Category: Cats

Throwback Thursday: cat box bench

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

In August of 2018 I built a bench with an insulated section and a non-insulated section inside. The idea was to provide Sophie the cat a hiding place, since she was working on being part of our family.

Photo description: hand made wood bench painted gray
Photo description: same bench with the lid lifted to show the insulated section on the left, and cat door on the right

This was one of the largest flops. No cat ever used it for more than a casual inspection, and after a few years on the front porch, I moved it back behind the coop for the meadow cats, who also eschewed it. I tried cutting a secondary hole so there was an escape route, but still it was not an acceptable hide-y hole. Now, after eight years of being outside, the lid has broken, the legs are rotting, and the bugs have taken it over. Time for a something different.

Throwback Thursday: catio

On By CarynIn Cats

In May of 2018 my eldest and I finished building a catio on the back side of the house. We built it from 2×2 lumber, painted it, and encased it in welded wire fence material, with a screen door. Izzy the cat still loves it.

Photo description: calico cat laying on the dirt in a custom built catio

It attaches to a back window so the cats can come and go as they please. After eight years, though, it is looking rather raggedy.

Things I learned with this catio:

  • Even though I painted it, I should have used all exterior treated lumber
  • Small hammocks made from outdoor fabric are fantastic, the cats love them, put a grommet in the center to let the rain drain
  • Put sand in the bottom, but also have kitty litter boxes
  • A nice long ramp wrapped with outdoor fabric makes a good scratching surface
  • Multiple staggered high shelves are appreciated
  • On the next one, I’ll probably add a roof

Spot the cat

On By CarynIn Cats, music
Photo description: Top of an upright grand piano covered in sheet music and oddities with a wall hanging holding a collection of instruments, cat in the middle

It isn’t a very difficult “Where’s Waldo” photo, but she wasn’t trying to be subtle. She was trying to get to me to make me stop singing. I was standing at a music stand facing the piano, working on warm ups, and she gets quite perturbed when I even sound like I’m working on overtone singing. I can actually tell when I am using my full resonant voice because she comes over to yell at me (it is definitely not with me). Actual overtone singing and she will come from anywhere in the house to get me to stop.

I think he missed me

On By CarynIn Cats, dog

When we got home from our trip, Missy the dog was the first to greet us, turning inside out because she thought we had left her forever (our eldest had to work so couldn’t go on the trip, so the dog was well cared for). Izzy and Sophie the cats were chill, more like “you were gone? make a lap.” I did see Thor the cat for a little while, then he popped up in the catio window with a present.

Photo description: gray tabby outside a catio window with a grasshopper he just dropped for me

Throwback Thursday: cat’s pajamas

On By CarynIn Cats, Craft

In April of 2018 we took over Sophie the dilute calico’s veterinary care and took her to get spade. To keep her from licking the incision and taking out stitches, I made her a body suit from an old t-shirt, cutting out leg holes and leaving strips on the back so it could be tied shut. She was remarkably tolerant of us.

Photo description: dilute calico cat, lounging on a pink blanket, wearing a red body suit from shoulders to hips, ties in the back not pictured