Cat tunnels for catio wanted

[beach chick]

sorry to be a pain, but cant find the answer. we have a large (12 x 8m?) area of decking which was put in years ago to cover up a horrible mix of concrete and slabs in our field. could I put a WIR on top of this? eg bolt the panels onto the decking... there are gaps between the decks which would allow stuff to fall through, but I would think it is pretty fox proof from digging up underneath.

any ideas???

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I've no idea but it sounds like a really good plan .

[beach chick]

thanks ANH, I am trying to think why it wouldnt work... the decking is pressure treated so should last a while yet. and I could even fix it so they could go out onto grass on the daytime by repositioning the existing electric fencing so it was an extension of the WIR.

 

another question: could the quail and rabbits go in there as well? up til our fox attack on Sunday night the bunnies freeranged with the chooks. clearly the quail couldnt freerange, but they could stay in the WIR?????

 

thoughts thoughts... OH even seems quite keen on the idea and thinks he could build it himself. well he could, but time might be the problem...

[batcatz]

Hi, I would put a big bit of hardboard on top of the decking, then lino on top of that because food could drop through, then rats could move into the area under the decking. Also the decking could get slimy and mucky quickly, then rot.

[beach chick]

hmm, think we are going to go with the decking as the base, and cover it with weldmesh before the run goes on to prevent beasties coming up from underneath or trying to bite through from the side... I think both would actually be difficult because of the way it is, but better safe than sorry. not practical to take the decking up, and its pressure treated etc so should be ok for donkeys years.

getting costs at the mo.

it will be 4.5m long by 4m deep, which allows me 1.5 m of decking to sit the cube and 2 eglus on outside the run. the 'person door' will be at the left hand end, and there will be a porthole door centre front so girls can still go out into the electric fenced area during the day but I can get in and out without negotiating electric fence. roof will be pitched and either felt or onduline, 1.8m high.

this is the plan - I hope we can afford for someone to come and do it, otherwise OH will but that will take more time...!

[Cinnamon]

The only thing that would concern me would be the possibility of food dropping through attracting rats that nested under the decking,as they are prone to do