Train’s rental-friendly cat run.

The big kitty related project we’ve been working on? A rental-friendly cat run.  Every time we see a post about how someone has put shelving on their walls to create some simple and functional cat furniture we get jealous.  Being in a cat friendly rental is one thing, but being allowed to put holes in the walls is, um, a lot harder to get approved.

One of the savvycat team (Mr. J) is a engineer by trade, so for months he’s been searching for a way to make it work without relying on the walls for support. And, success…!

First, we purchased and assembled two white Expedit shelving units (or bookcases as I’m calling them) from IKEA. They were put either side of our computer desks (also from IKEA, but no longer sold) to provide extra storage space for ourselves… and of course the two ends to our cat run.

We then approached a family member to create the cat run – a 2.8m x 0.4m worth of chipboard to run the lenth from bookcase to bookcase, plus a little ledge to screw into the side so Train can get up there.  All pieces were then carpeted for traction and kitty clawing areas.

Our original plan was to bolt the shelving units to our table to increase stability, but because we packed the bottom of the bookcases with heavy things, we think it should be fine. There is no shaking or movement when Train is up there and Mr. J is quite confident it will hold.

On Friday night we assembled the final parts of the cat run, and then encouraged Train up there… with food of course. Here are some photos of how it went.

The final product (before Train).

Train decides the windowsill is a better launching point than our specially made ledge

We bribe Train with dinner

Train, after eating half of her dinner, checking out the other side.

It’s great for us as it gets her off the desk (and away from our keyboards!) and she loves being able to look down at her minions working away. Since we put her favourite sleeping box up there, she’s not seen much of the floor. She usually doesn’t take to things so quickly, so we’re chuffed. :) And hey, the humans got two bookshelves out of it as well!

Of course, it wouldn’t have happened without the other half of the savvycat team, so thanks Mr J.
If you have any questions about it let us know in the comments.

savvycat x

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Comments ( 8 )

awesome! almost makes me want to throw out all my office furniture and pursue this!

brian added these words on May 21 09 at 6:35 am

Okay, this is pretty cool, and your cat obviously likes it . . . But, I’m surprised you went through all that for your cat, when you don’t even have a curtain rod on the window! Not that what you have up isn’t working alright! I’m just sayin’! Your cat is really adorable, so I totally understand why that project would be the priority! ((♥))

KinKStar added these words on May 21 09 at 11:45 pm

brian – Let us know if you ever do! :)

KinKStar – We’re in a rental, and there was never a curtain rod there. As we’re not allowed to put holes in the walls, the cat5 cable and sheet option was the next best thing :)

savvycat added these words on May 22 09 at 7:14 am

Love this idea! So great. How do I follow your blog?
des

des added these words on Aug 24 09 at 8:46 am

Hi Des,

Thanks for your comment.
Your can follow our site through our RSS feed or by bookmarking us/adding us to your favourites for future reference :)

savvycat added these words on Aug 24 09 at 9:01 am