Category: Cats

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

Cat in a bag

On By CarynIn Cats

This is the second year I’ve used the “Cat in a bag” carrier for Thor the cat’s vet visit, and I still think it is a brilliant invention.

Photo description: large gray tabby in a magenta bag buckled into a car seat

He is not happy to go to the vet, but he doesn’t bounce off the walls in a desperate bid for escape like he does in a traditional cat carrier. At the vet he never has to get out of the bag since there is a zipper at the back for access to his body. He does prefer to hide his head under my arm, but will sometimes peek out.

This is the brand I purchased.