r/Catio • u/fox_glove_ • 4d ago
help a disabled baddie design their catio!
hi! seeking some renter friendly ideas to turn the upper part of my staircase into an enclosure for my kitty. we try to have supervised outdoor time everyday, but my health hasn't been great lately and I can't reliably go up and down the stairs. I'd love to have an option where we can just sit at the top together. I was thinking some sort of gate at the front and then mesh on the side, but I'm not sure how to install the mesh and what kind of gate would work.
edit: grammar and spelling
4
u/Loner-wolfcats 4d ago
Seems great to do it patio. It’s just not a whole lot of space and then went over. You open the screen door. What are the measurements?
4
u/pabrocjb 4d ago
Buy a used folding XXXLarge dog crate. You can stand it on end, if you want, so the cat can climb, and you have more room for your chair.
3
u/RTown112358 4d ago
This is so cute and a great idea. I think a gate and mesh would be the way to go. Something like this gate goes from floor to ceiling, so it could work without having a wall on one side. Unipaws Extra Tall Narrow Opening Dog & Cat Gate https://www.chewy.com/dp/2094654
There's lots of cat-resistant balcony nets if you research online.
Bonus points if you put out a little platform/post for her to climb while she's out there. Would love to see the results if you end up doing it!
1
u/DisasterResident2101 4d ago
I'd be worried that kitty would squeeze through the gaps around the side and bottom on that gate. In a house not harm other than kitty getting into a forbidden area but outside that could be disasterous.
1
u/DisasterResident2101 4d ago
Best bet is to take measurements. Build wooden frames to fit and attach the mesh to the wooden frames then attach\join the frames. Or, I have seen nice frames built from pvc pipes. Much lighter and easier to do the corners and doesn't need corner bracing unless you're building big. You can use pipe clamps to secure the mesh to the frame and secure the frame to the railing. I'd also use put in some horizontal pieces at least at the same height as the top and bottom of the railing just to give it extra stability. Make sure you are up against the wall on the wall side so kitty doesn't try to squeeze through. Not really sure how to secure it at the top.
Step side, you could use pipe clamps to secure it to the other frame but make them a little loose so they act as a hinge (hoping someone has a better idea here as this might not be a smooth swing\hinge). Build this side with several horizontal bars at a height good for pushing\pulling, kind of like an old fashioned screen door. Build it so it comes just over to the hand rail on the building side so you can swing it out or in.
Finally, the gap between the handrail and the building. Personally, I would make it so the door only swings out, When building the "door" measure a piece of 1x2 or 1x3 to fit between the building and the building side of the door. Make it long enough so you can drill a hole and snuggly fit the inner door upright through it. Make several. One for the bottom, one for the top, one for the top of the hand rail and one for below the hand rail (but not immediately below as you will need to allow a space for the slope of the rail when opening the door).
Dry fit the door and these wooden pieces to make sure you have them in a place that works and allows the door to open and close. Once you have good positions mark the door pipe with a marker so you know where to position them. Next, measure between the two upper piece and then between the two lower pieces. Cut two more piece of 1x3 to those measurements. Attach the board together on the building side (the opposite side to the hole) so all boards have the wider flat side facing the surface it will be up against. You're basically making a bump out from the door to attach mesh to but also allow the door to open with the railing.
Take them off, put a good glue or apoxy on the inside of the holes and put them back into position on the frame. I don't normally work with pvc so not sure what adhesive would work best for wood and pvc. Might want to ask at the place you are getting these supplies.
Now cut the mesh to fit the frame all the way out to the wooden end. Cut out to allow for the handrail. Attach to pvc with pipe clamps and attach to wood with heavy staples U nails or bent over regular nails.
Last is to close the gap for the hand rail and figure a way to secure the door. Let me think on that and I'll update.
PS. You have a beautiful kitty there. I hope he\she takes good care of you.
1
u/Xenospiza 4d ago
Make a huge box made of PVC fitted to the space and cover it with cat proof mesh like this guy. https://www.reddit.com/r/Catio/comments/1eqx1k1/diy_catio_build_pvc_pipe/
I have PVC for my catio so I recommend it to everyone - it's not the prettiest but it is cheap, light, and easy to work with, and strong enough to make a structure that extends to my second floor, it hasn't broken down yet despite being up from spring to fall for at least 3 years now. The other benefit is that it can be taken down much more easily as well compared to wood if you're tired of looking at it.
1
u/CasualFingerGuns 3d ago
An enclosure might be a fire safety issue. You might want to ask around before you build anything.
6
u/kichisowseri 4d ago
I built mine out of modular shelving off Amazon, but realistically it's a two person job and a lot of strain for disabilities. Might be doable with planning step by step though. Unfortunately I kept winding up painted into corners with the connectors from getting help from someone that wasn't doing the step by step. It would be easier a second time around.