How to Build a Large Cat Enclosure
If you want to give your cat a safe taste of the outdoors with a great view, you can build a large cat enclosure for your yard. You can also build an enclosure for your cat if you want him temporarily contained in a safe area inside the house. Whether for fun or necessity, with a few supplies and a couple of hours of your work, your cat can have a large indoor or outdoor enclosure.
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Things You'll Need
- 20 feet and 24 square feet of metal screen or chicken wire
- Staple gun and 1/2-inch staples
- Four exterior-grade, pressure-treated wood posts, 2 inches by 3 inches by 3 foot
- 4x6-foot exterior grade, pressure treated plywood board, 1/2 inch thick
- Eight 1.5-inch exterior-grade screws
- Screw gun
- Wire cutters
- Blanket
- Toy
- Cat food and water
Instructions
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Select the best place for your cat enclosure. If it will be inside, place it near a window for your cat to have a view. If the enclosure will be outside, build it in an area that is comfortable, cleaned off and well shaded, recommends Thecatsite.com.
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2
Screw the four 2x3-foot exterior-grade wooden posts to the four corners of the 4x6-foot exterior grade plywood board with the screw gun. Use two 1.5-inch exterior-grade screws in each corner. Flip the posts right side up so the plywood creates a bottom for the enclosure and the posts are sticking up.
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3
Attach the 24 square feet of metal screen or chicken wire to the tops of the four posts with a staple gun, stretching across the top of the enclosure to create the roof. Use 1/2-inch staples.
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4
Cut the 20 feet of metal screen or chicken wire into two 6-foot and two 4-foot sections. Attach the sections to the corresponding sides of the posts with a staple gun and 1/2-inch staples.
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Add a blanket, food and water, and one of your cat's favorite toys if your pet will be inside the enclosure for a long period of time, or just for her enjoyment.
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Tips & Warnings
For an easier-to-build enclosure, Happy Living recommends purchasing a prefabricated gazebo. You can fasten the metal fencing or screen around it to create an enclosure.
You can increase the size of your enclosure by using larger posts, longer lengths and larger widths of metal.
Happy Living suggests putting a door flap in your cat enclosure. If you have an indoor cat, you should use a door flap only if the enclosure is attached to the house, to ensure your pet's safety.
W.V. Cats warns not to use any large link fencing or metal on the enclosure, to keep your cat's paws or head from becoming stuck.
References
- Photo Credit Kitten Lying on Cage image by mickkid from Fotolia.com
