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Project Catio

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FretGrinder
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PostPosted: 19:02 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Project Catio Reply with quote

As some of you may know, me and Recluso have a pair of Bengal cats. Both of them live inside the house as we live right next to the main road, which isn’t very safe and they would probably find themselves in the arm of some stranger.

This is when we had the idea of a “Catio” which is essentially a patio for cats, meaning that they get to experience the outside world, while under our supervision.

The plan was to build a Catio in the area below, comprising of upright posts, aviary mesh, a corrugated polycarbonate roof and a gate either side.

https://s26.postimg.org/cjbbwfoix/Whats_App_Image_2017-08-10_at_17.08.32.jpg

“Why 2 gates?” you ask, well, where we live the area at the back of the houses is considered “communal access. Nobody has ever come through this way or have we ever needed to through it ourselves in the five years we have been here, but we felt we needed to provide said access just in case.

As for the materials, I do CNC machining for a job, the aluminium that we machine comes on very large pallets and attached to these pallets are long posts for when they get transported on the lorries. These posts are usually discarded once the aluminium comes in, so I managed to set 7 aside to bring them home.

We decided to use CLS timber for the outer construction as well as the rafters, treated timber worked out twice the price but we could treat the CLS with wood preserving paint as we went along, the CLS worked out to £2.19 per 2400mm.

The corrugated polycarbonate sheets were £5.45 per 2400mm length as we needed 7 of these to finish the roof.

It was while all the planning was being done that CaNsA mentioned that he would be in the area for a couple of days to lend a hand, so come the Monday morning of the following week we went and picked him up and set to work!

https://s20.postimg.org/tdzn1by0t/IMG-20170911-_WA0020.jpg

We fixed the posts against the wall of the house with a piece of timber on top of the posts as there wasn’t enough space to fix it to the wall without drilling into the lintels above the door and window, so this was the best option. We fixed the posts using frame fixings and raised them off the floor to save them from rotting away in the rain.


https://s20.postimg.org/lcbejff99/IMG-20170911-_WA0040.jpg

After a cup of tea or two, choosing some music and CaNsA doing some excellent inspection of the whole construction, we had the posts along the small opposite wall and the rafters installed.

This took the majority of the day as we had to adjust the plans because of the lintels and figure out all the correct sizes for the posts, rafters and the size and position of the gates. So we called it a day at this point and retreated inside the house for a decent helping of Spag Bol and then I went for a ride on Fistys new Hayabusa!

The following day we got to work installing the “noggins” on the rafters and measuring the frame for the gates to sit in.

https://s20.postimg.org/9xjisjsal/IMG-20170912-_WA0008.jpg

After this CaNsA had the idea of putting the aviary mesh on the roof underneath the polycarbonate panels as he pointed out that cats are the most talented escape artists. We had just enough time to install the mesh on the roof before CaNsA had to make his way back home.

https://s20.postimg.org/gcijp7z0d/IMG-20170912-_WA0013.jpg

https://s20.postimg.org/6uisp6dbx/IMG-20170912-_WA0015.jpg

After CaNsA had left I cracked on with installing the polycarbonate panels. Luckily everything was sturdy enough for me to climb on top to drill the holes.

https://s20.postimg.org/nxlkkou0t/IMG-20170912-_WA0019.jpg

https://s20.postimg.org/t02wfh3b1/IMG-20170912-_WA0021.jpg

Not long after I’d finshed the roof, it began to rain, which wasn’t a problem as I wanted to see how the roof would stand up to rain.

https://s20.postimg.org/q4pt8lzb1/IMG-20170912-_WA0040.jpg

https://s20.postimg.org/4h0uy5ywt/IMG-20170912-_WA0042.jpg

Unfortuanely there was a slight balls-up on my part. While installing the panels, in my haste to get them done quickly, I’d drilled some of the holes for the fixings in the “valleys” of the panels, meaning the rain could get underneath the fixing and leak down into the wood.

I could have put some adhesive beneath the panels and fixed them that way, but as they weren’t that expensive (and I’m anal about getting things right) we purchased all new panels to go on the roof the following day. It was a lesson learned and I plan to use the old panels on the sides of the catio if we really need the weather protection over the winter.


https://s20.postimg.org/uhsy4rxfh/IMG-20170913-_WA0030.jpg

https://s20.postimg.org/qmpk27e9p/IMG-20170913-_WA0032.jpg

Next up, installing the gates and sides
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FretGrinder
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PostPosted: 19:12 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

After I’d got all the new roof panels installed, I finished off the gate frame that CaNsA had started.

https://s20.postimg.org/tjcl2hk3h/IMG-20170913-_WA0041.jpg

Then it was time to make a gate.

https://s20.postimg.org/8rk47htdp/IMG-20170913-_WA0044.jpg

Then get the frame and gate painted up

https://s20.postimg.org/gggyj7tvh/IMG-20170913-_WA0051.jpg

Then I stapled the mesh to the gate and called it a night

https://s20.postimg.org/l3n0kzh8d/IMG-20170913-_WA0055.jpg

The following day I installed the first gate

https://s20.postimg.org/hnuwbfjzx/IMG-20170914-_WA0008.jpg

And installed the mesh on the gate frame

https://s20.postimg.org/cdpxk4zr1/IMG-20170914-_WA0011.jpg

Then it was time to install the mesh on the sides of the catio.

As the width of the mesh didn’t cover the sides, I needed to install two lengths to cover the area. CaNsA suggested merging the two lengths of mesh together by placing timber in the middle where the two lengths of mesh meet each other, which would also add strength to the construction.

So, on with the first length of mesh

https://s20.postimg.org/5h0clcsu5/IMG-20170914-_WA0023.jpg

Then it was time for the second length to go on

https://s20.postimg.org/uob8llvy5/IMG-20170914-_WA0025.jpg

After I’d installed the mesh on the sides (aviary mesh is a right pain to keep bloody straight!) I painted all the timber and installed lengths on both sides to hold it all together.

https://s20.postimg.org/u2m9pi0vx/IMG-20170914-_WA0054.jpg

https://s20.postimg.org/y47y8wikd/IMG-20170914-_WA0060.jpg

The following day I got the second gate frame finished

https://s20.postimg.org/b41awkkql/IMG-20170915-_WA0011.jpg

Then the second gate

https://s20.postimg.org/6brhl4q2l/IMG-20170915-_WA0038.jpg

Then installed the second gate

https://s20.postimg.org/oiiz6cgsd/IMG-20170915-_WA0049.jpg

I installed wood panels at the bottom of second as one of our neighbours has as small dog that yaps incessantly, so we did this to provide a bit of protection for the dog as well as our Bengals.

The following day, it was time for a test run, so we introduced Loki and Skadi to the Catio

https://s20.postimg.org/9stjo3p4t/IMG-20170916-WA0002.jpg

Next up, time for some cat furniture
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FretGrinder
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PostPosted: 19:16 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Recluso had the bright idea of installing small steps with sisal rope so that the cats could climb up to the shelves that we were installing for them

https://s20.postimg.org/u7z7qnmyl/IMG-20170918-WA0033.jpg

Complete with scratching post

https://s20.postimg.org/k0goe90ql/IMG-20170918-WA0042.jpg

Skadi loves the post

https://s20.postimg.org/sccffhy4d/IMG-20170919-WA0008.jpg

And the shelf

https://s20.postimg.org/rgkjdsdtp/IMG-20170920-WA0014.jpg

And that’s where we’re up to for now.

As I’ve never done any kind of project like this before, I feel it’s gone pretty well. I have a few basic woodworking skills which I’ve learned from my dad as he’s been a carpenter for over 35 years, so it helped a bit.

Big thanks to CaNsA for his help and to pdg for providing a decent source for the aviary mesh.
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Rogerborg
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PostPosted: 19:44 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Re: Project Catio Reply with quote

FretGrinder wrote:
CaNsA doing some excellent inspection of the whole construction

How much did he nick?

That's lovely work, well thought out, and the Bengals are brilliant. One of the few actual breeds that I might consider getting.
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CaNsA
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PostPosted: 20:11 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Re: Project Catio Reply with quote

FretGrinder wrote:
CaNsA

YAY ME!

I really enjoyed working with you Fret, and I love building stuff with wood.

I still don't like you though, I only helped out because I like Recceh.

How can you forget me fixing the kitchen door in under 30secs... something you had been planning to do for sometime.
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t121anf
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PostPosted: 20:49 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Not bad, I opted to build a hutch style run, not small at 3m long, 1m deep and 2m high.

I have since two tiered it to offer more protection from the elements, top is a sun deck, with bottom have a close off sleeping area and place for cat bog.
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Nobby the Bastard
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PostPosted: 21:12 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Diagonals on a gate should go from the hinge up to the next horizontal.

https://s20.postimg.org/oiiz6cgsd/IMG-20170915-_WA0049.jpg
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Polarbear
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PostPosted: 21:43 - 21 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lovely looking cats. Are they very big because they look bigger than your average cat Laughing

Knowing nothing about cats, from what you said I take it they are valuable/expensive and therefore thief fodder?
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Tracer1234
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PostPosted: 00:24 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thats some great work there. Love the cats too, must have been pretty cool to see them using it right away.

And in terms of CaNsA being there. It feels a bit like when you read a book, and build up an image on what the characters look like but then find out that you have it completely wrong. I always had him down as some mythical creature that lurks in the shadows...

https://s20.postimg.org/9migidwst/Screenshot_2017-09-22_at_00.24.07.png
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Last edited by Tracer1234 on 15:29 - 22 Sep 2017; edited 1 time in total
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CaNsA
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PostPosted: 00:41 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tracer1234 wrote:
Thats one great work there. Love the cats too, must have been pretty cool to see them using it right away.

And in terms of CaNsA being there. It feels a bit like when you read a book, and build up an image on what the characters look like but then find out that you have it completely wrong. I always had him down as some mythical creature that lurks in the shadows...

https://s20.postimg.org/9migidwst/Screenshot_2017-09-22_at_00.24.07.png


https://i.imgur.com/w9QgYJJ.gifv
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MCN
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PostPosted: 00:42 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tracer1234 wrote:
And in terms of CaNsA being there. It feels a bit like when you read a book, and build up an image on what the characters look like but then find out that you have it completely wrong. I always had him down as some mythical creature that lurks in the shadows...

https://s20.postimg.org/9migidwst/Screenshot_2017-09-22_at_00.24.07.png


What bit do you feel you got wrong?
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FretGrinder
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PostPosted: 08:50 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Polarbear wrote:
Lovely looking cats. Are they very big because they look bigger than your average cat Laughing

Knowing nothing about cats, from what you said I take it they are valuable/expensive and therefore thief fodder?


They're the kind of cat that would be stolen by the local benefit scrounging scum who would then try and sell it back to me, claiming they "got it from a mate"
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Sapolsky
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PostPosted: 09:04 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool, I have two bengals too, also one snow and one brown

Awesome cats. Thumbs Up
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Speedy2007
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PostPosted: 09:17 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found this a surprisingly fascinating thread. Thank you for sharing. I'm a doggy person and don't see the point of cats, but yours are very handsome.

Terry
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DrDonnyBrago
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PostPosted: 10:30 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Do you guys live like 2/3 doors down from a fat ginger guy?

Edit: It's confirmed, I asked him if his neighbours built a cat aviary, you are neighbours with my brother.
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bacon
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PostPosted: 13:16 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

On another note, I'm the skinny ginger guy who visits the fat ginger guy. I used to have a Street triple, then a ZRX, we have spoken about your bikes and mine a few times.

In fact you were lured out by the lovely smell of a 2 stroke chainsaw just the other evening, haha
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FretGrinder
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PostPosted: 13:21 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

DrDonnyBrago wrote:
Do you guys live like 2/3 doors down from a fat ginger guy?

Edit: It's confirmed, I asked him if his neighbours built a cat aviary, you are neighbours with my brother.


Holy shit!

Are you the guy with the striple??
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FretGrinder
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PostPosted: 13:23 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

bacon wrote:
On another note, I'm the skinny ginger guy who visits the fat ginger guy. I used to have a Street triple, then a ZRX, we have spoken about your bikes and mine a few times.

In fact you were lured out by the lovely smell of a 2 stroke chainsaw just the other evening, haha


Aha, you're the guy with, well, HAD the striple.

Small world Laughing
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DrDonnyBrago
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PostPosted: 14:33 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lol.

I don't go round very often, live quite far away, I don't believe that we've met. For future reference I'm the big one with the ginger beard.
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bacon
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PostPosted: 18:24 - 22 Sep 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Family of gingers really Laughing
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Old Thread Alert!

The last post was made 6 years, 188 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful?
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