Okay, let me walk you through how I got my cattery setup to what I call ‘purrfection’, or at least, pretty darn close. It wasn’t like a big professional thing, just sorting out the space for my own furry overlords at home.
Getting the Idea
So, I looked around one day and thought, this whole setup for the cats is… okay. Just okay. You know? A tree here, a scratcher there, beds kinda randomly placed. It worked, but it didn’t feel great. The cats seemed happy enough, but I felt we could do better. I wanted a space that flowed, that really catered to their climbing, hiding, and lounging instincts all in one go. Something really comfortable and stimulating for them, but also not a total eyesore for me. That’s where the ‘purrfection’ idea started bubbling up.
Starting the Work
First thing, I just sat and watched the cats for a few days. Like, really watched. Where did they actually like to hang out? Where did the sunbeams hit? Where did they run when they got the zoomies? This gave me some real clues. Then I grabbed a pencil and paper, nothing fancy, just started sketching rough layouts. Thinking about vertical space mostly, ’cause cats love to be up high.
I checked what stuff I already had: old shelves, bits of wood in the garage, blankets. Then I figured out what I needed to buy. Didn’t want to spend a fortune, mind you. Just key things. My shopping list looked something like this:
- Strong shelf brackets
- A couple of new sisal rope rolls
- Some fuzzy material
- More sturdy wall anchors (super important!)
Got those bits and pieces together. Then it was tool time – drill, screwdriver, level, measuring tape. The basics.
The Messy Middle Part
Alright, this is where the real work began. Started by clearing out the chosen corner completely. Then, measuring and marking the walls for the shelves. This took longer than I thought, gotta get it level, gotta find the studs in the wall, or use good anchors. No point building something if it falls down, right?
I decided to make a sort of multi-level highway for them along one wall. Put up the brackets, cut the shelf boards to size. Sanded the edges smooth, didn’t want any splinters. Wrapped some parts of the shelves and a few support posts with the new sisal rope for scratching. Also used that fuzzy material to cover some shelf tops, make ’em cozy.
This bit was tricky. One shelf didn’t quite line up how I sketched it. Had to take it down, re-drill. Frustrating? Yeah, a bit. But you just gotta keep going. And of course, the cats were ‘helping’ the whole time – batting at the measuring tape, sitting exactly where I needed to drill. Typical.
I also took their existing tall cat tree, gave it a good clean, tightened all the bolts, and positioned it so they could use it to get onto the lowest shelf of the new wall setup. Integrated the old with the new.
Finishing Touches and Testing
Once the main structure was up, solid and secure (I tested it by pushing on it quite hard!), I added the softer touches. Placed their favourite beds on some of the wider shelves. Hung a couple of dangly toys from the underside of a higher shelf. Put their water fountain and food bowls in an easily accessible, quiet spot nearby but not too close to their litter box area (which stayed separate).
Then came the real test: letting the cats explore. It was funny, initially, they were super cautious. Sniffing everything. One brave one finally jumped up, then another. Within an hour, they were chasing each other up and down the wall shelves, scratching the new posts, and eventually, curling up for naps on the fuzzy platforms.
Watching them use it was key. I noticed they hesitated on one jump, seemed a bit too far. So, I added a small extra step, just a little block, really. Made all the difference. It’s about observing and tweaking.
The Result? Closer to Purrfection
So, now? The corner is transformed. It looks much better, more organised. But more importantly, the cats absolutely love it. They use every single level. They scratch the posts instead of the sofa (mostly!). They bask in the sunbeams on the top shelves. It feels like a proper little cat paradise corner now.
Was it ‘purrfect’ from day one? Nope. Did I make mistakes? Yep. But I just kept at it, watched the cats, and adjusted. It’s an ongoing process, really. Maybe I’ll add another tunnel later, who knows? But for now, seeing them so happy and comfortable in their upgraded space feels like a job well done. That’s my cattery purrfection story, just a bit of DIY and paying attention to the little bosses.
