Types and production of wall shelves for cats
Pets often become full-fledged family members: they have their own personal space, a place to play, a dining area, as well as favorite toys. Many owners are ready to spend a lot of money to provide the four-legged friend with maximum comfort.
Wall mounted shelves for cats are becoming more and more popular. What is the design feature and can you make such a shelf yourself?
Design features
It is recommended to make hanging shelves for cats in cases where the pet does not leave the house. Manufacturers of pet supplies offer a huge assortment of models of all kinds of sizes and shapes: a cozy house, a ladder, a stove bench. Before purchasing a model you like, think about whether the cat will be delighted?
It is not uncommon for cats to ignore the purchased shelf or lounger, despite their many advantages. The thing is that the pet has its own preferences and preferences, and before buying an expensive "toy", take a closer look at the habits of a four-legged friend, carefully observe what arouses his greater interest, and what he is absolutely indifferent to. And with these observations in mind, purchase pet shelves.
Someone prefers to make such a design on their own, and this also has a rational grain: you will definitely make such a house for a cat with your own hands that will not leave her indifferent. Finally, hand-made is guaranteed to save you money.
Varieties
There are three main categories:
- Wall-mounted;
- Outdoor;
- Models on the window.
When choosing or creating a wall structure, remember that it should be freely available for your pet. You should not hang it under the ceiling, or clutter the approach to it with various interior items. If you plan to hang the shelves higher, then make sure that there is a ladder or any other attachment so that it is convenient and interesting for the cat to get to its place.
Wall models are distinguished by the presence of several levels. The complex may include a scratching post, a sleeping place, a play area with small balls, pompoms or other "amenities".
What to look for when choosing
The variety of the assortment is good.But the problem of choice invariably arises: which model will suit both the pet and the owner (note, the owner's opinion in this matter is secondary, and this fact does not bother true cat lovers!).
- Domestic cats do not go outside, which means that the owner's task is to make their stay in the house full and interesting, to organize outdoor games and provide toys. The ladder to the wall shelf should be ergonomic, able to support the weight of your cat, and be comfortable for him so that he does not break off or, conversely, so that the claws do not get stuck in the material.
An effective and practical addition to the design will be a scratching post. Choose models made from natural materials, without an unpleasant smell, which can not only scare a cat away, but also harm health, because all representatives of the feline family have a unique sense of smell. Therefore, natural wood is ideal for cat accessories. And to make the lounger especially cozy and pleasant, put the cat's favorite blanket or bedding there.
DIY scratching post
Today, a scratching post is not only considered an obligatory cat attribute, with its help you can ensure the safety of furniture and walls.
The most popular are corner models, which provide safety to two adjacent walls at once. To create such a structure, you will need two boards (the size is arbitrary, the main thing is that the boards cover 15-20 centimeters of the wall in width, and the height is at your discretion).
Be sure to process the boards so that there are no burrs and roughness, otherwise the structure will be traumatic.
We connect the boards with dowels. It is better to refuse self-tapping screws, as in the process of "exploitation" the cat can fall into the hat with its paw. We set the dowels at a distance of 8 centimeters for secure fixation. So, as a result, we install dowels on the end of one board, and make the corresponding holes in the other board. We connect the boards with glue. Leave it to dry completely.
Now we are preparing the material for the upholstery. The most suitable option is carpet. We fix it on the "seamy" side of the structure using a stapler. And over the entire area of the scratching post, we fix the carpet with glue.
In order to attach the scratching post to the wall, we attach metal corners above and below the structure, and fix them on the wall using self-tapping screws.
The final step: do not forget to check how firmly the structure is attached, otherwise, after touching the sharp claws, you will have to work on the fastening again.
DIY wall shelves for cats
There are simply no unambiguous recommendations for shapes and sizes. Want to make a present for your cat? Go for it! Create your own unique models in which your pet will feel comfortable and safe.
The most elementary option is a stepped arrangement of several shelves on the wall. The main thing is to guess with the size of the plane and the distance between them. What material to make? The choice is yours.Better than natural wood, perhaps, there is nothing. Moreover, this material is also easy to process.
Each shelf can be supplemented with a hanging toy or scratching post. The advantage of creating shelves for cats with your own hands is that during operation you can supplement or, conversely, simplify the design.
Pets in the house are no longer our smaller brothers, but full-fledged family members, about whom we care no less than about the rest of our household. Therefore, it is our direct responsibility to provide them with a comfortable and safe place to live. And wall shelves are perhaps one of the best choices.
Video: do-it-yourself shelves for cats on the wall