Things You'll Need
- Covered wire shelving
- Tape measure
- Door latches or large binder clips
- 100 Cable ties
- Scissors
- 100 Plastic-shelving end caps
- Indoor/outdoor carpeting
- Plywood
- Circular saw
- PVC pipe
- Tarp
Instructions
Lay the wired shelving pieces flat on the ground to determine how large you want your enclosure to be. Position them side by side until you get the size you want for the back wall. Fasten the individual pieces together by placing cable ties every three to four inches until you have one solid wall of wire that's the desired width and height of your enclosure. Repeat this process to make the two side walls and a roof. Use the tape measure to get the correct dimensions for each piece.
Stand the back wall of the enclosure up against the outside of your house or garage. Bring one of the side walls you just built and stand it up next to the back piece at a 90-degree angle. Attach the side wall to the back wall using the cable ties every three to four inches. Repeat this process to attach the other side wall to the back wall. Lift the roof piece and place it on top of your three-walled structure (you may need assistance with this). Attach the roof with cable ties three to four inches apart.
Create the front wall by laying out the wire shelving pieces on the ground to the desired size. Use the tape measure to get the dimensions of your three-walled structure. Fasten the wire pieces together with cable ties just as you did for the other walls. Choose one or two wire sections for your front doors. For French-style doors, leave two middle pieces without cable ties. Attach one side of each piece to the front wall using door latches or large binder rings, allowing them to swing open freely from the middle.
Attach the front wall to your enclosure using cable ties every three to four inches. You should now have a basic structure with French-style doors on the front. Secure the closed doors with more binder rings or a lock if your cats are particularly skilled escape artists.
Inspect the structure to ensure all cable ties are secured, and there are no gaps for small cats to escape through. Clip the ends of the cable ties off with scissors so your cats won't be tempted to play with them. Place plastic end caps on all exposed wire-shelving ends.
Measure the width and depth of your enclosure to make a floor using plywood. Cut the plywood using the circular saw, leaving it about a 1/2 inch smaller than your enclosure so the floor will easily fit inside the wire. Cover the plywood with indoor/outdoor carpet. Put the floor where you want the playground to be located, and place your newly constructed enclosure on top of it.
Attach any extra wire-shelving pieces on the inside of the enclosure walls to give the cats shelves to sit on. Fasten them using the cable ties, with the lips of the shelves facing up (this prevents bedding or food bowls from sliding off the shelf). Place pet bedding or scrap pieces of the indoor/outdoor carpet on the shelves to make them more comfortable. Add as many shelves as possible so your cats have different levels on which to perch.
Measure and cut a piece of PVC pipe the same depth as the roof of your enclosure. Leave the roof of your enclosure open so your cats can enjoy the sunshine, but, when it rains, cover the roof with a tarp and place the PVC pipe beneath it. This will create a slightly peaked roof so the rain will easily run off it.
Decorate your enclosed playground with lots of toys. Fill the room with all of your cats' favorite things. Place cat trees and scratching posts near the inner shelves so they can jump and play. Put various toys and treats on each level. Plant edible cat grass in small pots, or put a small water fountain inside. Most important, get creative and have fun!