Building the cat house - Part 8

Part eight of a video series where I describe how I built a cat house for our two kittens. Read more here: http://www.raoulpop.com/2009/09/29/the-cat-house-part-8/.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• animals
• carpentry
• cat house
• cats
• design
• environment
• fun
• kittens
• pets
• resources
• videos

[chihuahuabulldog]

With you "finished" video coming up, I wanted to watch this one again. These are the two kittens that had 6 kittens between them? So it looks like you did need the large model after all. Is it deep enough in the back to put a shelf in the corner opposite the door and against the back wall? Sometimes they like to be up high, and would make more room for 8 cats. You can always put a shutter on the outside of the window if it gets too cold. lol Great job. I look forward to the final video.

[raoulpop]

@chihuahuabulldog Yup, those are the two kittens. And the shelf is one of the planned additions, along with a covered vestibule on the ledge, that would act as an additional buffer against the cold weather.

[seven2025]

Well done on making such a good job on this cat house. Cats will be lovely and warm. As a suggestion for the cat door how about a purpose built cat-flap? You could fix a light bulb (say 40 watt) above the entrance which will help to warm the air. You can black out the bulb so it is not too bright for the cats. And some lovely warm straw (not hay) will help to keep them warm in the winter. Blankets or clothing can become damp and moldy and draw heat away from the cats so straw is better.

[raoulpop]

@seven2025 I purchased a cat flap, and plan to install it very soon. As for the straw, I'll try to find some. For now, I'm using hay, placed over some rubber and polyester mats, which should reflect their body heat back toward them.

[thecarexpert18]

is it heavy?

[raoulpop]

It's fairly heavy, yes. It's made to be sturdy and solid, with two layers of wood and polystyrene insulation (foam) inbetween. That's why I have it on casters, otherwise it'd be difficult to move.

[ruby7993]

his voice is so relaxing

[artstarzz]

i think you did a great job . No over kill at all.. i will make one .

[MiniG4m3rs]

Those are street cats , if you come to the country I live in .. you'll find thousands of em !

[MeTheMegaSunshine]

I recomend to buy your cats some good cat beds, if you havent done it :)So they got something warm and soft to sleep on.

[reic24]

@Bogman22 Dogs aren't clean, sophisticated as cats are. Cats are more noble creatures, dogs on the other hand may be more playful but aren''t as "royal" as cats are. If a dog is offended he goes with his head and his tail down, unlike a cat that keeps her head up high and aren't as easy to please. It takes sophistication to understand an appreciate a cat, therefore it seems that someone like you would make a better fit for a dog.

[SilentFeline]

@Boghman22 First of all, Yahoo! Answers is no better than wikipedia as a reputable source. Second, in order for this source's theory to be true, one would have to say that all humans have the same level of intelligence since our brains are all the same size, which is clearly ridiculous. With the exception of dinosaurs, brain size often has a direct correlation with body size, and an animal should not be deemed less intelligent simply because it's smaller. Bigger doesn't equal smarter.

[Boghman22]

@SilentFeline That may be true, but I've been researching the topic for the last few days, so I've learned quite a bit on said topic. And a source from Yahoo Answers! states that brain size has a direct correlation with intelligence, the man is a highly respected top-contributor.

[SilentFeline]

@Boghman22 I never use wikipedia for my info. In fact, I didn't need any web source to obtain my info about this subject. I have read literature about animals for at least the past 15 years of my life and have a special interest in all felines. I also am a member of 7 different non-profit organizations dedicated to animals, so I know quite a few little facts about different species. Also, please understand that brain size has nothing to do with intelligence. Do your research.

[Boghman22]

@SilentFeline That's untrue. Dogs make over 200 sounds, wikipedia lies. Also, cats have a smaller brain portion than dogs.

[SilentFeline]

@Boghman22 Not true. Just because cats don't constantly look like they have a big smile on their faces or jump all over you when you come home, doesn't mean they lack the ability to express happiness, or any other emotion for that matter. They express their emotions through sound and body language, which proves my point that they're a more complex species. Cats can make over 100 sounds, while dogs can only make about 10. How's that for complexity?

[Boghman22]

@SilentFeline I disagree. Dogs are much more complex because they have a desire to express whatever primitive emotions they possess, cat's never do.

[SilentFeline]

@Boghman22 The way I see it, dogs are simple and cats are very complicated. You can translate that however you want, but I can tell that you're just seeing cats on the surface without really wanting to know who they are as a species. No one ever said dogs and cats are the same; they're not supposed to be. But cats deserve just as much love as dogs, and no species should be deemed better than the other. It's apples & oranges.