All enclosures are designed and built differently, and you might want to look for a bridge that adds an aesthetic touch. At Habitat Haven, we offer differently designed bridges so you can find one that fits your enclosure perfectly. The evening sun sparkles through the lattice of the bridge, and I catch a glimpse of a cat silhouette walking through. It looks so beautiful; I think to myself. Bridges are one of the most highly revered products of engineering. They require clever construction techniques to build, involve beautiful mathematics, and can be the centerpiece of a city through both their form and function. The design, analysis, and construction of bridges fall under a discipline called civil engineering. This is fortunate for the civil engineer because it may be the discipline’s only redeeming quality. Other projects that fall into the civil portfolio include highways (flat strips of concrete!), sewage systems (tubes full of poo!), and dams (a structure that can literally be recreated by rodents). Some civil engineers may try to claim credit for buildings in general, but they know this is a lie. Yes civil engineers may work on buildings, but none of the fun parts. Generations ago a clever con artist invented a profession called “architect”, where they would take all the fun design work for a building while the engineers still did all the math to make it work. This ingeniously resulted in the architect getting all of the credit if a building was a success, and the engineers taking all the blame if it was a failure. This is still a fairly sore spot in the civil engineering community.

Option 2: This option takes a little bit more work, but does not require the eye hooks to be opened up and can be an easier option for installing a tightly pulled bridge (minimal droop). Before looping the cable through the planks, install the eye hooks onto a separate piece of wood. The piece should have enough depth so that the eye hooks can be fully threaded in, a 2×4 will work fine. When looping the cable through the planks, loop it through the eye hooks as well. Use sufficiently long wood screws to attach the bridge in place. After 4 years Kevin wanted to get rid of it completely. There was something about the front elevation of Birdview Lodge that we both felt didn’t quite belong. Perhaps because it is lower than the main catio ‘Chirpy’s Lair’ and was built in a hurry to save a cat. But despite our thoughts, there were many redeemingqualities about Birdview Lodge that we couldn’t ignore. Its saving grace is that the tendrils of the female Actinidia Kolomikta vine have weaved their way up through the grids and bear fruit. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster. Problem: Your cat does have places to perch, but they are not accessible. Solution: Connect them with a rope bridge Difficulty: Medium Cost: Medium – High Build Time: 5 – 7 hours Bridging the Gaps He walks you through each step in his woodshop, showing you the boards and cuts you need to make. He cuts each board down to 12-inch pieces. The bridge winds up being 5 feet long when it is finished.

How To Design A Cat Bridge:

The good thing about building the bridge on an existing catio structure was that this provided a solid base of support to build from. We laid a patio stone in position to support the stairs. We replaced a wooded beam from Birdview Lodge catio with a longer 8-foot piece spanning across to join the stairs. We removed a wooden beam from the front of Birdview Lodge. Scout supervised closely while we were giving her quarters a makeover. I let the idea simmer for a while, but then at teatime, I take out my sketch pad and start drawing what I want, no, whatthe cats want. This is my chance to warm him up to the idea. It works, but I can already see that I have ignited some of his own ideas and I should be prepared to butt heads over this.And so the work on the catio bridge begins, but not without a few kinks to iron out. Side note: Yes, I named each of our catio sections. It sure beats saying “oh Ollie is in the catio next to the main catio near the tree!” But Kevin just refuses to go by my silly nomenclature. Start by measuring the length and width of your available space. You’ll need two pieces of PVC pipe for each foot of length and one for each foot of width. For example, if your space is 10 feet long by 5 feet wide, you’ll need 20 pieces of PVC pipe that are 10 feet long and five pieces that are 5 feet long.

The Cat Bridge is the perfect addition to any cat climbing wall. It’s our very first creation and the product that launched the company. It can be installed on its own across the wall, but we suggest installing it over a window or doorway so your cat can keep an eye on their surroundings while being up high in a safe space. Cats love to sleep on the bridge because they’re held securely by the railings while the slats flex to support their bodies. You can incorporate the Bridge as a part of a full setup or as a way to cross through gaps in your cat wall. Come and enjoy a great day out for all the family. There is lots to see and do. Why not have a go to see if you have what it takes to be a knight of old? Suitable for climbing and as a resting place, also ideal as a stepping-stone to help your cat get up hard to climb scratching trees Calculating the length of our bridge based on an equation like that may seem stressful, but there is no need to worry. We are going to solve our length problem like real civil engineers – by looking up the answer in a table. When a civil engineer has to do math they don’t do it directly, they have some other smart engineers do it for them and create a table like the ones below so they can find the answer immediately. They may point out that this is way more efficient and significantly reduces the chance for error, but that is just an excuse. The real reason for tables is that they hate fun. So here is an efficient yet fun-killing table: Charlotte, her family and friends loved Ginger very much and he will be very much missed but never forgotten.

Once the pieces are cut, it’s time to start assembly. Begin by attaching two 10-foot pieces at one end using PVC glue or tape. Then, do the same with two of the 5-foot pieces. Continue until all of the pieces are attached in a rectangular shape.

The bridge’s height is important, as you want it to be high enough that your cat can comfortably walk across but not too high that they could feel scared or intimidated. A good height to aim for is around 2-3 feet. Conclusion Plant a vine next to the stairs of the cat bridge and transform it into a beautiful and functional ‘catio arbor’ I immediately answer “On top of BirdView Lodge, of course!” and I circle it on my drawing. “See? that’s Birdview Lodge right here.” Yas and Kevin

Easy Assembly

Bridges are the ideal accessory when you’re thinking of expansion. Your cat’s enclosure should stimulate them and have variety, and adding a catio bridge is the perfect way to achieve that. If you opt for the easy option, simply place your cat’s trees on either side of their cat shelf or perch. Otherwise, follow the instructions that accompany the cat tree on how to assemble it and secure it and build it between the two cat trees.

How to build a hanging bridge for your cats easily and creatively; this is inventive and creative and will provide great fun and entertainment for them and their special owners. With the right instructions and materials, building your cat a hanging bridge is easy and simple. You can make it by yourself, your kitty will love it and feel special, and you will enjoy watching him play and lounge on his unique piece of art. The amount of planks needed will be based on the total length of the bridge (see table above for reference). It would be a good idea to cut a few extra planks just in case. Before performing this step take a look at Step 7 on hanging up the bridge. If you want to go with option 2, you will loop the cable through the eye hooks here as well. This DIY rope bridge for cats is a much more intricate design, incorporating bookshelves and a cat-shaped hide just for your kitty. Not only can your cat meander across the bridge, but they can also nap on the bookshelf whenever they want.

Attach one end of the rope to each post using a strong knot. Please ensure the knots are tight and secure so your cat can’t pull them loose. You may need to use a second rope for added stability. 5. Add Faux Fur The spacing shown here is for a 10″ wide bridge, adjust as necessary if you used a different width. Watch as the archers take to the field, to see who is the most skilled with a bow. Even Robin Hood would be impressed.