Catcentric House

[Brigitte Cowell]

Argh... typed a post and then silly Jobs headbutted my hands and somehow the entire thing got selected and deleted! Savannahs!

We have the bamboo flooring throughout our Victorian and it shocks visitors as they'd never guess looking at it. It's so resilient to kitty and doggy claws which is great, and water-resistant which makes it great in the kitchen. We have tile with underfloor heating in the bathroom still, which the cats adore.

I find your attitude inspiring John! To be able to look forward to this remodel and focus on making it better seems such a positive thing! The potential when you can design from scratch and make it perfect for cats would be really fun... I can't wait to see what you do!

 

[John Popp]

Thanks much for the suggestions thus far. I really like the bamboo flooring and have intent on creating vertical space. Not sure the Tin Woodsman look will work as we are hoping to preserve some of the look of a century old home.

I am pretty much through with having any carpeting, but not sure Trish feels the same way. Definitely some sound deadening drywall as we are going to lose the wood lath and plaster.

Not sure what people do for having rooms for quarantining or segregating cats, but we effectively have 5 bedrooms for the two of us. CAt doors, ramps and the like will also need to be part of the mix.

Anyway, just trying to get things planned out and appreciate any advice.

 

[SlugMaster]

Thanks much for the suggestions thus far. I really like the bamboo flooring and have intent on creating vertical space. Not sure the Tin Woodsman look will work as we are hoping to preserve some of the look of a century old home.

I am pretty much through with having any carpeting, but not sure Trish feels the same way. Definitely some sound deadening drywall as we are going to lose the wood lath and plaster.

Not sure what people do for having rooms for quarantining or segregating cats, but we effectively have 5 bedrooms for the two of us. CAt doors, ramps and the like will also need to be part of the mix.

Anyway, just trying to get things planned out and appreciate any advice.

John,

I have been renovating a mid-centry house for the last year. First thing I did was remove all the carpeting and put in either cork or hardwood floors. I like the cork in high traffic areas and for the cats it has a good surface that they can grip and not slid around on. Where I used hardwood, I made sure there are area rugs for the cats. On my list is a slatwall, to give more vertical space. I have used the sound deadening drywall on a duplex and it did do a good job of separating the units. Hope this is of help.
Bruce

 

[SV Dad]

If you really want to keep the sound down in the house or one particular room, insulate the interior wall(s) of that room or rooms. It makes a difference.
Another thing I did when I built the house, was take pictures of the studding before drywall. Pay attention to where water lines, sewer lines, electrical conduits, ventilation duct runs, and anything else going behind the drywall. Should you ever in the future need to go into the wall, you now have a picture of what is hidden.

 

[admin]

John, for a quarantine room, maybe consider using FRP for the walls, which is easy to wash...and a flooring that cannot be damaged by cat urine or anything else...

Glad to hear you now have a project to work on and look forward to watching it as you do it...

 

[Rafiki]

Ha! The more I look at this, the more I think steampunk! And what goes with steampunk? Corsets! I'm just sayin'

PS please don't put corsets on your cats. They don't like them. Also, be careful wearing them around your cats as those strings could be confused as toys. (My attempt to stay on the topic of cats).

Instead of a corset, John's new cats will need this outfit!

 

[John Campbell]

I am certainly glad to hear that you are not only rebuilding but making it cat friendly. I saw an episode of "Must Love Cats" on Animal Planet and they when to houses that had holes through the wall (very nicely done with beautiful wood work), High level walk areas around the ceiling, and the cats could travel the entire house at high level to look down and never touch the floor. If you are rebuilding from the ground up, this might be an idea for you.

So great to hear that you are going to have cats again... I know after my loss (Sylvester), I am very looking forward too getting my new little girl. Just some ideas for rebuilding that are minor but for your quarantine area add some IP Camera's, that way you can keep up with them 24X7 even when you are not home. I also added remote lighting so that I can turn it off by my computer, remote controllers, or even my phone when I am not at home... the possibilities are endless... If you want to do any of the electronics, Private message me and I will be glad to assist in anyway possible.

BTW, from previous experience, if you install an alarm sensor with pet motion detectors, most have 3 blinking lights. I don't care where you put them, the cats will get to them. Cover the lights with tape, I moved my sensor 3 times and Sylvester (not savannah) climbed the walls to get to it, and I am sure a Savannah could do just as well. They can and will set it off. the only thing that worked was to cover the lights to where he could not see them and then he had no interest.

 

[John Campbell]

View attachment 11211

Instead of a corset, John's new cats will need this outfit!

LOL.. Too much... This is either the Greatest Photo Shop, or someone has a very patient and timid Savannah... What a great pose...

 

[Mantha Meow]

I can't wait to see pics in the future! I have no good advice others won't already give you- vertical space and just say no to carpet! LOL!

I am in the process of building a house and will have a pet room so this thread has been quite informative! I am so so glad that John and his wife will be able to rebuild in the same spot!!

Trish, why do you say no carpet? I was under the impression that carpet would be good. My fur babies love to cut tight corners and race down the hallway and it seems the carpet helps?

 

[Trish Allearz]

I am in the process of building a house and will have a pet room so this thread has been quite informative! I am so so glad that John and his wife will be able to rebuild in the same spot!!

Trish, why do you say no carpet? I was under the impression that carpet would be good. My fur babies love to cut tight corners and race down the hallway and it seems the carpet helps?

True-- but it also holds in odors, if they pee/puke on it, it's much harder to clean, etc, etc.

I will never ever live in a fully-carpeted place again. My cats race like speed demons without carpeting down