We live on top of Buderim Mountain (really a plateau about 100 metres high) in a lovely spot beside Buderim Forest. We are actually surrounded by huge green trees and foliage, and our back garden, which drops away sharply, is full of Tiger Grass, trees, gingers, and all sorts of palms and plants. We also have a very large old, pine tree which is situated at the corner of our large back deck.

Our view is north to the Blackall Mountains, and it’s all green, with a view of only three or four houses in the distance.

It’s really lovely, and, of course, we have some wildlife living in our back garden, though thankfully we haven’t sighted any pythons – although I’m sure they’re there, as one of our neighbours had a duck taken by a large python at Christmas time. However, that’s unfortunate, but normal, in terms of wildlife.

Also at about Christmas time we had some new tenants move into the next door house – a lovely young couple with two little kids – and a big ginger cat. Unfortunately, for some reason, they decided to leave their cat out at night, rather than in the daytime, with a nasty consequence.

I have taken to sleeping in one of the downstairs back bedrooms for coolness as it’s been so hot lately. A couple of weeks ago I was woken by the screams (really!) of some poor little animal being attacked in our garden. This was at about 3 a.m., when I’m not at my best, I have to say.

At first we thought it was the young possum who lives on our roof at night with two other adult possums, but fortunately, I guess, that wasn’t the case, and it turned out to be a marsupial that Ken had sighted when wondering around the back garden one night. There are some burrows in the garden, which we now assume is where these little creatures – not tiny, like a large rat – but not a rat – live.

Anyway, I went out a couple of times but in the dark, but couldn’t locate the problem, and it went on for quite some time in different locations in the garden. Two of the possums came along the fence and onto the pine tree to me, as they were understandably upset by what was happening. They were making their upset possum noises into the bargain.

In hindsight, I doubt that I could have saved the little creature, but it died a very terrifying and painful death, and it upset me so much I couldn’t sleep in the room for a couple of weeks.

However, as that has never happened in the three and a half years we’ve lived here, and the only change was the cat next door (a very large fierce looking fellow), Ken approached the neighbours and requested that they keep him in at night.

So far so good, and we’ve had no incidents since then, but I keep a torch downstairs, and will try and do a better job if it happens again – hopefully not!

I merely relate this tale so that you responsible cat owners can give yourselves a pat on the back. You’re not only protecting your much loved cats, but you’re also protecting the wildlife, which, so far as Ken and I are concerned, is equally as important.

So thanks to all of you, and give your lovely cats a pat and a hug from me.

_______________________________

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About three months ago I (Robyn) got the bright idea that, if we built an extra side-of-house enclosure, we could put a couple of large “dirt boxes” in that enclosure, and the cats would hasten to use them – at least for their poos. This didn’t prove to be the case initially, but they’re slowly getting the idea, thus reducing the cost of our litter bill, and also reducing our indoor litter boxes from three to two. However, they still prefer to “piddle” in the garage rather than put their delicate bottoms in the soil outside to date. Apart from saving a few dollars, this also reduces the time that Ken takes to diligently clean out their litter boxes every morning. They usually wait for him to do this and then dive in to do their “pees”!

We decided on the area to enclose, which is between the house and the existing retaining wall/side timber fence.

The fence sits above a “staged” BRICK retaining wall, and Ken planned that the roof panel would go across to halfway up the fence. It has two end panels, one with a zip opening. But we were then faced with the problem of how to attach the side panels to the retaining wall, which was also covered in Singapore Daisy. However, we solved this problem by attaching another panel covering the retaining wall, up to the fence where the roof panel attaches, and Ken was then able to attach the two side panels to that panel, thus enclosing the area completely and safely.

It did take a little time to install as it was a bit more complicated, because of the retaining wall panel, than the usual side-of-house to fence enclosure, but Ken did complete it in record time – and I did the zip (not my favourite job, and rather out of practice!).

Ken then put a plank along the retaining wall, in amongst the greenery (which grows constantly!), and he also put together a rather “flash” shelf to cover the dirt boxes, which serves as something for the cats to sit on, but also keeps the dirt boxes dry in wet weather.

As the “floor” of the enclosure is BLUE METAL and our spoilt cats don’t like to walk on it with their delicate paws, we’ve bought three large pieces of “artificial grass” and placed them on the gravel for them to the walk, lie, and sit on. We’ve also placed a couple of plastic chairs in the enclosure for them to use as jumping blocks, and also for us to sit on while we clean “poo” out of their dirt boxes – which they are now using pretty well.

All in all the extra enclosure has been a great success. It’s also used as the “punishment” run if one of the gingers misbehaves, and they stay in there to contemplate their “sins” for an hour or so. This happens quite often as the smaller ginger, Tommy, likes to bully Riley (aka Skippy), who is a sook and hides under one of our, scratched, leather sofas. For this Tommy is banished downstairs for a short time in the hope that it will improve his manners. It hasn’t worked so far, I have to say.

Our large enclosed deck upstairs is still, of course, the favourite, as we spend a lot of time out there also – particularly late afternoon with a soothing drink in hand, having survived another hectic 4 p.m. feeding ritual.

I now get great pleasure from surveying Ken’s handiwork, both from the deck and from the downstairs garden/entertainment area. He’s done a great job and it was all worth it.

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Hi Ken

Slight delay in sending pix. Here are a few, we are still getting around to a few cat friendly climbing steps on the walls but looking good.

The instructions were great, and it is just what we were looking for!

Will send some updated pix when 100% finished if you would like any more.

Thanks again

K

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Our cat enclosures are affordable – no need to organise credit with all the attendant set-up costs & fees & ongoing interest charges!.

and for the month of May, take advantage of our 10% discount offer for all orders.

If we used traditional methods we would personally visit TO measure and quote for each cat enclosure or cat run. We would also make a return visit TO install each one.

HOWEVER, IF we did all that THE COST OF YOUR CAT ENCLOSURE OR CAT RUN WOULD BE GREATLY INCREASED, IN ORDER TO COVER WAGES, CAR EXPENSES AND FUEL. BUT, BECAUSE WE DON’T INCUR ALL THESE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES, THE COST OF OUR ENCLOSURES IS GREATLY REDUCED IN COMPARISON, OFTEN BY 50% OR MORE.

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“Finally all finished!

It was a lot of work, especially cutting around the tress and getting the net tensions right.

I will leave the 2nd zip door for later.

Cleo now comes & goes via the bedroom window pet door and is a much happier cat.

Must say I’m VERY happy with how it turned out, and your kind support through out.”

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There are a lot of palm trees in Darwin, so if you want to install a side of house cat run up here, you have to cut the roof netting across from the fence to each palm tree trunk and re-join the net again to make the cat run escape proof.

“We have four cats ourselves. My work was fostering the four of them and my husband and I originally wanted two of them, but try as my work could we couldn’t find the other two homes. So when we bought our house we decided to keep all four. They really do love spending time out the side of the house, having the enclosure was the best thing we ever did. We’ve done it up a bit using stuff from Bunnings. And our neighbours have all asked how we got the enclosure. So I am very happy to  recommend your service.”

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“The cats are loving their new home looks fantastic and now Mum can sit out there and enjoy her verandah with them and the birds are already coming back to the garden It’s wonderful as she loves her gardening!”

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Ben & Mac show their appreciation after their staff  have just finished building their new patio enclosure, so they can snooze and watch the world go by while their staff are out at work earning money for cat food and tasty treats.

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