With half a dozen mutinous cats, we had often entertained the idea of building a cat enclosure. We wanted our cats to be able to enjoy nature, roll in the dirt, and bask in the sun without risking their safety.
 What wasn't appealing were the images that came up when searching for cat enclosures or catios. For every nice-looking enclosure that cost thousands of dollars, there were three dozen ones that were cost-effective, but visually amounted to a box of unfinished lumber and chicken wire. The DIY Garden Pergola Cat Enclosure is a short ebook that details how we turned a garden pergola into a catio that blended into our garden and fit with the aesthetics we had already established.

 All proceeds benefit the Winona Area Humane Society.

This project was conceptualized and executed by a graphic designer and a writer with basic homeowner / DIY levels of skill. You will need to know how to use a few power tools safely (namely a circular saw and drill) and basic hand tools.

 Easy-to-follow text and large, clear photography makes building your DIY Garden Pergola Cat Enclosure a fun, creative project that will benefit both you and your cat.

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 What this guide is:
Just as each cat is different, each enclosure is unique. Often, there are special needs that your cat's enclosure will need to meet, or build parameters dictated by the location of the enclosure or availability of materials. This guide uses the construction of our Garden Pergola Cat Enclosure as an example and details the materials used and construction process with replicable steps and photographs.

 What this guide is not:
This is not a from-scratch build, but uses a prebuilt garden pergola as the base for construction, which saves on time, cost, and contributes to the overall aesthetic. You may either purchase a pergola, or build your own, but this guide assumes you have one as a starting point.

Pergolas come in many shapes and sizes, so this guide does not give you detailed measurements, or provide the exact number of screws you will need. For example, rather than tell you to cut a board to 8 feet 6 inches, instead, it will direct you to cut a board to the length between two legs of the pergola. This makes the design flexible and customizable by teaching you the method and the thought process rather than using one rigid set of specifications.

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Copyright ©2017 Melissa Lynn Herold. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form whatsoever, by photography or xerography or by any other means, by broadcast or transmission, by translation into any kind of language, nor by recording electronically or otherwise, without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in critical articles or reviews. Cover and interior design by Melissa Herold.