The newly expanded "Run" with the Catio and Patio built within. This run is the length of the house (40 some feet long) and about 10' wide at front, and 18' wide at rear. We have basically removed all the bushes by this time (potential escape routes), but will pop some flowering plants in there next summer to add colour. The 4x4 posts are all 8 feet apart, 8 feet from house and these are free standing as they only hold up the 2x2's framing the Hardware Cloth over the tops. This Hardware cloth is 16ga, welded steel mesh with a black PVC coating for easier viewing and longetivity. 4' wide by 50' long roll on Amazon will set you back about $80. I think I've used 4 rolls so far. This upgrade in all is probably well under $1,000 including the wood, tools, Hardware Cloth and hardware.
One can see how I mounted the 2 pieces of the pallet I cut into half and remounted on a couple 2x4's from the house to the mid-post frame. This effectively gives the cats a walkout to within 5 feet of the fence. I note with pride that not a single board, wire or other is in any way connected to the house, becoming an "extension building". Without any attachment, it is just a wire-covered cat run. All that is left to do is carpet and remove 1/2" mesh on the side. Initially installed to keep cats from jumping onto roof until top was secured. No longer need, so will be removing it. Note how the kitchen window is open because we were too lazy to go outside and open the "person" door on the Catio.
View from over the Sink in the kitchen through screen to see MyLo sitting on the Pageant Stage - okay, I'll just call it the Stage. MyLo stands for My Love. Deal with it. Note that the Stage is high enough for them to see out over the 6 foot fence and enjoy some sun at the same time. I have also built and installed about a dozen small stages/platforms at various heights around the Run for personalized space benches, so to speak. I generally try to cover them with the Black carpet, as you can see on the two examples in this photo. Still needed - bought 500 feet of Sisal Rope on the internet for dirt cheap. Made in China, sold in Canada LOL. Eventually, we will be wrapping exposed 2x4 and 4x4's to some extent. Probably the bottom 4 feet of each 4x4 post and complete wraps on any vertical 2x2's and 2x4's that are in the open. This is when my Pneumatic Crown Nailer really comes into it's best use!
Taken near the human "Patio" (Next to the Catio in the Run...). You can see the 1.5" hole Hardware Cloth now installed overhead. Care needs to be taken when overlapping rolls, as zip ties ARE required every 6 inches (15 cm), because the BBBz WILL find a way to eel their way between the layers. I spent over a week trying to figure that one out! Once upon a high post near a seam, Leo then push head then body between sheets and *pop*, out comes a cat on top of the Mesh! I finally caught him mid-escape and was flabbergasted! I mean, how he even figured that out. Flippin' geniuses they are, eh? I mean, WTF!
@bigbangboyz.bsky.social
Post #2 of Update.
4 more photo's. Stories in Alt Texts.
Peace!
