Making a cat enclosure so your beloved cat can safely spend quality time outdoors brings forth many ideas. A cat enclosure can hold a cat or multiple cats and can be as big as your budget will allow. This article will focus on building a cat enclosure that will hold multiple cats in a private property setting, ensuring their safety and maximizing their playtime and sun time.
Two rolls of chicken wire 80 foot
Four 2 by 2 pressured treated wood, which are ten foot long
Four 2 by 4 pressured treated wood which are ten foot long
Eleven 2 by 2 pressured treated wood, which are six foot long
Four 2 by 8 pressured treated wood which are six foot long (corner posts)
5/8 all-purpose staples, stapler, two hinges, padlock, wire cutters, hammer, small nails, hand saw
Assorted branches or pieces of climbing wood, toys, and other things cats enjoy.
A few willing assistants
A ten by ten foot space for the cat enclosure
Clear out a 10 by 10 foot area of space where you wish the cat enclosure to be located. You can have wood stumps in here because the cats will enjoy it, but make sure the area is free of anything that will harm them in any way.
Lay out the wood pieces so you know exactly what the pieces are. Take one of the 2 by 2 pieces of wood and cut it into three pieces of wood, which are 3 feet long with the handsaw. This will be part of the door.
Lay out two of the 2 by 2 on a workbench or picnic table, and lay the three pieces of wood, which are 3 feet, long vertical between the 2 by 2’s. One of these 3-foot long pieces goes on either end with the remaining piece in the middle of the doorframe. Use the hammer and nails to secure the doorframe together. Measure the chicken wire to fit the door. Using the wire cutters cut the chicken wire to the correct size. Secure it to the doorframe using the staples. Install the hinges to one edge of the door to hang later.
Place one of the 2 by 4 pieces of wood on the ground vertically, lay the next one at one end of that, and do the same with the others until they resemble the box in the area, which you want to build in. At the corner of where the cat enclosure comes together add on of the 2 by 8’s nail it to a 2 by 4 piece of wood and lay it down on the ground. You will notice that the large piece of wood over hangs by about four inches and this is fine as another 2 by 4 will be there eventually.
Nail 2 by 2’s into place on that 2 by 4, between the 2 by 8’s at four and seven foot marks from the ends 2 by 8’s. Nail 2 by 2 piece of the 10-foot wood across the top of these pieces of wood so you have a frame. Lay a 2 by 8 at the end of that 2 by 4 and attach it the same way with the nails. This creates a top to the side, making it resemble a wall.
Create steps four and five to form the opposite wall of the cat enclosure. Lay them down on the grass while you build the other two walls.
Nail the 2 by 2’s at the four foot and seven foot marks on your remaining pieces of 2 by 4’s. Nail the 2 by 4’s to the top to create the walls of the cat enclosure. Call your helpers to hold sides upright so you can nail the sides together. When you are finished, nailing you should have a cat enclosure, which resembles the frame of a house.
Install the door on any side between to upright 2by2’s with the hinges. Begin wrapping the chicken wire to the left of the hinges, staple it to the cat enclosure. Continue wrapping the chicken wire and stapling it around the entire outside of the cat enclosure until you reach the doorway. You can cover the roof with a tarp or chicken wire.
Add a padlock to protect the cats inside so they can play unattended in the sun. If you which to add a cat tunnel from a house window or pet door to the cat enclosure simply cut a hole in the chicken wire in the desired place.
