....you can also take it with you if you move

 

@Bex22

 

wrong place

 

This is our catio. It has a tunnel leading from the kitchen window giving them access throughout the day. We also place feather toys giving them the illusion of a hunt which my oldest Harry loves!

 

Thank you all very much, I got many ideas the last 3 months from this topic.
I've never heard of the word catio before (I was a dog person ).

This is our amateur catio. It took us ~2 weeks of work and 2 weeks of pain (afterwards).
Mistakes were made on the cutting but we 're still proud (apparently I cannot cut straight using a jigsaw even if my life depended on it).

We used pet-safe screen to keep all the bugs out and the cat it.

Again, thank you all !!!

 

Thank you all very much, I got many ideas the last 3 months from this topic.
I've never heard of the word catio before (I was a dog person ).

This is our amateur catio. It took us ~2 weeks of work and 2 weeks of pain (afterwards).
Mistakes were made on the cutting but we 're still proud (apparently I cannot cut straight using a jigsaw even if my life depended on it).

We used pet-safe screen to keep all the bugs out and the cat it.

Again, thank you all !!!

View attachment 473419 View attachment 473418 View attachment 473422 View attachment 473421

WOW! It's wonderful!

 

Hello everyone!

I just made a seperate post only to see we have a dedicate stickied post for cat runs / patios.

I apologise to the admins / mods.

I was thinking of getting snowy an outdoor catio for her to sit in, eat and to store her litter tray.

This is the one I found online that I really liked. I would ask them to take out the side access and add a panel to the lower left side. I think it would come to around £400-500

What do you guys think?
Would love to hear some feedback before I think of buying. Thanks!

 

Hello everyone!

I just made a seperate post only to see we have a dedicate stickied post for cat runs / patios.

I apologise to the admins / mods.

I was thinking of getting snowy an outdoor catio for her to sit in, eat and to store her litter tray.

This is the one I found online that I really liked. I would ask them to take out the side access and add a panel to the lower left side. I think it would come to around £400-500

View attachment 475099

What do you guys think?
Would love to hear some feedback before I think of buying. Thanks!

Are you in the uk? Does it come flat packed? That sounds too cheap to be true. I would think it a scam personally. Do you you have the link to it? Is it even suppose to include the shelving and the link to the house bit? If it's just the materials, maybe that price, seems very cheap for what I can see. Regardless, I'd been tempted to buy some of the wire mesh and fit it under to roof, so defo no escapees, if that's possible. I'm sure your cats would appreciate it. Are there any reviews? Does the company advertise their address and can you check their validity?

 

My concern with wood is keeping it weatherproof, I think it would need painting on a yearly to two yearly basis to stop it deteriorating.

Just an alternative suggestion. We've got an Omlet metal one which we've had nearly ten years and its still really good. It would be a bit more money than this one, its open to the elements though but you can buy accessories like removable roofing covers, furniture etc. You do have to erect it yourself, its put together with clips so you need someone to help you as it takes a while. It's definitely proved the cost worthwhile over the years.

Outdoor Cat Run | Large Spacious Outdoor Cat Enclosure (omlet.co.uk)

 

My concern with wood is keeping it weatherproof, I think it would need painting on a yearly to two yearly basis to stop it deteriorating.

Meeko's run is made with tanalised Cedar wood and after 10 years is still as good as day one.It has faded from its original reddish shade but other than that is sound.................

https://www.contemporarygarden.co.uk/blogs/news/what-is-tanalised-timber

 

I like this video cat proof garden

 

Have found this thread so helpful while we have been looking into options and planning a way to give our indoor cats some outdoor access, so now that we have finally managed to get our enclosure built wanted to add it here in case can be of help to anyone else!

We would have loved to have cat proofed our back garden entirely, but we rent so we couldn't do anything too permanent, and also have various different levels which made it too tricky; so we decided to use an area at our back door which was approx 6ft x 4ft x 7ft and which we planned could be used for them with door and window access.

(Area we had ^^ (spikes next door's, not part of our cat proofing!!!))

After a lot of deliberating we decided to go for an Omlet Cat Balcony Enclosure which was 6ft x 3ft x 6ft (though it's actually a wee bit taller than that now it's up). It fitted really well in the space we had, and as we're likely to move in the next few years it'll be easy to move to a new place and reassemble, and can also be expanded if we have more space with extension panels.

We were pretty impressed with it to put up and it didn't take too long between two of us - on Friday morning we had it up just as it was, access through door only, and Rosie and Theo got a chance to try it out

Later, my husband did his handyman bit to make the alterations we wanted to give access from a kitchen window, removing one top panel, securing it on to the side of the house with some wood and ties we had handy and the extra panelling and clips.

By this point both were absolutely loving it - Rosie (who has always longed for the outdoors!!) had been loving it from the off, just sitting watching birds and everything around her so happily, but Theo, who likes to be with us, wasn't too keen when it was closed, but with access through the window both really, really took to it.

The window was at a bit of an awkward angle, so tonight my OH has added an extra ledge to climb down onto and a ramp which all just secures it and makes it an easier climb in and out.

It's only been a few days (and been horrible weather so far!!) but it's already made such a difference to our pair getting some outside time and we're so glad we've done it. So far (fingers crossed!) they seem to find it enough and just really be enjoying the fresh air. Pretty pleased with the Omlet and really delighted to see how happy the cats are getting their space outside. Let me know if any questions or if can help in any way - and thanks all on previous posts on this thread who have all helped us so much!!

 

Have found this thread so helpful while we have been looking into options and planning a way to give our indoor cats some outdoor access, so now that we have finally managed to get our enclosure built wanted to add it here in case can be of help to anyone else!

We would have loved to have cat proofed our back garden entirely, but we rent so we couldn't do anything too permanent, and also have various different levels which made it too tricky; so we decided to use an area at our back door which was approx 6ft x 4ft x 7ft and which we planned could be used for them with door and window access.

View attachment 484387
View attachment 484373

(Area we had ^^ (spikes next door's, not part of our cat proofing!!!))

After a lot of deliberating we decided to go for an Omlet Cat Balcony Enclosure which was 6ft x 3ft x 6ft (though it's actually a wee bit taller than that now it's up). It fitted really well in the space we had, and as we're likely to move in the next few years it'll be easy to move to a new place and reassemble, and can also be expanded if we have more space with extension panels.

We were pretty impressed with it to put up and it didn't take too long between two of us - on Friday morning we had it up just as it was, access through door only, and Rosie and Theo got a chance to try it out

View attachment 484377

View attachment 484374 View attachment 484376

Later, my husband did his handyman bit to make the alterations we wanted to give access from a kitchen window, removing one top panel, securing it on to the side of the house with some wood and ties we had handy and the extra panelling and clips.

View attachment 484379 View attachment 484380

By this point both were absolutely loving it - Rosie (who has always longed for the outdoors!!) had been loving it from the off, just sitting watching birds and everything around her so happily, but Theo, who likes to be with us, wasn't too keen when it was closed, but with access through the window both really, really took to it.

The window was at a bit of an awkward angle, so tonight my OH has added an extra ledge to climb down onto and a ramp which all just secures it and makes it an easier climb in and out.

View attachment 484386 View attachment 484384 View attachment 484383

It's only been a few days (and been horrible weather so far!!) but it's already made such a difference to our pair getting some outside time and we're so glad we've done it. So far (fingers crossed!) they seem to find it enough and just really be enjoying the fresh air. Pretty pleased with the Omlet and really delighted to see how happy the cats are getting their space outside. Let me know if any questions or if can help in any way - and thanks all on previous posts on this thread who have all helped us so much!!

Congratulations, I think it's fab. You should both be very proud, as you've both done a great job. I'm so pleased they've got window access, as I had visions of one of them escaping when you opened the main door. Even better now with the shelf and ramp for easy exit/entry. They are so going to love it even more in the summer. Rosie and Theo are very lucky to have such caring cat slaves . I hope this inspires more people to do the same for their indoor cats.

Edit: please could you tell me how it is attached to its base or the ground? Can heavy winds lift it, even from one side?

 

Looks like you have improved Rosie and Theo's life greatly by adding the window access . It does make such a difference giving them the choice of when to go out which was why we added a tunnel to Meeko's run . The only problem is that in the winter it can be a little bit on the chilly side having to keep windows/doors open so that they can go out or come back in as the mood takes them .

 

Oh I know, we've definitely encountered that problem already!! :ColdfeetJust looking forward to the flip side, when we can have a window open all summer, especially after last year when they were teeny kittens and all our windows were locked on only opening a tiny gap!

 

Thanks @Charity & @UnderThePaw. I knew if you @Charity had had yours 10 yrs now, that there wouldn't be a problem, but I wasn't sure how they didn't lift, but of course the wind blows through the holes. My very heavy hammock often blows right over in winds, but that's because I leave the canopy on! The canopies should be removed in winter, but it's a bit of extra privacy at the back of my garden, so I leave it on (note to myself to put a higher fence up)!

It's also interesting to read about the door being in two halves, so very useful for slowing down any Houdini's and great you've made good use of the piece that was removed. Also very useful to read about the covers, which I was wondering about. Beautiful cats by the way! They look like they are loving it .

 

Has anyone DIYed a katzecure-like system? I’m not keen on protectapet because of the shape of my garden, katzecure would be much nicer but it’s sooo expensive

 

Has anyone DIYed a katzecure-like system? I'm not keen on protectapet because of the shape of my garden, katzecure would be much nicer but it's sooo expensive

@lenanowa Try post 663 ( and beyond ) by MoggyBaby in this thread ,she did it a few years back.

 

I'm looking for some advice and suggestions to improve our cat proofing.

We did a bit of a DIY job with rollers and metal wires. It does a great job of keeping our girls in, however we have recently developed a problem with keeping cats out.

For the last 2.5 years of having the system in place it's been fine and no cats have really bothered to come into our garden.

Recently though one cat in particular has been using our garden as a bit of a thoroughfare to get to another garden.

This wouldn't be a problem if my two girls were not incredibly reactive to other cats. It causes them to fight each other which isn't good for anyone and I worry that continued fights could result in further deterioration of their relationship, and ultimately us having to make a decision as to whether they can continue to live together.

Money is tight at the moment so can't go spending a fortune on Protect-a-pet or something similar. Also my OH is deadset against any big overhanging mesh (he spent a small fortune a couple of years ago getting the garden landscaped so he doesn't want to 'ruin' it with some sort of 'cage'). Frustrating.

Sadly the cats around here seem very agile and able to just leap up the fence with ease, something our two thankfully cannot do. I just don't know how we can keep the little terrors out to give our girls a peaceful life.

 

I'm looking for some advice and suggestions to improve our cat proofing.

Could you install longer brackets and put a second or third row of rollers in?

Am thinking this cat may be agile enough to get past your one roller setup but maybe not if it stuck further away from the fence.

Not sure what else to suggest. We went Protect-a-pet route but yet to put it up

 

Psygon suggested I contact Protectapet for their DIY approach. You can tell them you're DIY from the get go and they tell you what you need. I've found other brackets to use but I think I'll be getting their mesh.

 

Changed my mind (potentially ) from cat proofing the garden to having a catio. I would like an Omlet one but they are only 6' 8" and I need one about 10' high. Does anyone know of anything like Omlet that's more modular so I can get something the height I need?

 

Constructed by my handyman n his son.
We've had to be quite flexible and employed some creative thinking as we hit some snags along the way.

I did briefly consider having an airlock system, but as I don't have a norti Oriental thought I could getaway with not having one.
I might, at a later date, put in a small gate from the weigela to the fern. Couldn't do it ATM as we ran out of wood.

Hooks fixed to the fascia to hold the roof sections

Gap plugged with a salvaged trellis

Observing the work going on

The interior

 

Constructed by my handyman n his son.
We've had to be quite flexible and employed some creative thinking as we hit some snags along the way.

View attachment 492661

I did briefly consider having an airlock system, but as I don't have a norti Oriental thought I could getaway with not having one.
I might, at a later date, put in a small gate from the weigela to the fern. Couldn't do it ATM as we ran out of wood.

Hooks fixed to the fascia to hold the roof sections
View attachment 492663

Gap plugged with a salvaged trellis
View attachment 492665

Observing the work going on
View attachment 492667 View attachment 492669

The interior
View attachment 492671 View attachment 492673 View attachment 492675

Added 2 more shelves

 

There's another shelf still to go up but Albert ran out of brackets.

Checking for weak spots

Being silly

 

There's another shelf still to go up but Albert ran out of brackets.

Checking for weak spots

View attachment 492677 View attachment 492679 View attachment 492681

Being silly
View attachment 492683 View attachment 492685 View attachment 492687 View attachment 492689

Obviously most impressed. Looks great. Love the expression when observing the work :Hilarious

 

There's another shelf still to go up but Albert ran out of brackets.

Checking for weak spots

View attachment 492677 View attachment 492679 View attachment 492681

Being silly
View attachment 492683 View attachment 492685 View attachment 492687 View attachment 492689

Wow, fabulous @SbanR. Ollie looks as though he is loving it :Cat:Cat. Well done all .

 

Love it, Its looking good and more importantly Ollie seems to be most impressed with it

 

This is looking great @SbanR

 

Thats some health and safely checks :Hilarious:Hilarious your a lucky boy Ollie, looks fabulous x

 

Oh Ollie, you’re such a lucky boy! Glad to see you’re enjoying it.

 

That looks great @SbanR!! What would have you used? Is it treated in anyway?

 

Yes it is treated wood. My "go to" expert was @buffie who advised 16 guage wire and tanalised wood
But Albert is very experienced and knew what to get. All materials sourced from Wickes.
It's not the right time to build really what with building materials rocketing in price. Just the other day saw on the news that timber has gone up by 70%:Arghh and that catio has "a lot of wood" (Albert's comment)

 

Here is ours

We actually have two of these all linked in together with tunnels 😻 the cats love them!

 

Here is ours

We actually have two of these all linked in together with tunnels 😻 the cats love them!

That looks ideal and what wonderful views you appear to have around you too

 

Thank you it is lovely during the summer 🌞 the cats enjoy it it too but in the winter it's a bit too cold outside for them