WIP - Stray Cat House

[Random Orbital Bob]

Bit of background. Before Xmas we noticed a cat eating bread thrown out for the birds. Bit odd thought I, cats being carnivores etc. It looked clean and tidy so we thought nothing more of it. It happened several more times and we asked round the neighbours to ascertain any owners. Turns out it is a stray, in fact my belief is its a wild cat ie never been owned, possibly born in a farm barn and strayed from the nest. Over the last few weeks we've been feeding it scraps and general meaty leftovers, particularly when its been frosty etc. Now we're having all this rain my Mrs has asked me to build it a little shelter to try and keep it warm. It won't come in the house because its wild. It will take food from my hand but it took 4 weeks to train it to do that. Won't let anybody stroke it. When my kids turn up, it scarpers at the speed of light.

Anyway - this isn't a serious quality project or anything but I wanted to make it out of 100% reclaimed material for the fun of it. It's not finished yet cos my bandsaw exploded on Sunday (see thrust bearing thread) and as you'll see I need the bandsaw to make the side walls and roofing.

The front, back and bottom (ie the gable ends) are made from 1" oak salvaged from a French table that was cracked all the way up the top. The sides and roof when bandsaw back to normal are from resawn waney edged green oak. I tilted the bandsaw table to a few degrees to manufacture featheredge basically. Left the bark on one side for that oak barn look. Rest will be done soonest. The door is 7" in both width and height which was a dimension I blagged from my neighbours catflap. Hope he likes it!

 

[Spindle]

Heathen #-o #-o

Oak is for real projects - if you want to build a feline 'wendy' house you should get down to the shed and source come CLS and pine tongue in groove.

Walks away crying and shaking head :wink:

Regards Mick

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I get that...ordinarily I would do the same. What I didn't mention was that knackered old French table was cluttering a particular choke point in my workshop so it's days were numbered anyway.

 

[monkeybiter]

Your story sounds remarkably like ours, eating bread etc. , although my first encounter of Charlie was when he and a foe were fighting together like a ball in the garden, so I booted the pair across the grass to break it up. Despite that rough mistreatment he now lives with us [he's sleeping in front of me now] and seems to have taken a particular shine to me!

I think you'll probably entice him in eventually [if you want to] even without attacking him!

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

well I kind of figured that would be the way it might go but the little sucker is resisting so far. He just doesn't like being inside the house and always slinks out the way when you try and stroke him.

Only food has the power to make him take more risk than normal....if its fish...he'll do anything (particularly smoked salmon)

 

[Baldhead]

Well done Bob, helping a stray cat and building with recycled timber =D> =D> =D>

Baldhead

 

[carlb40]

Yeah i agree it will eventually trust you and live with you, it happened with my sis and BIL. He found a stray behind his works and him and his work mates kept feeding it etc. Eventually he took it home to make friends with the other 5 cats they have. :mrgreen:

I can't believe you haven't put any felt on the roof first, or rounded over the edges of the door way. :shock:

LOL

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

I'm not expecting the Queen to come and live in it!

 

[rafezetter]

I think's it's really good of you, and if s/he never uses it you could always try sticking it on a long pole and entice an eagle, owl or the pelican that comes our way on occasion to live in it!

I also took in a stray cat almost 3 years ago, but he adopted me right away!! He'd been outside our house for 3 days beginning of decemeber, making a racket, so I went over to check if he was injured or anything, and he followed me back, dancing between my legs and didn't leave again. He always insisted on going out at night, but was always there in the morning asleep on my workbench, and wasn't fazed at all by really loud noises like the router. I'd still have him if the new landlords weren't such asshats as they knew he lived here before they bought the place!

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae30 ... 7ff059.jpg

But thankfully he went to a friend so I know where he is and can visit.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

awwwww...does he help with the sanding

 

[Racers]

We had a stray cat that used to come round and look sad until you fed him he was all skin and bone the poor thing.

We called him Vincent.


Wild cat by maddpete, on Flickr

He disappeared a few weeks later.

Luckily the Beast of Sherwood (Otis) never saw him and he is a bit territorial.


Otis the Cat by maddpete, on Flickr

Pete

 

[bodgerbaz]

Nice looking cat house Bob. I love how rustic it looks.

I made one for one of my Maine **** cats who l-o-v-e-s lounging in cat baskets and paper bags etc. I built her a red barn and she loves hanging out in there.

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

wow she looks snug in there. Yours looks longer than mine....I hope I've got enough length (oo err yik yik phnaar)

 

[MARK.B.]

Looking good Bob remember though you dont train a cat [-X your cat trains you :-"

 

[Grahamshed]

We 'had' a feral cat for years but the only time she would willingly come indoors was when she was feeling unwell.

Are you trying to give her an inferiority complex by building her a kennel ?

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

She doesn't answer to Fido either or fetch a stick...rubbish

 

[bodgerbaz]

Are you trying to give her an inferiority complex by building her a kennel ?

It's not a kennel it's a barn :shock: in fact it's a RED barn coz she's American . . . . well the breed is anyway :wink:

. . . . and when did cats have an inferiority complex Graham :duno:

 

[doorframe]

Cats are best.

Here's my girls, Pebbles and Gibby, both strays, rescued late last year. Gibs (tabby and white) was locked in a refrigerated trailer for 4 days and nearly died. She was only a few weeks old and totally feral. Pebs was born in a back garden and saved just before the foxes got her.

I sure your little bundle of fluff will make just as good and loving a pet as my 2 'Angels' :wink:

PS. As the old saying goes... "Dogs have Masters, Cats have Slaves"

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

well I'm certainly the slave. So far this little Madam has cost me a fair bit in food since Xmas, probably £30. A new solid oak house...and we don't even own her!!!

 

[Grahamshed]

and if she hasn't been fixed she will need to be :roll: