[Analog6]

I don't know how to move a thread so I'll post a bit here and include a link to the old one, which has lots of photos.

Link here: http://www.cat-world...showtopic=81972 And I have posted some photos in the following 2 posts in this thread.

And don't forget the link to the Directory here at Cat World which has some netting and enclosure links http://www.cat-world...u/Directory.htm

Construction

When we moved to the north coast 5 1/2 years ago we rented this lovely old house between a school and a banana farm, on a surprisingly busy dead end road. As I already had dreams of an enclosure, and had brought the garden arches with me from Canberra, we commenced construction.

The whole shebang cost under $150. Arches $10 each; builder's mesh, benches, walkways, ramp, hammock all cast offs from builder's sites; the wire netting & tie wire was the rest of the cost. I grew up and lived on farms until 10 years ago so I'm a dab hand with tie wire! I sported lots of scratched hands but it was worth it. We scavenged 2 big sheets of builder's weldmesh from a buidling site Warwick got PAID for cleaning up! I cut them in half lengthways and we put a blanket on the roof of the van and tied them on and drove home VERY slowly with our arms out the window hanging on to it, as we have no roof rack. Must have looked hilarious!

I spaced the arches about 1.5m apart and then cut a horzontal bar off the weldmesh so I had 4" 'spikes' at the bottom which we drove into the ground, banging it down with the sledgehammer. There are also garden staked inside the arches for a bit more stability. The garden arches are over 6' high, which means we can stand up inside and the cats can get high up, which they like. The benches are about 5ft high, chin height on me and I'm 170cm or 5'7". When I was building it I was annoyed at first that there was a tree in the way, then I decided to just incorporate it! Luvie the Russian Blue (RIP darling) and Zafira the Siamese use the tree to ascend and descend, no wimpy stuff like ramps for them!

The tunnel

This tunnel connectss the cattery to the downstairs 'box room' window, which is off the downstairs computer room and garage. The wire is stiff square netting that I shaped while constructing it by laying in on the ground, placing a board on top, which Warwick and I stood on and then bent the wire up to make a 'corner'. I fastened it to an old wire fly screen with tie wool first to make sure I had it right then fine tie wire. The base is a sort of piece of flat metal flashing stuff that I think came from the fascia board leftovers of a house build. It has one curled endge. I put a piece of board in it but it is time to change it as it has got wet and swollen up a bit. The wire is square netting, about large enough to poke the end of a little finger through, and stiff so I could shape it. I actually made it a bit small, they have to crouch slightly to go through. When we eventually move I'll make it larger.

The rewards
They are safe, the wildlife is safe, and I have peace of mind. I usually close it when we go out, but even if I forget, they are still safe.

The cattery is 5 years old now. In the morning I get up early (4.30-5 ish) and feed the cats then go downstairs to my computer room, which is off the room the tunnel opens from. Mamrie is fed in the kitchen the others all have 'their' rooms (to avoid food pinching - Raymond is a guts and would go ans suction up all 4 breakfasts if we let him!).

Marmie is always waiting at the top of the stairs before I've finished the feeds, and is very impatient, making little mrrowwrs at me while I make my coffee and connect the phone for the day (we always pull it at night, so that pulls the modem too).

The minute I have my foot on step 1 he is down there waiting by teh door to the garage area, and he dives into the tunnel room and rrowrs loudly until Mummy comes and opens.

He spends the next hour or so jumping in and out and coming to me with commentary on what is going on, the birds he's seen, the occasional jogger/dog/cat passing by. It's lovely to hear him, and he has a milk crate with 'Marmie's blanket', beside my chair for when he wants a rest/cuddle.

I really value my mornings with Marmie. Raymond and Zafira come out about 6.30-7 ish and usually go down and check out the neighbourhood.

Anyone living in our area or on holiday or whatever is welcome to come and visit. Email me on analog6@onthenet.com.aau for my phone number. Always coffee and cat cuddles for other cat folk!

This post has been edited by Analog6: 29 November 2008 - 10:58 AM

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[Analog6]

The first 3 pics show early construction.

Note there are no benches, ramps or other fancy stuff.

1. This shows the full length of the cattery and the tunnel to the window (lower right), Warwick is standing up near the gate, which is just a half heigh piece of weldmesh that we had left, so we have to duck under the fixed wire to get in.

2. The tunnel to the window with Raymond in the window and Zafira (with her tail all fluffed up) halfway.



3. Zoe cleaning her tail, Zafira on the scratching log, and Marmie just sitting in the cattery in the early days. You can see the tennis ball on a string I hung from the 'roof' for them to play with.

4. This one is taken from the front verandah looking down into the cattery. Marmie is on the bench at the far end (where Warwick is standing in shot 1), and Raymond and Zafira are sharing the middle bench.

This post has been edited by Analog6: 28 September 2008 - 10:56 AM

[Analog6]

5. The near end of the tunnel from the window, and 6. The far end



6. Raymond in the hammock with marmie & Zafira in the background. He has seen me and is just getting out.



7. Zafira just looking her beautiful self resting on one of the benches.



8. Taken in May 2008 this one shows 4 cats in the cattery, and shows the whole length. Taken from the door end, Marmie & Luvie are on the first bench across, and you can see the ramp up top the shelves behind/under Marmie, Raymond has just come up the ramp & is on the middle bench, and Zafira is on the bench closest to the house near her favourite ladder, the tree. The arches are clearly visible, and you can see the tunnel in the right hand corner under Zafira's bench. If you look closely at the closest bench, you can see it rests on the cross bars of teh garden arches. This is why the middle bench has now sagged, the cross piece rusted out. Next time I'll get heavier duty arches or contrive something else to hold the benches in place.

This post has been edited by Analog6: 28 September 2008 - 10:57 AM

[meowpall]

So many thanks to all of you that added to this link extremely helpful. If we decide to stay here permanently I will be using this link so we can build an snake proof enclosure of sorts, using all of the advise and tools given.

[Analog6]

Some more pics of Raymond in his hammock (taken about 2005) and Marmie & Zafira in the tunnel - shows the tunnel construcution.

[Analog6]

Unfortunately the hammock (a) became too small, and (b) has now disintegrated. I plan to build 2 new ones.

This post has been edited by Analog6: 01 December 2008 - 12:40 PM

[NayC]

They are some lucky kitties you have there Odille! Great work on the enclosure - it looks fantastic, and the cats seem very happy with it too

[Heather Sharada]

I saw a hammock made from shade cloth - doubled and stitched so that it fitted around some polythene pipe - worked a treat - love this thread......very happy kitties.

[Analog6]

Yes, I think pipe would last better than dowel, the dowel eventually split, I should have waterproof painted it.

[Cuddleton]

It looks so rustic and natural with all the branches. They look like they totally love it. Great work!

[Analog6]

Yes, it's now totally in dappled shade as the trees have spread and the vine (which is actaully a weed!) has gone over the end. I love to watch them when they are out there.

I saw this wonderful garden arch in Tasie (at Margate, Mum sitting in it) and thought ow lovely it would be at the end of the cattey, but it was over $1,000.00!

This post has been edited by Analog6: 18 January 2009 - 12:47 PM

[Analog6]

Warwick and I noticed recently that all the garden arches have pretty well rusted out, but the weldmesh (which we dug about 4-6" into the ground) supported by the wooden stakes, is holding everything up OK.

[Heather Sharada]

Odille I had forgotten your home made enclosure - it was a work of art given what was used to make it. I think you can also use arches made from heavy duty poly piping dug into the ground...I have seen them supporting shade cloth over fegie plots.

Another useful asset in the quick to make enclosure materials is to get Star Pickets from a shop like Bunnings - get the extra long ones.... - probably need six to support the wire but they can be removed and taken with you when you move.

Also if you have a local Freecycle Daina - try advertising on that - a friend was given a servicable Aviary recently and it is possible to pick up materials reasonably easily and of course they are free.

[Analog6]

Yes, freecycle can be a good source of stuff and you can put a wanted ad on there. Heather, all the arches need replacing now, with the verandah done for outside access I'm looking at a bit of a rebuild. I've been casting my eye covetously at the real quality garden arches in Bunnings, and they have a little cubby timber cubby house for kids that could be incorporated into the end of it . . . . Always planning and plotting, As Warwick says.

[Heather Sharada]

What I will do is take a photo of the garden arches made from the heavy duty poly - it is indestructable and stays in place with the help of the star pickets and a retaining board at the base.....