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#1
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I attempt to make a cat tree...LONG
Last month, being short of dollarinos but long on ambition, I thought I'd
try to turn an existing 3-foot tall carpeted cat perch into a cat tree. I went to Home Depot and bought two 2x4s, a 4-foot heavy cardboard concrete mould, more staples for my staple gun, rubber cement, and way too much indoor/outdoor carpeting. My plan was to carpet (using the staple gun) both 2x4s and attach them on either side of the existing cat perch; cut the 4-foot concrete mould in two and glue and staple gun indoor/outdoor carpeting on the interior and exterior of the 2-foot "tunnels" for catly comfort and entertainment. The idea was to attach one tunnel underneath the lowest perch and attach the other tunnel on top of a small length of wood that would bridge the 2x4s -- "Voila," I thought, "instant cat tree." I spent one Saturday on cutting the tunnels and carpeting, stapling and gluing them outside on my driveway to the bemusement of my neighbors (so I wouldn't asphyxiate from the rubber cement fumes). The next Saturday I went back to Home Depot and bought fancy-coated 3-inch wood screws so I could attach the 2x4s, tunnels, etc. I also sweet-talked my DH, Byron, into helping me assemble this stuff. It was not as easy as I'd thought it would be -- Surprize! We spent quite a long time (did I mention I have a wonderful DH?)-- got the 2x4's attached and then had to attach the top tunnel to a 2-inch by 4-foot wood piece (which DH had to saw into a much smaller length with the absolutely wrong kind of saw plus plenty of perspiration(yep, and did I mention, Byron's a good sport, too?). Gee, the drill doesn't fit into the diameter of the tunnel (well, dangitall, did I mention Byron's patient, also?!)!!! Well, with some ingenuity we managed anyway and, "Yes!," we got a tunnel perched on top of the cat tree and the whole contraption (heavy, now, too!) back into the house in front of the window.... Well, the tunnel survived me placing a scared Robin cat (10 lbs.) into the tunnel; Byron and I felt proud and successful and walked into the kitchen. About 5 minutes later, I hear a KA-THUD! And, sigh, the tunnel did NOT, alas, survive the impact of the "pleasingly plump," Ms. Midnight. The tunnel tore right off the support and now all that was on top was the 2-inch wood slat...I then had plans for attached a wooden platform to the top for the next weekend... but wait, there's a happier ending to this cat tree tale (which didn't involve more work or stupidity.) Robin adopted this cat whatever-you-call-it as his "jungle gym" -- he hangs over the wooden slat on top and curls around and tries to grab his tail; he balances on it like a circus performer and sometimes he just straddles the thing and lets his legs hang over either side. Then he rolls and hauls himself around the 2x4s, wrestling it with all claws extended (I attached sisal rope to one side) and has himself an exhausting but definitely jolly old time. (This weekend I'm going to have to get shots of this for ya'll; it's hilarious.) So I guess Christine's Folly is going to stay like it is. The 2 carpeted tunnels are free-standing and useable and I do position them in front of the window on the ground and Midnight likes them very much for bird-watching. And I think my handyman days are over... Christine |
#2
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WOW!!!! you sound a lot like meI nearly killed myself laughing
because I could half guess the ending It was like looking into a mirror Jean.P. with lots of giggling. Christine Burel wrote in message ... Last month, being short of dollarinos but long on ambition, I thought I'd try to turn an existing 3-foot tall carpeted cat perch into a cat tree. I went to Home Depot and bought two 2x4s, a 4-foot heavy cardboard concrete mould, more staples for my staple gun, rubber cement, and way too much indoor/outdoor carpeting. My plan was to carpet (using the staple gun) both 2x4s and attach them on either side of the existing cat perch; cut the 4-foot concrete mould in two and glue and staple gun indoor/outdoor carpeting on the interior and exterior of the 2-foot "tunnels" for catly comfort and entertainment. The idea was to attach one tunnel underneath the lowest perch and attach the other tunnel on top of a small length of wood that would bridge the 2x4s -- "Voila," I thought, "instant cat tree." I spent one Saturday on cutting the tunnels and carpeting, stapling and gluing them outside on my driveway to the bemusement of my neighbors (so I wouldn't asphyxiate from the rubber cement fumes). The next Saturday I went back to Home Depot and bought fancy-coated 3-inch wood screws so I could attach the 2x4s, tunnels, etc. I also sweet-talked my DH, Byron, into helping me assemble this stuff. It was not as easy as I'd thought it would be -- Surprize! We spent quite a long time (did I mention I have a wonderful DH?)-- got the 2x4's attached and then had to attach the top tunnel to a 2-inch by 4-foot wood piece (which DH had to saw into a much smaller length with the absolutely wrong kind of saw plus plenty of perspiration(yep, and did I mention, Byron's a good sport, too?). Gee, the drill doesn't fit into the diameter of the tunnel (well, dangitall, did I mention Byron's patient, also?!)!!! Well, with some ingenuity we managed anyway and, "Yes!," we got a tunnel perched on top of the cat tree and the whole contraption (heavy, now, too!) back into the house in front of the window.... Well, the tunnel survived me placing a scared Robin cat (10 lbs.) into the tunnel; Byron and I felt proud and successful and walked into the kitchen. About 5 minutes later, I hear a KA-THUD! And, sigh, the tunnel did NOT, alas, survive the impact of the "pleasingly plump," Ms. Midnight. The tunnel tore right off the support and now all that was on top was the 2-inch wood slat...I then had plans for attached a wooden platform to the top for the next weekend... but wait, there's a happier ending to this cat tree tale (which didn't involve more work or stupidity.) Robin adopted this cat whatever-you-call-it as his "jungle gym" -- he hangs over the wooden slat on top and curls around and tries to grab his tail; he balances on it like a circus performer and sometimes he just straddles the thing and lets his legs hang over either side. Then he rolls and hauls himself around the 2x4s, wrestling it with all claws extended (I attached sisal rope to one side) and has himself an exhausting but definitely jolly old time. (This weekend I'm going to have to get shots of this for ya'll; it's hilarious.) So I guess Christine's Folly is going to stay like it is. The 2 carpeted tunnels are free-standing and useable and I do position them in front of the window on the ground and Midnight likes them very much for bird-watching. And I think my handyman days are over... Christine |
#3
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WOW!!!! you sound a lot like meI nearly killed myself laughing
because I could half guess the ending It was like looking into a mirror Jean.P. with lots of giggling. Christine Burel wrote in message ... Last month, being short of dollarinos but long on ambition, I thought I'd try to turn an existing 3-foot tall carpeted cat perch into a cat tree. I went to Home Depot and bought two 2x4s, a 4-foot heavy cardboard concrete mould, more staples for my staple gun, rubber cement, and way too much indoor/outdoor carpeting. My plan was to carpet (using the staple gun) both 2x4s and attach them on either side of the existing cat perch; cut the 4-foot concrete mould in two and glue and staple gun indoor/outdoor carpeting on the interior and exterior of the 2-foot "tunnels" for catly comfort and entertainment. The idea was to attach one tunnel underneath the lowest perch and attach the other tunnel on top of a small length of wood that would bridge the 2x4s -- "Voila," I thought, "instant cat tree." I spent one Saturday on cutting the tunnels and carpeting, stapling and gluing them outside on my driveway to the bemusement of my neighbors (so I wouldn't asphyxiate from the rubber cement fumes). The next Saturday I went back to Home Depot and bought fancy-coated 3-inch wood screws so I could attach the 2x4s, tunnels, etc. I also sweet-talked my DH, Byron, into helping me assemble this stuff. It was not as easy as I'd thought it would be -- Surprize! We spent quite a long time (did I mention I have a wonderful DH?)-- got the 2x4's attached and then had to attach the top tunnel to a 2-inch by 4-foot wood piece (which DH had to saw into a much smaller length with the absolutely wrong kind of saw plus plenty of perspiration(yep, and did I mention, Byron's a good sport, too?). Gee, the drill doesn't fit into the diameter of the tunnel (well, dangitall, did I mention Byron's patient, also?!)!!! Well, with some ingenuity we managed anyway and, "Yes!," we got a tunnel perched on top of the cat tree and the whole contraption (heavy, now, too!) back into the house in front of the window.... Well, the tunnel survived me placing a scared Robin cat (10 lbs.) into the tunnel; Byron and I felt proud and successful and walked into the kitchen. About 5 minutes later, I hear a KA-THUD! And, sigh, the tunnel did NOT, alas, survive the impact of the "pleasingly plump," Ms. Midnight. The tunnel tore right off the support and now all that was on top was the 2-inch wood slat...I then had plans for attached a wooden platform to the top for the next weekend... but wait, there's a happier ending to this cat tree tale (which didn't involve more work or stupidity.) Robin adopted this cat whatever-you-call-it as his "jungle gym" -- he hangs over the wooden slat on top and curls around and tries to grab his tail; he balances on it like a circus performer and sometimes he just straddles the thing and lets his legs hang over either side. Then he rolls and hauls himself around the 2x4s, wrestling it with all claws extended (I attached sisal rope to one side) and has himself an exhausting but definitely jolly old time. (This weekend I'm going to have to get shots of this for ya'll; it's hilarious.) So I guess Christine's Folly is going to stay like it is. The 2 carpeted tunnels are free-standing and useable and I do position them in front of the window on the ground and Midnight likes them very much for bird-watching. And I think my handyman days are over... Christine |
#4
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#5
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#6
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Robin adopted this cat whatever-you-call-it as his "jungle gym" -- he hangs
over the wooden slat on top and curls around and tries to grab his tail; he balances on it like a circus performer and sometimes he just straddles the thing and lets his legs hang over either side. Then he rolls and hauls himself around the 2x4s, wrestling it with all claws extended (I attached sisal rope to one side) and has himself an exhausting but definitely jolly old time. (This weekend I'm going to have to get shots of this for ya'll; it's hilarious.) So I guess Christine's Folly is going to stay like it is. The 2 carpeted tunnels are free-standing and useable and I do position them in front of the window on the ground and Midnight likes them very much for bird-watching. And I think my handyman days are over... Christine Oh, I know they love their cat tree *a lot*! Never say never--if you ever want to tackle another one, I have a CD of "cat tree plans". Would be happy to copy it and mail it to you. It's kind of a "Cat Trees for Idiots" thing we bought when we did our first one, with detailed instructions how to carpet, etc. You should see our first one (it was "free form" LOL, no instructions)...It's a bizarre looking thing and a little unstable (can't have too big of a base, we learned). But it's their favorite one--because it's all the way to the ceiling nearly. Loved your story. Your DH *is* a good sport. I thought they broke the mold when they made mine, but I guess not! Sherry |
#7
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Robin adopted this cat whatever-you-call-it as his "jungle gym" -- he hangs
over the wooden slat on top and curls around and tries to grab his tail; he balances on it like a circus performer and sometimes he just straddles the thing and lets his legs hang over either side. Then he rolls and hauls himself around the 2x4s, wrestling it with all claws extended (I attached sisal rope to one side) and has himself an exhausting but definitely jolly old time. (This weekend I'm going to have to get shots of this for ya'll; it's hilarious.) So I guess Christine's Folly is going to stay like it is. The 2 carpeted tunnels are free-standing and useable and I do position them in front of the window on the ground and Midnight likes them very much for bird-watching. And I think my handyman days are over... Christine Oh, I know they love their cat tree *a lot*! Never say never--if you ever want to tackle another one, I have a CD of "cat tree plans". Would be happy to copy it and mail it to you. It's kind of a "Cat Trees for Idiots" thing we bought when we did our first one, with detailed instructions how to carpet, etc. You should see our first one (it was "free form" LOL, no instructions)...It's a bizarre looking thing and a little unstable (can't have too big of a base, we learned). But it's their favorite one--because it's all the way to the ceiling nearly. Loved your story. Your DH *is* a good sport. I thought they broke the mold when they made mine, but I guess not! Sherry |
#8
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"Sherry " wrote in message ... snip Oh, I know they love their cat tree *a lot*! Never say never--if you ever want to tackle another one, I have a CD of "cat tree plans". Would be happy to copy it and mail it to you. It's kind of a "Cat Trees for Idiots" thing we bought when we did our first one, with detailed instructions how to carpet, etc. You should see our first one (it was "free form" LOL, no instructions)...It's a bizarre looking thing and a little unstable (can't have too big of a base, we learned). But it's their favorite one--because it's all the way to the ceiling nearly. Loved your story. Your DH *is* a good sport. I thought they broke the mold when they made mine, but I guess not! Sherry A CD of "cat tree plans"??? Ohh, sounds interesting. Where'd ya get it? What's the 'official' title of the CD? Maybe it's available online somewhere.... Hmmmmmm... lal |
#9
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"Sherry " wrote in message ... snip Oh, I know they love their cat tree *a lot*! Never say never--if you ever want to tackle another one, I have a CD of "cat tree plans". Would be happy to copy it and mail it to you. It's kind of a "Cat Trees for Idiots" thing we bought when we did our first one, with detailed instructions how to carpet, etc. You should see our first one (it was "free form" LOL, no instructions)...It's a bizarre looking thing and a little unstable (can't have too big of a base, we learned). But it's their favorite one--because it's all the way to the ceiling nearly. Loved your story. Your DH *is* a good sport. I thought they broke the mold when they made mine, but I guess not! Sherry A CD of "cat tree plans"??? Ohh, sounds interesting. Where'd ya get it? What's the 'official' title of the CD? Maybe it's available online somewhere.... Hmmmmmm... lal |
#10
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"Christine Burel" wrote snip Well, the tunnel survived me placing a scared Robin cat (10 lbs.) into the tunnel; Byron and I felt proud and successful and walked into the kitchen. About 5 minutes later, I hear a KA-THUD! And, sigh, the tunnel did NOT, alas, survive the impact of the "pleasingly plump," Ms. Midnight. another snip Robin adopted this cat whatever-you-call-it as his "jungle gym" -- he hangs over the wooden slat on top and curls around and tries to grab his tail; he balances on it like a circus performer and sometimes he just straddles the thing and lets his legs hang over either side. Then he rolls and hauls himself around the 2x4s, wrestling it with all claws extended (I attached sisal rope to one side) and has himself an exhausting but definitely jolly old time. (This weekend I'm going to have to get shots of this for ya'll; it's hilarious.) So I guess Christine's Folly is going to stay like it is. LOL! I have to applaud you both for your tenacity and ingeniousness, though the final result wasn't quite what you expected. At least Robin enjoys it, and I can't wait for the pics! -- Marina, Frank and Nikki Email marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/frankiennikki |
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