Catwalk for neighbor's cat
Catwalk for neighbor's cat
So our neighbor's cat has been visiting us for a while, so I decided to build this ramp so that she could more easily get into and out of our yard. I'm not much of a woodworker, but was happy with how this turned out.
It's made almost entirely from cedar fence posts. Nearly 18 feet long (3 fence posts end to end with the dog ear tip cut off). Ripped cedar planks into 3 for a frame/support to prevent flexing. Posts are pine 2x4, and go 18 inches into the ground, which was the majority of the effort, since our ground is like cement...
It's very sweet of you to do something for the cat, a nice boost to my day seeing it. Sorry about the train wreck comments that your wholesome post seem to have attracted.
Do you have any close ups of the way you joined the posts?
No. But I can try to describe it.
I cut small lengths of 2x4 (about 6 inches) and screwed these from the top of the catwalk, so that this board is parallel to the walking surface. The posts have a 18 degree cut at the top end, and then I used pocket holes to connect the post to the 2x4 on the underside of the catwalk with 2.5 inch pocket hole screws. If I were do again, I might try dowels. It was basically impossible to clamp properly to screw in the pocket hole screws, and it kept separating a bit. But in the end, everything ended up being very secure.
looks great, and it looks like the cat appreciates it!
Thanks for sharing. No obligation to reply and just curious, what's the story with the wall in the bottom right?
I could picture my wife being annoyed by the visual presence of the ramp, but if it was behind plantings or something she might sign off
Well my fiance likes the cat even more than me, so she loves the ramp. The stone wall just outlines a yard. I didn't do the original landscape, but the backyard was sloped, so the previous owner flattened out a lot of it and then surrounded that part with the brick wall stone/things. You can see the max height of the wall, and that goes along the back fence (the side fence is pictured). I actually turned the back raised area into a garden several years ago, which was also a ton of work, because as I mentioned, the ground is like concrete, and I had to dig it all out and replace with nice soil.
Really kind of you to spend $600 just for this cat, what a neighbor!
It wasn't that expensive. Cedar fence posts and 2x4 are pretty cheap.
Leash your cats folks..this is unacceptable behaviours from 'pet owners'.
Edit: I will NEVER understand the downvotes or negative comments from people defending this disgusting behaviour with cats. It's irresponsible to wildlife and the cat itself. Imagine people letting any pet roam free because they are 'cute'..disgusting and extremely irresponsible behaviour
Maybe the downvotes are because 1. You kind of come off rude just telling people how to live. 2. This is the woodworking community, not the cats community
Is this a joke that missed, or..?
Just seen your edit
I get the indoor cat point of view, but leashing a cat is so unheard of where I am that I assumed this was a joke.
I will NEVER understand the downvotes or negative comments
If you aren't willing or able to understand an alternative view, maybe online discussions aren't for you? It's also a lot to do with your language choice and phrasing, you come across as very abrasive.
It's not a joke. Most pet shelters make you promise that a cat will be indoors-only unless leashed when you adopt them.
Cats kill a lot of smaller wildlife, and with the help of humans, have made some birds extinct.
The lifespan of an indoor cat is on average 3 times longer than an outdoor cat.
What?
You don't appreciate the dedication to the destruction of every native bird species that was stupid enough to adapt and survive in an urban/suburban environment?
It's not their cat
That's why I said folks, and didnt direct it specifically to op.
Leash... a cat? Que?
Letting a cat run free makes it kill countless birds, frogs, insects etc. It also endangers the cat itself. Cats should be kept indoor, or brought outside on leashes (though there isn't a "cat proof" leash they cannot get out of sadly, so it's risky too). The only "moral" outside cat is a barn cat, and only slightly.
Take your pills grandpa.
Very unlikely this person is a grandparent—up until about 40 years ago, most cats outside highly built-up downtown areas were allowed to free-roam, so an older person would see it as normal.
Wow, what a lucky cat to have you as their neighbour 🙌