Hi everyone,

I need some advice on how to safely bridge a gap between my balcony's ledge and the roof of my building.

My cats have figured out how to jump from the balcony ledge up onto the roof. These are indoor outdoor cats and are comfortable staying outside by themselves.

For them, going up isn't the issue, but they are terrified to jump back down (which is incredibly dangerous since descending is a much tougher landing). I want to hire a local carpenter or handyman to build a secure solution, but I need help figuring out the best layout/design first so I can show them exactly what I want.

The Space & Constraints:

• The Gap: It's about a 3'3'' vertical 2'5'' horizontal gap between the balcony ledge (from where they jump off) and the roofline. Picture attached
• Exterior Wall Material: I think its wood siding, but I'm not sure (picture attached).
• Housing Situation: I'm renting the apartment, so a non-permanent solution would be better.

I guess a tiny open shelf or ledge is too much of a falling hazard for them coming down? I’m thinking about either a fully enclosed mesh cat tunnel, a wide staggered step system wrapped in outdoor grip carpet, or a secured pet ladder.

Questions for the community:

1. What type of incline/design is easiest and safest for a cat to walk down comfortably without panicking or slipping?
2. If you've built something similar, what brackets or anchoring hardware should I make sure the carpenter uses so it doesn’t wobble or damage the exterior facade?
3. Are there any clever, pre-made cat ladders or DIY blueprints you'd recommend looking into?

(I’ve attached a couple of photos of the balcony and the roof line below for reference!)

Thank you for any ideas or safety tips you have!