Cat Houses/Enclosures for Cheddar and Ivory

[grammywms]

Here are some pics of the two houses/shelters I've been working on for our two outdoor cats...  The first is the unfinished piece inbetween trees; the next three are different views once the waterproofing wood finish and plywood sides were applied...









Then here is the unfinished front panel...needs waterproofing wood finish and door cut...



Here is the house/shelter (currently inhabited by Cheddar)...occasionally, Ivory will sneak in when Cheddar is not around.  I still have not finished the front panel or installed it...weather too wet...so have it propped up against the front opening with small opening to left.  They like to see out of the plexiglas.  John found the red comforter at a thrift store for $2.  We are keeping it dry by putting it in dryer as needed.  Cheddar loves to curl up on it.



On the spur of the moment, we decided to make a smaller house for Ivory out of a table John's brother had made years ago.  We used it as framework.  We didn't currently have plywood for sides, so I used four thicknesses of plastic trash bags and duct tape to keep wind out.  I place it on it's side and against the brick house, so there would be even more protection.  I used the lid to the feeding station for the floor.  Ivory has already been in it briefly several times and hid there when a strange cat approached her food...







Never got a chance to put the house between the trees, as originally planned.  They like hanging out on the patio by the back door...so we placed big one against the wall next to back door, and small one on deck.

They like their feeding stations closer too...





We will have to elevate them once the snow comes. 

Also, I'm going to enclose the area underneath the large house except one opening for entrance, as another shelter.

[animalangel1]

Wow....you guys are on a roll!!!!!  The houses look like they'll be nice and sturdy and not blow over easily and that's a good thing... I wish we had some old tables around like that to build on....sure would make it easier than starting from scratch!!!!!   GARAGE SALES!!!!!  Hm...no more gargage sales going on either.....too cold here.  Darn!!!!! I'll have to think of something else.....

[grammywms]

Thrift Stores are a great place when garage sales are out of season.

[grammywms]

You'll never guess who slept in the big house last night...yep, Ivory. She beat Cheddar to the punch.  Couldn't believe that Cheddar didn't chase her out when he returned...instead he just curled up in the corner by the house...not in the little house.

[animalangel1]

Hm... I don't know of any thrift stores around here - we're really in a remote area....... I'll check on it though.  Thanks for the idea!!!!

Poor Cheddar .....did he maybe not know there was another house to sleep in????

[grammywms]

He has seen Ivory's house, snooped around, but has never been inside.

I found some shingles in the garage, left over from when we reroofed our house.  I had an idea   I used the shingles over the plastic trash bag walls of the small house; and put them around the bottom of the large house as another hiding place out of the wind, rain, snow.  See below:




We also attached the front panel with plexiglas window and small entryway.  We moved the small house closer to the house, where it will be further protected from wind.  It fit right on the table between the seats of our settee.
Ivory has already inspected it.

[grammywms]

  Look who's lounging in the big house!!!
None other than Ivory.  I saw Cheddar curled up in the small house earlier but could not get a picture in time.  Will try again later when he resurfaces.

[animalangel1]

Wow...that's awesome!!!!  I'm glad the kitty's like the houses.  Ivory looks so comfy in there too!!!! 

It's getting really, really cold here..... I need to get something together for under my porch for my outside kittys soon!!!!  We had a dusting of snow yesterday and I expect this time it's going to "stick".  The ground is as hard as a rock and it's only going to get colder the next few days..... Hopefully, I can pull something together over the Thanksgiving holiday when I have 4 days off.
 

[grammywms]

This afternoon, Tux was asleep on my recliner; Cheddar in his little house (see poor quality pic); and Ivory was asleep in her big house.  It was too cute.  Wonder if Cheddar and Ivory will switch off houses from time to time??

[animalangel1]

Aw..... it's purrfect!!!!  It all worked out just the way it should and it didn't take them that long to find the houses either.  Excellent job you guys!!!

I think they will switch houses from time to time depending on who gets into which one first.  No problem....

Aren't you glad I told you to put a window in the cat house????  Works out so they can see out and you can see in!!!!!