I use the small porch (4' x 8') attached to Dewey's Cat Castle as the recuperation area for my TNR kitties. I've got dog cages that I use for this purpose and, in the past, have always just stacked the cages on top of each other.
I have the cats put in carriers post-op and transitioning the cats from the carrier to the cage has not always gone smoothly (I've got the scars to prove it!). When the cats were ready to return to their grounds I rarely bothered to even try to get them into carriers, I just lugged the cages. Awkward, heavy, and really I just can't physically do that any more.
It's been lurking on my to-do list for more than a year and finally, just within the last month, we've gotten my little recuperation area reconfigured to do double duty as a kennel.
New kennel set-up can house 1 or 2 cats overnight. Big Tom (right foreground) usually spends the night in here now. During TNR times I'll move him to another kennel.
I have an idea in mind which I got from a very nice lady here: http://www.christinedemerchant.com/gardeningcats.html who shared photos of her set-up. Her's is in a bathroom, so she doesn't have the space constraints that I have.
From here on out I am only going to TNR two cats at a time. During the "remodel" I had in mind that I would use the small cages (18"x24") with the door facing out, one on the floor and one on the first shelf. We'll cut a hole in the side of the cages to allow access from a carrier. When I bring the cats home I can release the carrier door enough to slide a piece of plywood in to block opening, open the carrier door all of the way, then slide the carrier against the cage, pull out the plywood, and attach the carrier to the cage some way (bungie cords?).
To return the cats to their grounds I plan on using a piece of plywood with a handle attached. I will open the big door on the cage, and "push" the cat into the carrier. I think it's called a push plate. Then attach the push plate to the cage on the inside (a bungie cord again?), thus blocking the cage to carrier opening.
Before I start cutting holes in perfectly good cages, I'd appreciate any feedback or improvement suggestions. Also any suggestions on how to attach the carrier to the cage while the cat is confined. I don't like trusting bungie cords in that situation. It will not be very easy for me to access the away-side of the carrier as the clearance from floor to shelf is only 20.5". Clearance from bottom shelf to top shelf is 24". Shelf depth is 25.25".
Looking at this again, the lowest shelf on the left (used for the cats' access to the first big shelf where the food is when used as a kennel) is going to be in the way of the bottom cage door. Ugh! So I need suggestions about that, too.
Thanks in advance!
I have the cats put in carriers post-op and transitioning the cats from the carrier to the cage has not always gone smoothly (I've got the scars to prove it!). When the cats were ready to return to their grounds I rarely bothered to even try to get them into carriers, I just lugged the cages. Awkward, heavy, and really I just can't physically do that any more.
It's been lurking on my to-do list for more than a year and finally, just within the last month, we've gotten my little recuperation area reconfigured to do double duty as a kennel.
New kennel set-up can house 1 or 2 cats overnight. Big Tom (right foreground) usually spends the night in here now. During TNR times I'll move him to another kennel.
I have an idea in mind which I got from a very nice lady here: http://www.christinedemerchant.com/gardeningcats.html who shared photos of her set-up. Her's is in a bathroom, so she doesn't have the space constraints that I have.
From here on out I am only going to TNR two cats at a time. During the "remodel" I had in mind that I would use the small cages (18"x24") with the door facing out, one on the floor and one on the first shelf. We'll cut a hole in the side of the cages to allow access from a carrier. When I bring the cats home I can release the carrier door enough to slide a piece of plywood in to block opening, open the carrier door all of the way, then slide the carrier against the cage, pull out the plywood, and attach the carrier to the cage some way (bungie cords?).
To return the cats to their grounds I plan on using a piece of plywood with a handle attached. I will open the big door on the cage, and "push" the cat into the carrier. I think it's called a push plate. Then attach the push plate to the cage on the inside (a bungie cord again?), thus blocking the cage to carrier opening.
Before I start cutting holes in perfectly good cages, I'd appreciate any feedback or improvement suggestions. Also any suggestions on how to attach the carrier to the cage while the cat is confined. I don't like trusting bungie cords in that situation. It will not be very easy for me to access the away-side of the carrier as the clearance from floor to shelf is only 20.5". Clearance from bottom shelf to top shelf is 24". Shelf depth is 25.25".
Looking at this again, the lowest shelf on the left (used for the cats' access to the first big shelf where the food is when used as a kennel) is going to be in the way of the bottom cage door. Ugh! So I need suggestions about that, too.
Thanks in advance!