We're moving into a basement...

"No1" wrote in message
...
That's actually a good idea...I'm not all that good at making things, but
my
mother-in-law wears the pants in that family and does all the
"handyperson"
jobs. Do you know if there are any "blueprints" online? Or maybe a
how-to?
What kind of carpeting is that anyway?

Sorry for my thin skin (as mentioned in another post) :-)


Here are a few wites with plans for do-it-yourself cat furnitu

http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html#build-it

http://www.cat-tree-plans.com/

http://www.flippyscatpage.com/furniturediy.html

MaryL

In ,
MaryL -OUT-THE-LITTER composed with style:

My sister installed a gate (two, actually) that she ordered online
from Drs. Foster and Smith. They are extra tall, and she mounted
one above the other (fastened together so they can be moved as a
single unit).

I didn't know they made a gate that can be fitted with another as a
single unit. Neat idea and that could have come in handy recently.
Oh well.

In ,
MaryL -OUT-THE-LITTER composed with style:

My sister installed a gate (two, actually) that she ordered online
from Drs. Foster and Smith. They are extra tall, and she mounted
one above the other (fastened together so they can be moved as a
single unit).

I didn't know they made a gate that can be fitted with another as a
single unit. Neat idea and that could have come in handy recently.
Oh well.

Cool. Thanks. I'll see what she thinks. :-) Materials should be WAY
cheaper than $100-200!

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...

"No1" wrote in message
...
That's actually a good idea...I'm not all that good at making things,
but
my
mother-in-law wears the pants in that family and does all the
"handyperson"
jobs. Do you know if there are any "blueprints" online? Or maybe a
how-to?
What kind of carpeting is that anyway?

Sorry for my thin skin (as mentioned in another post) :-)


Here are a few wites with plans for do-it-yourself cat furnitu

http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html#build-it

http://www.cat-tree-plans.com/

http://www.flippyscatpage.com/furniturediy.html

MaryL

Cool. Thanks. I'll see what she thinks. :-) Materials should be WAY
cheaper than $100-200!

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
...

"No1" wrote in message
...
That's actually a good idea...I'm not all that good at making things,
but
my
mother-in-law wears the pants in that family and does all the
"handyperson"
jobs. Do you know if there are any "blueprints" online? Or maybe a
how-to?
What kind of carpeting is that anyway?

Sorry for my thin skin (as mentioned in another post) :-)


Here are a few wites with plans for do-it-yourself cat furnitu

http://amby.com/cat_site/declaw.html#build-it

http://www.cat-tree-plans.com/

http://www.flippyscatpage.com/furniturediy.html

MaryL

"No1" wrote in message
...
We've considered those too. We'll see how the baby gates work out since
those are available at no cost right now (they have two) Then when we
have
the money, we may purchase two of our own and attach them together to move
as one unit. We also plan to get an air purifier to get the "basement"
smell out.



In my experience, you would need a very good (and fairly expensive) air
purifier to get rid of basement smell. If cost is a factor, you could also
try something like a Deodoroc. We got ours at Home Depot in the section
where they have house cleaning fluids (I'm in Canada, though, and I don't
know if it's available at all Home Depots). It's just a block made of sort
of a chalky substance and it absorbs odors very well (their website is
www.deodoroc.com if you want to look). Or, since your basement suite is
probably quite large, Lee Valley makes one that is made of volcanic rock.
You can find it at www.leevalley.com and the item number is KD401. It's
called "volcanic deodorizer". They say one bag treats 4800 *cubic* feet, so
you may need more than one for your space (they're 8.95 each).

rona

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

"No1" wrote in message
...
We've considered those too. We'll see how the baby gates work out since
those are available at no cost right now (they have two) Then when we
have
the money, we may purchase two of our own and attach them together to move
as one unit. We also plan to get an air purifier to get the "basement"
smell out.



In my experience, you would need a very good (and fairly expensive) air
purifier to get rid of basement smell. If cost is a factor, you could also
try something like a Deodoroc. We got ours at Home Depot in the section
where they have house cleaning fluids (I'm in Canada, though, and I don't
know if it's available at all Home Depots). It's just a block made of sort
of a chalky substance and it absorbs odors very well (their website is
www.deodoroc.com if you want to look). Or, since your basement suite is
probably quite large, Lee Valley makes one that is made of volcanic rock.
You can find it at www.leevalley.com and the item number is KD401. It's
called "volcanic deodorizer". They say one bag treats 4800 *cubic* feet, so
you may need more than one for your space (they're 8.95 each).

rona

--
***For e-mail, replace .com with .ca Sorry for the inconvenience!***

I'm sure the cats will be fine. I commend you for not getting "rid of them."
They are part of the family.
Gail
"No1" wrote in message
...
I will apologize in advance for any "snippiness" in my writing. This
isn't
easy for us, let alone the cats too. There are MANY places we could rent
for cheaper, but all of them don't allow pets. So we have to make due
with
what we have. Again, I apologize.


"No1" wrote in message
...
Um...I don't see why you'd feel bad about my cats. I'm sorry, but we
don't
have the money to purchase cat trees, etc. That's the main reason we're
moving in with my parents is because we can no longer afford our rent
and
both are out of work. They're not outside cats, but we'll see what we
can
do about sunlight and such.

They have plenty of toys and one cat cave type thingy...you know the
kind
that's about thigh high, round with two holes in the side and a shelf on
the
top hole? If those aren't good enough, then I'm sorry. But hey, if you
want to send me money or the cat towers that I've seen (that run
$100-200)
feel free, you won't get any argument from me.


"MacCandace" wrote in message
...
Any thoughts? Please, please do not flame or ask us to get rid of
the
pets.
We are just trying to find a happy compromise.

I would only feel bad that they won't be able to see outside very well
and
most
cats like to sit in windows. Do you have those little windows that
are
in
some
basements with the window wells outside them? If you do, maybe you
could
get a
couple high cat trees so they would be able to sort of see out those
windows a
little. Maybe you could get an aquarium or something for them to
watch
for
entertainment. I would make sure you have lots of toys and cat trees
for
them
so they won't get bored. Do your parents have a screened in porch or
anything
that you could let the cats go to when your parents go out? Just so
they
could
see the outdoors and feel fresh air sometimes.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an
eye
other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

I'm sure the cats will be fine. I commend you for not getting "rid of them."
They are part of the family.
Gail
"No1" wrote in message
...
I will apologize in advance for any "snippiness" in my writing. This
isn't
easy for us, let alone the cats too. There are MANY places we could rent
for cheaper, but all of them don't allow pets. So we have to make due
with
what we have. Again, I apologize.


"No1" wrote in message
...
Um...I don't see why you'd feel bad about my cats. I'm sorry, but we
don't
have the money to purchase cat trees, etc. That's the main reason we're
moving in with my parents is because we can no longer afford our rent
and
both are out of work. They're not outside cats, but we'll see what we
can
do about sunlight and such.

They have plenty of toys and one cat cave type thingy...you know the
kind
that's about thigh high, round with two holes in the side and a shelf on
the
top hole? If those aren't good enough, then I'm sorry. But hey, if you
want to send me money or the cat towers that I've seen (that run
$100-200)
feel free, you won't get any argument from me.


"MacCandace" wrote in message
...
Any thoughts? Please, please do not flame or ask us to get rid of
the
pets.
We are just trying to find a happy compromise.

I would only feel bad that they won't be able to see outside very well
and
most
cats like to sit in windows. Do you have those little windows that
are
in
some
basements with the window wells outside them? If you do, maybe you
could
get a
couple high cat trees so they would be able to sort of see out those
windows a
little. Maybe you could get an aquarium or something for them to
watch
for
entertainment. I would make sure you have lots of toys and cat trees
for
them
so they won't get bored. Do your parents have a screened in porch or
anything
that you could let the cats go to when your parents go out? Just so
they
could
see the outdoors and feel fresh air sometimes.

Candace
(take the litter out before replying by e-mail)

See my cats:
http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace

"One does not meet oneself until one catches the reflection from an
eye
other
than human." (Loren Eisely)

From: "Rona Yuthasastrakosol"

If you don't already have plans to, you might also want to consider getting
harnesses and leashes for your cats so you can take them outside sometimes.
Just carry them upstairs so they don't get used to climbing up and down
themselves (so they don't think it's "OK" to do so). Cats need fresh air
sometimes, too :-).

I think this is a really good idea. I know with my basement, there are no
windows to open. We do have a door that leads to outside and we recently had a
screen door installed so we could get fresh air in our basement. I don't know
if the OP's basement has a door leading to the outside, but if they do, they
might want to consider installing a screen door that can be locked so the cats
can get some fresh air.

Lauren
________
See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe
Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html
http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html
Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm