[Kirov_grrl]

We moved into our new house just under 2 months ago... A couple of weeks ago we had a cat enclosure company out to quote to enclose the side passage area of our house into a cat run.

When I actually had a chance to go out to the area with the guy to explain what I wanted, I quickly realised that infact, two-thirds of the work had been done already by the previous owners - who had put up a bit of a structure for their plants!!!

Anyway - for the amount of work that is actually needed the quote of $2270 was just way out of the price range.

So on the weekend, my dad (who is a bit of a handyman) came around to measure up for me!! It should only cost a couple of hundred dollars to finish off - so here are some "before" pictures. (coz I'm just too excited to wait)


This will be where the door/gate is - just needs a fence and gate



Looking down into the run (just past the hot water system) - that first window is the cats room, and will be their entrance to the cat run



And this is the opposite view - from the end - looking back to where the gate will be




The whole area is about 14m x 2.5m wide.
You can kinda make out the shadecloth in the pics - which goes almost to the fence. This is supported by a wire mesh/sheeting.
Basically all that needs to happen is to stretch/secure the edge of the shadecloth to the fenceline - along the entire length, and to enclose the end with a fence and a gate! $2270 indeed!!!

Very excited!!!!

This post has been edited by Kirov_grrl: 18 November 2008 - 08:29 PM

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[Analog6]

What a ripoff! Glad your Dad can do it. That will make a WONDERFUL enclosure. Make sure none of the plants are poisonous to cats. There is a list accessible from the Home page here.

[CatsRU]

Your kitties will be very happy ones when that is finished - ideal spot for them.

[Doreen]

Wow, what a fantastic enclosure that will be, I can see why you are so excited lol! We need more pics once it is finished!

Hmmm, just thinking, if it were my two, they would immediately start using the garden bed as a kitty litter... so if your cats do that, read up here about how to prepare the soil for them, and about what to do so that things decompose quickly (I throw a handful of lime in the prime toileting area every couple of weeks). Great thing is that it will cut down on the cost of kitty litter. Alternately if you don't want them to use it for toileting, you will have to think about what to do with the bed as well.

[SempreRagdolls]

Its got a proper floor already it will be fantastic

[Doreen]

Its got a proper floor already it will be fantastic

It's not the floor I am concerned about, it is the garden bed against the fence that is full of soil and plants.

[Kirov_grrl]

Thanks guys!!!

Yer, I had guessed they would be using the garden as a loo, so will do some research into preparing the soil for them - thanks!

Will definitely look at the plants! Don't want to make anyone sick - thanks for the tip!!!!

[Analog6]

Kirov-grrl, how is the enclosure coming along?

[BritishFan]

Looks ideal - good starting by the previous people, although with that high fence it was always going to be a fairly easy job.

[Kirov_grrl]

Its going slowly!!!!
Just sourcing materials, I think it will come in under $150... YAY!!!

I must admit, most of the work is done, but then.... there were certain criteria when we were house hunting, but even I didn't realise how perfect that area was at the time!!!

[Analog6]

It will be so nice for them for the summer, you'll find they go out at night a lot and come inside to cool spots during the day (or mine do, anyway).

[Kirov_grrl]

Yes, they are definitely looking forward to it!

My 5yo DSH boy is a reformed inside/outside cat, and is dyyying to get outside!
Each morning he goes around to all the windows, testing to see if his fat head has shrunk over night, and if he can fit through the locked open windows!!!
Its pretty cute.

[KRYSSYKAT]

The new luxury quarters look great and will be great respite from boredom of being indoor

K

This post has been edited by KRYSSYKAT: 23 October 2008 - 05:06 PM

[KRYSSYKAT]

Get some of the river stones that a re like large pebbles from a garden centre and put them on top of your soil and cover the surface completely under the plants ...good deterent for not using the garden as a private toilet lol and looks good too. That way plants survive an influx of cat pee and poo.

K

[jemappelle]

I don't know about the river stones! I put in a lovely garden near the house wjth river stones and suitable plants to find that the cats favoured it as their toilet!