First Page

Last Page

Cat Hut - Roof & Finishing

Poppy is on the roof. The cats like sitting on it in warm weather, as it also gives them a good view of us inside the lounge and thus a position from which to attract attention. It's also quite handy for putting things on, but the felt covering is hardly robust. This is where greased brass screws come into their own, as the batons can be unscrewed to make renewing worn or torn felt easier. Yes, it does get torn - claws, of course! As you can see, the roof of our hut was patched at the sides and middle; it has now been fully re-covered, but lasted 10 years.

The Roof: Cut the roof board to size, allowing 2" minimum overlap all round. Draw round the position of the hinges on the top of the back frame, and chip out shallow rectangles using a wood chisel to enable the hinges to be screwed in flush. Screw the hinges to the frame and roof. Ensure the roof fits snugly, sanding the tops of the legs etc as necessary. Stretch the roofing felt over the top, but don't trim it exactly just yet. Screw it down with at least 4 2" x ½" batons, starting in the middle. Don't use clouts, as they tend to split plywood. Open the roof, wrap each side around the edge and screw it on with smaller batons all round, leaving small gaps between the ends of the batons for air to circulate. Trim off the surplus felt ¼" inside the batons.

The Porch: Cut 3 lengths of fencing board to fit the entrance, coming outwards to shield it from rain. Nail the top one first, onto the inner frame so that the slope is downwards. The two sides then fit under and support the porch roof, nailed to the frame and leg. You can now put away the saw, hammer, screws etc.

Preservative: Apply two coats of low-odour, non-toxic wood preserver as necessary to all bare wood, inside and out, including the underside of the floor. Stand the legs in containers (tins, jars) and pour some preservative in, adding small amounts until the wood stops soaking it up. Grease the hinges of the roof.

Luxury Lining: Cut the 'VetBed' (or whatever you have chosen to use) to size for the floor, allowing enough to overlap upwards at sides and back. Cut more 'VetBed' to line the walls, and hang it by simply putting screws into the tops of the walls (not just the plywood) making small holes in the material and pushing it on. Use round-head screws for this, to minimise the risk of a stretching paw cutting itself. (Alternatively, use heavy-duty 'Velcro', but test it to ensure it doesn't simply pull off the walls or the back of the lining when you want it off!). Add an old blanket and your cats have a luxury hut ...

Maintenance

Very little is needed. External wood will need more preservative from time to time. In especially wet weather check the floor for damp which has soaked through off wet cats and wipe it dry. If sunlight strikes the window it will help dry the inside. Grease the screws periodically to prevent rusting. The bottom layer of 'VetBed' and the cats' bedding will need occasional shaking and airing in dry weather to remove hair and debris, and washing in winter. This helps keep fleas away, but you can use a flea spray as required.

Good Luck and Have Fun building it!