Weight: 5 pounds and up

    The PetSafe Pawz Away Outdoor Pet Barrier works differently from the other collars we have on this list. Instead of keeping your feline in a particular area, this barrier keeps your cat out of a specific area.

    This barrier may be a good option if you don’t care very much about your cat roaming but care about them being in your garden.

    The transmitter looks like a rock (albeit a very fake one) and has an adjustable area of up to 16 feet. You can expand this to up to 150 feet with the appropriate wire. The collar emits a static charge whenever your cat enters the area, letting them know that they aren’t supposed to be there!

    You can add extra pet barriers to the system, as well as an unlimited number of pets. The collar works with all cats and dogs over 5 pounds, which should cover most adult felines.

    The static charge is progressive. It starts at the lowest possible level and increases as the cat doesn’t leave the area. It does stop delivering the correction after 15 seconds.

    Pros
    • 16 -to 150-feet diameter
    • Designed to keep cats out of certain areas
    • Unlimited number of pets can be added
    • Progressive static charge
    Cons
    • Transmitter looks quite fake
    • Niche use

    6. PetSafe YardMax Cordless In-Ground Fence

    PetSafe YardMax Cordless

    Range of Coverage: ⅓ acre
    Neck Size: 6–28 inches
    Recommended Weight: 5 pounds and up

    The PetSafe YardMax Cordless In-Ground Fence works similarly to the older invisible fences. It has a wire that must be buried. After the wire is buried and set up, it delivers a corrective shock anytime the animal with the collar steps over it.

    You don’t have to drill holes in the outside of your house to set up this fence. It is a bit easier to set up than some older fences, but not considerably.

    The collar works for 3 weeks on a single charge. It typically only takes 2 to 3 hours to recharge. There are five levels of adjustable correction available, which you can adjust easily. The collar does not automatically adjust, though, which is common today.

    The collar is waterproof and able to withstand extensive outdoor use.

    Add pets to this system with more collars. The collars work on animals 5 pounds and up, which should work for most cats.

    Pros
    • Collars stay charged for 3 weeks
    • Adjustable correction available
    • Waterproof
    Cons
    • Long set-up
    • Missing many modern features
    • Pricey

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Invisible Fence for Cats

    Purchasing an invisible fence for your feline is never an easy decision. There is a lot to take into account.

    Most fences are not explicitly designed for cats—they’re made for dogs. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t use them on cats. You just need to be careful and choose one that can be used on cats. We carefully chose invisible fences in our reviews that were weak enough for use on most felines.

    However, you also need to consider where the barrier is made to be used and its other features.

    We take a look at everything you need to know here.

    Do Invisible Fences Work for Cats?

    The most important part of choosing a collar for your cat is to select one that can be used on felines. There are no invisible fences on the market explicitly designed for cats. Most of them state that they’re for use with dogs. However, that doesn’t mean that they can only be used for dogs, though.

    If you do a bit of digging, many companies state that some invisible fences can also be used for cats. It mainly depends on the weight minimum of the fences and the weight of your feline. In many cases, you can use the collar on any cat or dog over 5 pounds.

    Based on our research, there is no invisible fence that is okay for animals smaller than this. If your cat isn’t, you may be out of luck.

    You do not want to put a collar designed for a larger weight on your feline. Not only will the collar itself be too heavy, but the shock may also be too extreme.

    You’ll need to know your cat’s weight to pick out an invisible fence correctly. If you haven’t weighed your cat yet, we recommend doing so before purchasing a fence. You don’t want to get one that’s the incorrect size.

    Most invisible fences that are the right size will work for both cats and dogs. It depends more on the size of your pet than the species.

    Invisible Fence Range

    Before moving forward, measure the area of your yard where you’d like to set up the invisible fence. In most cases, invisible fences work on ⅓ of an acre. However, some systems work on ½ of an acre.

    Most systems can be upgraded with different transmitters. However, these cost extra and will increase your costs quite a bit. Be sure you know how much a transmitter costs before investing in a system you plan to upgrade. They’re often one of the more expensive items in an invisible fence system.

    While most modern invisible fences work off a transmitter, some of them still use wire. In many cases, this wire has to be buried in the yard for it to work correctly. This can be quite a bit of work.

    You can often purchase more wire to upgrade the area your cat can roam in. Some wired systems can be upgraded to cover as many as 25 acres. However, you then have to bury wire over 25 acres.

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    Indoor vs. Outdoor Invisible Cat Fence

    Cat_Katarzyna Kosianok_Pixabay
    Image Credit: Katarzyna Kosianok, Pixabay

    Most invisible fences work outside. They are waterproof and designed to keep your cat inside your yard. However, some of them are designed to work indoors. In these cases, you can use them to keep your cat out of certain rooms or prevent them from bolting out the front door.

    In many cases, you’ll probably be keeping your cat in your yard, though. In these cases, be sure to select a fence that works outdoors.

    Transmitter vs. Wired Cat Fence

    There are two main types of invisible fences: transmitter and wired.

    Wired is the older type. They work by detecting when the collar goes over the wire. Therefore, you have to place the wire around the area you want to keep your cat in. Most of the time, this includes burying the wire to keep it in place.

    Setting up these systems can be a lot of work. However, they are very reliable since the wire is always in the same place. Once they’re installed, it takes quite a bit of work to move them, though.

    Transmitter-based systems are newer. These invisible fences use a transmitter that sits in the middle of the area you want your cat in. The transmitter sends out a signal in all directions. If your cat reaches the end of this range, the collar delivers the correction.

    These systems are much easier to set up. Often, you just have to sit the transmitter down and determine how far you want the range to go. You pair the collar with the transmitter, and then you’re done. No wires or burying are required.

    However, they tend to be a bit less reliable than other options. Because they work off a signal alone, anything that messes with the signal transmission can change where the correction begins.

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    Keeping Your Feline In or Out

    Orange cat in a nice box
    Image Credit: Alexas_Fotos, Pixabay

    Most invisible fences are designed to keep your feline inside somewhere. If they go outside the boundary, the corrective shock is used. If you’re trying to keep your feline inside a particular area, this is the best option for you, and it’s the design that most invisible fences have.

    However, some options keep your cat out of somewhere. These can be placed around areas where you don’t want your feline to go—like a garden, for instance. If your cat enters the area, the corrections are given.

    Which option you choose depends on what you want to accomplish. If you’re trying to keep a cat inside an area, you want the first option. If you want to keep your cat out of an area, the second option is likely best for your purposes.

    Most invisible fences on the market fall under the first category. They keep your cat inside your yard or a specified area. There are a few designed to keep animals out of an area, though. Be sure you purchase the correct option.

    Training Is Required—Always

    One of the biggest mistakes pet parents make when using these systems is that they don’t provide any training. They stick the collar on their pet and expect it to work right away.

    However, this often leads to pets running through the fence until they are out of range or the corrective shocks stop. Many negative reviews feature a problem that is somewhere along these lines.

    But invisible fences weren’t designed to work instantly in this way. They must be combined with training or they won’t work at all. Your feline will not understand why they are being shocked or how to make the shock stop, often prompting them to run off until it stops.

    If you want them to stay inside the boundary, you have to explain how to stop the correction in a way they understand: by training.

    This usually involves teaching your cat to touch a sticky note to receive a treat. You then place the sticky note farther and farther away, teaching your cat to touch the note and then come back to you for the treat. Eventually, you can move the sticky notes outside, placing them on sticks around the boundary.

    Based on your previous training, your cat will understand that they should come back to you, not go past the sticky notes. If they do, the collar will deliver the correction, which helps back up the training.

    The sticky notes become a barrier that your cat can touch but not go past. They understand where they are supposed to be, which allows them to stop the corrective static by returning if they leave.

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    Conclusion

    An invisible fence can help your cat stay within a specific area, outdoors or indoors. Some of them alternatively help cats stay out of a particular area. However, training is required for any of these fences to work correctly.

    We recommend the PetSafe Stay & Play Compact Wireless Dog & Cat Fence for most felines. This system is one of the few that was explicitly designed with cats in mind.

    As a budget option, some cat owners may be able to get the PetSafe Pawz Away Indoor Pet Barrier. It is significantly less expensive than some other options, though it is missing more advanced features.

    We hope our reviews have helped you pick the best invisible fence for your feline.


    Featured Image Credit: Sydneymills, Shutterstock

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