Help me design a "playground" for my cats in my spare bedroom!

[Descartes]

I've got a spare bedroom, and I would like to dedicate a large portion of it as a "playground" for my cats

I figure it wouldn't be too difficult, as it wouldn't take more than a simple 2x4 and some carpet stapled on to keep them active for a while, but I want to build something more elaborate. I know they like to be up high, so I'll probably build them a bed up there too.

Yes, I know it's not the most aesthetically pleasing thing to put in a spare bedroom, but it's downstairs, and no one sees it but me. Opinions needed!

Thanks.

 

[Linflas]

You are on the right track with the up high idea. I have seen pictures of people houses in which they constructed elaborate overhead walkways and platforms for their cats. That would probably be the idea to start with. Also put some places for them to sit in front of any windows, cats love windows and it is healthy for them to sleep in front of a window with some sunlight coming in. I would love to see some pictures when you get done.

 

[loup garou]

Sheesh. If I did this with my cats, I'd probably work my ass off to build some elaborate playground, and the cats would end up playing in a paper bag on the kitchen floor.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

get a couple of 4 x 8 sheets of plywood, mount them to the wall and then add various perches/ledges to it---I saw something like this a few years ago but can't remember where.



now this might be overkill

 

[Descartes]

Now that is cool!!

Thanks for the link, that'll give me some ideas

 

[Linflas]

snakesnfrogs Great find. That is the place I had in mind when I was responding but did not know they had a website. I saw that house featured on HGTV once I believe.

 

[Descartes]

What would be the best way to secure plywood to standard drywall (excuse my ignorance in carpentry work)? I also live in a leased townhome, so I can't tear the walls up too bad

 

[MrBond]

Cats love cardboard boxes. My sister ordered a pack of USPS boxes to ship stuff in, and made some cat houses out of the ones she didn't need. There's always a cat in them it seems. Something about the smell of the cardboard.

She made her own scratching post by getting a 2x4, mounting it verticlly on a piece of plywood, and wrapping it with bailing twine. She then got a 16" piece of wire, stuck it in the top, and attached a little pastic wiffle ball with a small bell inside. The cats played with that thing for hours I'm told

 

[Linflas]

Have 2 empty Geyser cases sitting in front of the door to my computer room. Cats love anything they can hide in. Sometimes we throw an empty paper grocery bag on the floor for them to play in as well. When we are having company over we have to go around and pick up the empty cardboard boxes so our house does not look like a total garbage dump. Doggone cats rule our house sometimes it seems.

Edit typo

 

[Locutus of Board]

When I first set up my aquarium, my cats had something to do for hours. They've now become disinterested. I was thinking of getting a hamster for them to watch. (In a very well enclosed habitrail of course.)

 

[snakesnfrogs]

<< What would be the best way to secure plywood to standard drywall (excuse my ignorance in carpentry work)? I also live in a leased townhome, so I can't tear the walls up too bad >>




I would attach the plywood using 2 1/2&quot; drywall screws(like these) and make sure it's screwed into the wall studs

 

[Geekbabe]

Are you sure you really have cats? LOL,my two would have *me* confined to the spare bedroom while they take over the rest of the house!

 

[spamboy]

Mt cat wouldn't play in it because she'd know you want her to.

 

[SmokeyTheBear]

That is the sweetest thing. I wish I had room to build something like that for my cat. YOU ROCK!

You might see about finding a tree that has been cut down it would be a bit cumbersome but I bet the cats would love to climb around on a tree! You could prop it up in a corner or something just make sure it's not going to fall. That would be bad and I would feel guilty if your cat's got hurt.

Defiantly post some pics of it when it's finished or during the stages of construciton!