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Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 338

March 15th, 2015 by Karen 16 Comments

DIY cat enclosure

The hills of Novato are safer now that the new tabby command center/cat enclosure is fully operational. Cats can rest easier knowing that Tabs the cat is on patrol. 🙂

Here’s a closer look at the construction and the materials to build one for your feline employer.

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

Materials

    Total cost was around $50, not including the main tools, which you may already have access to. In addition to a saw (El Hub uses a circular saw, but he says that a regular hand saw works too), you’ll also need a drill for this, a pair of gloves, safety glasses, a measuring tape and the following:

  • 2 in. x 2 in. boards (we used pine, but cedar and redwood are also great) for the main frame.
  • 1 in. x 6 in. boards for the walkways.
  • Enough 2-1/2 in. phillips head outdoor rated wood screws to attach the 2 in. x 2 in. boards (a box of 50 should be more than enough for this enclosure)
  • Staple gun
  • Glue gun
  • A section of remnant carpeting (you can usually find a remnant carpet store in your town that will sell small rolls of 5 or 6 feet of leftover carpeting for $15-$20. You could also use a soft fabric from a fabric store or artificial grass.
  • A box cutter for the carpet
  • A roll of 1 in. chicken wire (also called poultry netting)
  • Wire cutters (for the chicken wire)
  • Wood glue (not necessary, but El Hub says it helps to reinforce the screws)
  • A gate latch and 2 door hinges

Steps

    This is just a basic overview, because you’ll probably want to customize the size of everything to fit your needs. WARNING: Please wear gloves and eye protection.

  1. Measure and cut your 2 in. 2 in. boards for the base (4 pieces), top (same as the base), and the four tall corner posts (we made this one 6 ft. tall).
  2. Using your drill and screws, attach the first four pieces of 2 in. x 2 in. wood for the base, and repeat for the top (squeeze a few drops of wood glue between the ends before you screw them together).
  3. Attach the four tall vertical 2 in. x 2 in. posts to the corners of the base using one or two screws per corner.
  4. Attach the top piece to the vertical post corners using one or two screws per corner.
  5. Add a few horizontal cross posts using some of the 2 in. x 2 in. boards between the vertical posts to strengthen the whole structure and create platforms for the walkway planks to rest on.
  6. Measure the distance from some of the horizontal cross posts, and cut some 1 in. x 6 in. boards to use as walkways.
  7. Measure and cut enough carpeting to cover the walkways.
  8. Attach the carpeting to the walkways using the staple gun and hot glue gun (the glue works better than the staples for this, so use more of the glue, and just a few staples along the way).
  9. Attach the now carpeted walkway planks to the inside of the frame between some of the horizontal cross struts using small screws or nails.
  10. Once you have the basic structure of the frame built, measure and cut the chicken wire for each of the sides and the top. El Hub did this for me, and he says that it’s very important that you wear good, sturdy gloves and eye protection, because the cut ends of the chicken wire are very sharp.
  11. Measure a space for a door, and cut four 2 in. x 2 in. boards (the door should be slightly smaller than the actual space so it fits, and the door can still open).
  12. Attach the chicken wire to the frame and the door using the staple gun.
  13. Attach the gate latch and hinges to the door and the frame using the screws that come with them (this step can be frustrating, but any kind of simple fence gate or door will do).
  14. That’s it! Introduce yo’ cat. 🙂

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

DIY cat enclosure

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

Sundays With Tabs the Cat, Makeup and Beauty Blog Mascot, Vol. 338 / Originally published March 15th, 2015

There are 16 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Just For Fun, Tabs

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Comments

  1. Debra says

    March 15th, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    Very nice job for LTC (Lieutenant Colonel) Tabs!

    Reply
  2. Elena says

    March 15th, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    That is so awesome! My cat already roams like a wild lion because he is an outdoor cat but this is an awesome tutorial and awesome that Tabs gets to hang out and enjoy the view. Super cool!

    Reply
  3. Chelsea says

    March 15th, 2015 at 5:11 pm

    I love it! Just sent the link to my parents because they’ve been thinking about something like thus for my kitty brother Houghton (Hoho)

    Reply
  4. sarahc says

    March 15th, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Tabs! You are one lucky feline employer to have an office that plush and luxurious. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Kiss & Make-up says

    March 16th, 2015 at 4:01 am

    I bet my dad could put something like this together in no time! Now all I need is a cat <_< Do you think Tabs would like to go on holiday to Belgium or Switzerland?
    Kiss & Make-up recently posted … Review | Clinique Aromatics in White eau de parfum

    Reply
  6. musical says

    March 16th, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Tabs (and Karen)-thank you for sharing the first look of Tabby Command Center with us! It is an amazing view from there, and you seem relaxed and happy :).

    Happy Meowday, T-money and K-dawg! <3

    Reply
  7. jacque says

    March 16th, 2015 at 9:29 am

    What a great idea! I don’t have a cat, but I’ll pass it along to some of my friends who do. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  8. Rachel says

    March 16th, 2015 at 9:30 am

    Looks great! What are the overall dimensions of the enclosure? I have an old reptile cage I was thinking of repurposing for my cat!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 16th, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Hi Rachel,

      You should do it! This one is 6 ft. x 4 ft. x 2 ft. We wanted there to be enough room on the bottom for a few plants, and for it to be tall enough for Tabs to look out over the railing and see the hill.

      Reply
  9. Sissi says

    March 16th, 2015 at 11:27 am

    He he- your cat lives in a zoo cage now? Funny! My cat is usually outside freely roaming and killing lizards, frogs and snakes (we are in Florida!). Sissi
    Sissi recently posted … Why I never went to Prom!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 16th, 2015 at 12:16 pm

      Hi Sissi,

      Don’t be silly. No, it’s not a zoo cage. He loves it, and I like knowing that he’s safe and sound, because we have animals around here that would love a tasty morsel like Tabs. Sadly, we see signs posted around the neighborhood by people who’ve lost their cats to coyotes.

      And Tabs is very much a lover, not a fighter. 🙂

      Reply
  10. LindaLibraLoca says

    March 16th, 2015 at 11:34 am

    I like the added greens. Making the center feel like home, I guess.
    LindaLibraLoca recently posted … If it has been one of these days – Clinique Take the day off Cleansing Balm

    Reply
  11. Charlotte says

    March 16th, 2015 at 2:13 pm

    I really enjoyed seeing the tabby command center in action 😀 This is a great idea, and I know my kitties would love a TCC of their own.

    Reply
  12. Rebecca says

    March 16th, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    The command center is a great idea; the only thing worse than collecting and burying your cat’s remains after he’s escaped your yard and been eaten by a coyote… is explaining what happened to your 4th grader.
    That’s a great way for him to go outside to see the bugs, birds and neighbors yet still be safe. Have a great week!

    Reply
  13. Poo@beautyandmakeupmatters says

    March 17th, 2015 at 5:21 am

    Tabby Command center looks great.. good way to hang out without being watched 😉
    Poo@beautyandmakeupmatters recently posted … All Good Scents Flirty EDT Review

    Reply
  14. Kirsten says

    March 20th, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    Man, Tabs looks like one contented kitty! I am impressed at how easily he walks in there! Do you ever have trouble getting him out again?

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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