How to Build an Outside Enclosure for Cats

Keep your pet safe outside with a cat enclosure.

Allowing your pet cat to journey outside your home could pose considerable danger. Not only could your cat run away or be hit by a car, she could slip her collar and get picked up as a stray. Nonetheless, cats still need fresh air and grass beneath their feet. Learn how to build an outside enclosure for your cat so she can still venture out safely and securely.

Things You'll Need

• 2 by 4 wooden boards
• Plywood
• Nails
• Hammer
• Electric saw
• Measuring tape
• Strong wire mesh fencing
• Staple gun and staples

Instructions

1. Cut 3 8 foot long 2-by-4 inch wooden boards in half and lay 2 of the pieces parallel to each other on the ground. Lay two more 2-by-4 inch boards to form the long sides of a rectangle. You can cut these to other sizes if you desire a larger or smaller outdoor cat enclosure.

2. Lay out two more rectangles with the same dimensions as the first one. Nail the corners of each of these structures together securely. Use 2 nails on each corner for more stability. These rectangles will form the structure for the outdoor cat enclosure.

3. Nail a 2-by-4 inch board to the inside corners of one of the rectangles so they are flat against the longer sides. Have a friend help you slide the second rectangle over these 4 boards and nail it on to the center of the tall 2-by-4 supports at the corners. Use a measuring tape to find the center and mark it with a pencil. Put the final rectangle of board on the top of the support bars and nail that on securely as well.

4. Nail a 2-by-4 inch board to the outside edge of each rectangle in the middle of the long side of the structure. This will give the outdoor cat enclosure more support and make it easier to attach the fencing to it. If desired, nail a piece of plywood to the top rectangle to form a roof. It is a good idea to put a narrow shim or wood under one edge of the roof so that it is angled very slightly. This will prevent water pooling on the top and rotting the wood.

5. Cut lengths of the sturdy wire fencing rolls to fit over the entire cat enclosure from the 2-by-4 at the base, over the top and down to the other 2-by-4 at the opposite side's base. If you attached a roof, cut separate pieces for each side. Also cut enough to cover the sides of the cat enclosure.

6. Use a staple gun and strong building staples, or a hammer and large fence staples, to attach the wire fencing to all the wooden support posts. Overlap corners on the outside of the wood to prevent the cats inside from getting scratched by the edges.

7. Build structures with any leftover boards and plywood for the cats to climb on. Make simple rectangular frames and cover them with plywood at one or multiple heights. The cats will enjoy perching and climbing on them for better views of the world outside their safe haven.