Built an outdoor "Catio" so our kitties could get some fresh air during the quarantine.

Mar 23, 2020 4:52 PM

Fatisbac

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173994

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3 Days and only 2 trips to Home Depot

This corner of our house was pretty bare to begin with, so all we had to do was rake away all the pine straw and a couple of old plants the last homeowner planted.

We added some dirt we had sitting in another corner of the yard from when we dug out our fire pit last year. Put some 7x11 bricks down so the posts wouldn't make direct ground contact.

once we got all the posts up we spread some mulch underneath to help with erosion.

I didn't plan on how I was going to screw the roof in with the back side being so close to the roof and side of the house, so we had to pivot the whole thing off the bricks to secure everything. Then we moved it back.

Added decking to the lower floor and made sure we left small gaps to keep water from pooling.

We then added a couple of perches for the cats to sit on and one small one for them to use as a step.

Added a small door with a latch so that we could have easier access for cleaning. Put a cheap combo lock on the latch so the cats couldn't paw it open.

Didn't get any pictures while we put up the welded wire fencing. It was raining and we were ready to be finished.

Our plan is to eventually put a permanent cat door in the window, but for right now we want to control their access in and out. It worked out perfect that their access point is right next to their feeding station.

cat tax

My wife had the awesome idea of putting up a bird feeder. Not sure how long it will take the birds/squirrels to figure out its there.

kitty enjoying some fresh air and people watching.

Since we live on a corner lot, all my neighbors will now know we are crazy cat people ;-) when walking around the neighborhood.

A project success is measured by how few trips to the hardware store it takes. This is awesome and very well designed.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 3

2 unnecessary trips to potentially spread a virus just to keep cats happy!

6 years ago | Likes 20 Dislikes 10

Looks freaking cool. Well done

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 2

Damn good job, you have very lucky pussies.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I need to build on for my kitties. I can't let them out because of predators here. :(

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

*one

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

You are their HERO!

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

How do you make them come in when its time? I want this for my cats, but they wouldn't come when called

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Close them in at feeding time.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Going to home depot isn't really a quarantine

6 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 3

v my cats would be jelly. Looks good OP

6 years ago | Likes 39 Dislikes 3

The bird feeder is a nice touch.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

How much did that run you? Was gonna do one about half that size. Looks freaking catastic!

6 years ago | Likes 71 Dislikes 1

Tree fiddy.

6 years ago | Likes 38 Dislikes 4

Thank you. My day is done.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

It HAD to be said.

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

But seriously assholes, stop going to the home improvement stores to deal with your boredom.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 4

Wow! So cool!

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

You care more about your cats than most of us care for ourselves

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Since he broke quarantine twice I'd say he cares about them more than himself, family, and community.

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 1

Dude you’re a pimp!!!!!! So sick, plus you can watch them from the window

6 years ago | Likes 694 Dislikes 5

Sooo ... a cat house, huh. Would you care to donate to the Police Fund? It would be terrible to have to shut it down

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

yeah @OP leave some pussy for the rest of us!

6 years ago | Likes 24 Dislikes 0

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Only 2 trips to Home Depot?! Braggart.

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

What part of quarantine means go to fucking Home Depot to make a cat porch. For fuck sake. STAY HOME, YOU TWAT!!!

6 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

I want this but as a coup for chickens and the eggs roll right inside followed by a Rube Goldberg machine that cooks them

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

I am wanting to know more about the horizontal scratching posts you have on the wall on the inside. DIY? Do the cats use them?

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 2

Betting those aren't for scratching but just giving the ability to get a better 'foothold' when they climb up or down with claws.

6 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Those cats are living the life of Riley.

6 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 2

Every trip to Home Depot is two trips to Home Depot

6 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

Broke quarantine 2 to build a coup for an animal that doesnt need it. imagine caring more about a cat then yourself, family, and community.

6 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 7

Indeed.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

The chicken wire is nice but I’d worry about bugs coming in the house. I’d think screen would be better. Thoughts?

6 years ago | Likes 263 Dislikes 3

Tell the cats to catch the bugs.

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

After seeing what my outdoor cats have done to my window screens in one year, I think wire is better!

6 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

The plan is to put a plug in the window with a built in cat door.

6 years ago | Likes 227 Dislikes 3

My cat made a hole in the screen behind a chair was getting loose for 3 months without us knowing. We thought we left door open.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

You're a true hoMEOWner now

6 years ago | Likes 84 Dislikes 0

Oh damn

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

You mentioned you wanted to control access. My car door has a panel to put on when we want to close the car door off, you could look into it

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Do you worry about the cats getting fleas or ticks? Do you have to medicate now? We’re they already medicated?

6 years ago | Likes 36 Dislikes 17

iirc pets generally pick up fleas and ticks by wandering through grasses/low plants or interacting with other animals,

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I think they'd still be relatively low risk on the fenced in patio

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Plenty of cats love to climb screens, and it only takes one trip up to rip huge gashes in it.

6 years ago | Likes 35 Dislikes 0

Plus screens are way worse to look through.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Put screen over the wire. Best of both.

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 1

They make wire screen actually.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Yeah, I have used that with a cat on a door before. It held up longer, but bitemes could get through it. Kept out flies and mosquitoes.

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I'm a neighborhood walker and if I saw this on a walk I'd be drooling, and envious of your cats. Awesome job.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 2

Why did you go to home Depot twice during a fucking pandemic?

6 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 2

To die and become a cat in your house....

6 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 2

+1

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Great build! I can tell you really care about your cats and I'm sure they appreciate their new space.

6 years ago | Likes 23 Dislikes 2

Genuine question. Why can't you just let the cat go outside?

6 years ago | Likes 16 Dislikes 11

This keeps kitty safe(r), local fauna safe(r), and makes for less cat poop in neighbors gardens (which can and does start long-term feuds).

6 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 2

Predators, animal control, random person thinking it’s a stray.

6 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 3

Assuming the cat is chipped won't animal control just scan it any let it go?

6 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 8

I had a chipped cat who got locked outside. No one ever turned her in and we searched for weeks.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Nope. They will impound it, fine you, and increase the fee each time it happens.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

But, cats are allowed out during the quarantine.

6 years ago | Likes 114 Dislikes 5

No, cats are banned

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

My thoughts exactly! Quality build though

6 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 1

While *people* should avoid completely unnecessary trips, e.g. to Home Depot to build an outdoor cat cage.

6 years ago | Likes 89 Dislikes 5

But for the sake of nature they should never be allowed out unsupervised

6 years ago | Likes 41 Dislikes 14

Yeah no. I tried to backtrack how those articles and studies got their numbers and it was very often: "We don't have figures so we guessed."

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1

Do you have any specific sources saying that, Ive never heard that before

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Thank you, very interesting. I still wouldn't go so far as saying they just guessed but you're right that its impossible to know how many 1/

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Lots of people upset their pets are ecosystem destroyers, judging by the downvotes.

6 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 1

Lol so true!

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Exactly!!

6 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 6

2 trips to Home Depot doesn’t sound very quarantiney

6 years ago | Likes 56 Dislikes 6

All boredom / project buying.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Have you been to Home Depot the last week or so? You can social distance yourself for sure. Virtual ghost town.

6 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 7

My Depot was packed because everyone is doing projects they never had time for

6 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 0

Went to Home Depot today because thermocouple in our water heater died. No one there. $10 part. Lovely hot water now! So glad they’re open!

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

2 trips for a project like that doesn’t sound believable in any conditions. I make 2 trips just planning a project

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

both me and the wife are having to work from home. The lumber isle was also a ghost town.

6 years ago | Likes 19 Dislikes 18

Which you discovered only after leaving your quarantine.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 1

It's home depot. Not a clown car.

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 4

Buddy works at Lowe's and the comp sales are through the roof. People are selfish assholes.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 2

People knowing they can't go anywhere so they're doing home projects.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

My friend wanted to go for blinds I told her don’t do it. So far so good.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yes, being selfish assholes, endangering the store staff and others.

6 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 4

What’s the difference than going to the supermarket?

6 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 8

Non essential

6 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 2

Well I hope your plumbing holds out and you don’t need to do any repairs

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 2

That would be essential, chicken wire forplayingwith your petis not. This project was not worth putting peoples lives at risk.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Going to the supermarket is necessary to buy food to live on.

6 years ago | Likes 13 Dislikes 2

Doesn’t mean you have a magic force field around you.

6 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 5

No one said there was a magic force field. What we’re saying is don’t take unnecessary risks. Don’t go out unless you need to. It’s simple.

6 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

They did this to keep themselves inside.

6 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 1