So I've thought about making a cat enclosure for my cat and I have several ideas but I just thought of another, thanks to people suggesting a hoop coop for when I get chickens next month. I thought maybe a hoop coop type thing would work for a cat enclosure too? Except with my idea I'd somehow connect one side to an existing wall (garage)? I don't know if that would work or not.
Some of other ideas include making a "cat run" (hardware cloth enclosed box/tube) around the house, either on the ground or attached to the house, accessible from inside, leading to the cat enclosure or to several enclosures. Several being possibly fencing the back decks in or our tiny front garden.
As for ideas on building it I've thought of those wire storage cubes to make a small enclosure, I've thought of framing lumber and screen to screen the porch and garden in (more attractive than hardware cloth), even thought of those dog kennel panels or thick gauge and coated fence wire instead of hardware cloth, but those are expensive. Though we do have one dog kennel. Not that tall though. I had also originally wanted to frame the potential area and use hardware cloth and everything and still might but then I thought of the cattle panel idea. I don't know if it would be tall enough though? We have the wall on one side and actually a small piece of privacy fence type thing on one short end, so really I'd only need 2 walls, plus a half wall if I go taller than the fence.
Ideally I'd like it as tall as possible because I want her to be able to run and play and climb and all that and the actual floor area isn't that big. She's a small cat though so I don't need it so tall that she could fall and get hurt. It does need to be at least 6 feet though, preferably over, because I'm 5' 11" and my dad is 6' 3" and I don't want it right on our heads. I'd also like to be able to put a decent sized cat tree or two or a branch or something and some shelves so I don't want that to hit the top either. I'm thinking maybe 7 or 8 feet might be a good height? Maybe even taller but maybe not. We might eventually add another cat too, especially if we have a nice enclosure. It's also right next to the neighbors too so preferably looks nice. Because of this, I don't want to put the chickens there because of smell and noise (even though I'd keep it clean, dad thinks it would smell) but I'm thinking a cat enclosure would be okay. Especially since she's indoors and I just want her to be able to go outside again. Again because she used to be indoor/outdoor and then snuck out sometimes until we catch her and there aren't many predators but I don't like her being loose and with the addition of chickens I bet there will be more predators.
SO.
Do you think the cattle panel idea might work or would something like hardware cloth or thick wire be better for how tall I want it? I think I sort of like the wood look but I do like hoop coops too. I liked the hoop too because it's so cheap and because I have no carpentry skills but maybe the wood would be better for the cat thing?
I just don't know. :/
Some of other ideas include making a "cat run" (hardware cloth enclosed box/tube) around the house, either on the ground or attached to the house, accessible from inside, leading to the cat enclosure or to several enclosures. Several being possibly fencing the back decks in or our tiny front garden.
As for ideas on building it I've thought of those wire storage cubes to make a small enclosure, I've thought of framing lumber and screen to screen the porch and garden in (more attractive than hardware cloth), even thought of those dog kennel panels or thick gauge and coated fence wire instead of hardware cloth, but those are expensive. Though we do have one dog kennel. Not that tall though. I had also originally wanted to frame the potential area and use hardware cloth and everything and still might but then I thought of the cattle panel idea. I don't know if it would be tall enough though? We have the wall on one side and actually a small piece of privacy fence type thing on one short end, so really I'd only need 2 walls, plus a half wall if I go taller than the fence.
Ideally I'd like it as tall as possible because I want her to be able to run and play and climb and all that and the actual floor area isn't that big. She's a small cat though so I don't need it so tall that she could fall and get hurt. It does need to be at least 6 feet though, preferably over, because I'm 5' 11" and my dad is 6' 3" and I don't want it right on our heads. I'd also like to be able to put a decent sized cat tree or two or a branch or something and some shelves so I don't want that to hit the top either. I'm thinking maybe 7 or 8 feet might be a good height? Maybe even taller but maybe not. We might eventually add another cat too, especially if we have a nice enclosure. It's also right next to the neighbors too so preferably looks nice. Because of this, I don't want to put the chickens there because of smell and noise (even though I'd keep it clean, dad thinks it would smell) but I'm thinking a cat enclosure would be okay. Especially since she's indoors and I just want her to be able to go outside again. Again because she used to be indoor/outdoor and then snuck out sometimes until we catch her and there aren't many predators but I don't like her being loose and with the addition of chickens I bet there will be more predators.
SO.
Do you think the cattle panel idea might work or would something like hardware cloth or thick wire be better for how tall I want it? I think I sort of like the wood look but I do like hoop coops too. I liked the hoop too because it's so cheap and because I have no carpentry skills but maybe the wood would be better for the cat thing?
I just don't know. :/
