StarCoveter
07-14-2008, 12:51 AM
FH and I have 7 cats - our babies. Up until a few months ago, we let them free roam. For the longest time we'd open the doors to let them in and out... and in and out... and in and out... Then we installed a cat door, but in the window instead of the door and they LOVED it. But, too many incidents and accidents happened and we got tired of worrying about our cats and wondering if they were going to come in for the night, etc. One of our cats JUST got home after 6 months of being quarantined for rabies since she got bitten and her shots were overdue (lesson learned!), and paying for that meant we're going to Orlando for our honeymoon instead of Jamaica. Another of our cats got bit in the same spot, but we self-treated him and he's fine. Another cat ran away, and yet another got hit by a car. All within the past year.
So finally, and too late, unfortunately, we built a cat enclosure. It's been up for a few months now. At first the cats hated it, because their outdoor space is drastically reduced, but now they love it. We changed the cat door to a different window that goes out to the backyard, built a ramp and built the cat enclosure.
It's 16'x16' and 8' tall. Total cost of the structure itself was $450 (mostly because the wiring was so expensive). Slowly, we are adding other neat things to it. So far we have a few objects inside, some plants, and we have plans - after the wedding - to build a neat structure inside with lots of shelves (enough for each cat) and cool spots for them to hang out in the shade. They really love it!
The window inside the house with the catdoor inside. FH cut a piece of thick acrylic to place next to the catdoor so no air could come in or go out. The bottom of the flap has a magnetic strip so it stays closed when a cat's not actually going through it.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4571.jpg
View of the whole thing. It's directly behind our house, with probably 2ft of clearance in between the structure and the house, so we can get back there.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4566.jpg
See the ramp coming down? We put little strips of wood kind of like steps going all the way down because it is a little steep, and it gives them traction.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4567.jpg
Skit's on the ramp, and Afia's by the log.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4568.jpg
CONTINUED...
So finally, and too late, unfortunately, we built a cat enclosure. It's been up for a few months now. At first the cats hated it, because their outdoor space is drastically reduced, but now they love it. We changed the cat door to a different window that goes out to the backyard, built a ramp and built the cat enclosure.
It's 16'x16' and 8' tall. Total cost of the structure itself was $450 (mostly because the wiring was so expensive). Slowly, we are adding other neat things to it. So far we have a few objects inside, some plants, and we have plans - after the wedding - to build a neat structure inside with lots of shelves (enough for each cat) and cool spots for them to hang out in the shade. They really love it!
The window inside the house with the catdoor inside. FH cut a piece of thick acrylic to place next to the catdoor so no air could come in or go out. The bottom of the flap has a magnetic strip so it stays closed when a cat's not actually going through it.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4571.jpg
View of the whole thing. It's directly behind our house, with probably 2ft of clearance in between the structure and the house, so we can get back there.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4566.jpg
See the ramp coming down? We put little strips of wood kind of like steps going all the way down because it is a little steep, and it gives them traction.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4567.jpg
Skit's on the ramp, and Afia's by the log.
http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk300/StarCoveter/DSCN4568.jpg
CONTINUED...