Constructing Cat Habitats
At The Ark Cat Sanctuary, we have observed that many cat behavior problems are solved by providing the cat with adequate outdoor time. Cats need exercise that is consistent with their instinctual hunting nature, and safe access to the outdoors is the best of all options for a cat.
Over the years we have taken in many indoor cats that owners gave up on for litter box-related reasons. All of these cats, without exception, used the litter box consistently when they came to live at the sanctuary. We attribute this to one main factor: access to a safe outdoor habitat whenever the cat wants to be outside. (A second factor is maintaining clean litter boxes.)
At the sanctuary we have as close to an ideal situation as possible. Every cat has access to a warm, clean, dry home-like indoor space that has an attached outdoor “habitat.” The outdoor habitats are “cat-fenced” landscaped areas that provide climbing, hiding and lounging opportunities for the cats. We live in coyote territory, and the habitats are an effective way to keep the cats safe.
Any back yard or barnyard can be enclosed in a way that keeps cats safely contained at home while meeting the need for outdoor cat activity time.
You will need the following materials for habitat construction:
- Eight-foot “T” posts
- Six-foot field fencing with 2” x 4” grid welded wire mesh
- Four-foot field fencing with 2” x 4” grid welded wire mesh
- ½-inch white PVC pipe
- Six-foot chain-link gates
This methodology is less expensive and more effective and flexible in application than kit systems that are marketed as cat enclosures.
The eight-foot “T” posts are driven into the ground to make six-foot verticals to support the six-foot field fence. Space the posts about 10 feet apart.
The top of the fence is horizontally capped using the four-foot field fencing.
The outermost two grids (eight inches) of the 4’ material are bent 90 degrees to give some rigidity to the top. The 4’ wide material is attached to the top of the 6’ vertical using tie wire wound around both pieces every three to four feet to hold the horizontal cap in place.
Ten-foot lengths of ½-inch white PVC pipe are cut into three-foot sections and notched at the ends to function as lateral bracing elements to hold the 4’ cap material in a fixed horizontal position. The PVC braces are attached to the outer edge of the horizontal top and to a grid on the vertical fence that allows the cap to lie in a horizontal plane. The notched ends of the PVC pipes are wired to a grid section on the vertical and horizontal parts of the fence.
For the entrance gates to the enclosure, we use standard 6’ chain link gates mounted to a constructed pipe or wooden frame. The gate frame construction requires the assistance of a person with a little mechanical savvy.
The fence is simple enough for a non-mechanically inclined person to put up. It is a bit labor intensive, but the reward is a permanent safe place for your cats to enjoy.
The same basic idea can be adapted to already existing block walls or wooden fences (provided that they are at least 6’ high) by using right-angle brackets with a horizontal span of at least 1.5 feet spaced four to five feet apart along the length of the fence to support the welded wire top grid that contains the cats.
Our enclosures at the sanctuary vary in size from 800 sq. ft. to 6000 sq. ft. depending on the needs of any particular group of cats. All enclosures have the same results: litter box problems go away, the cats are safe, and the cats and humans are content.
