Building A Cat Walk, Looking for tips on what materials and lessons learned by others when Options

[seaside2]

Husband & I are bldg an aerial catwalk (12"W x 15"H) fm window in house to enclosure and then to another enclosure. We ordered 12 gauge mesh steel wire to make tunnel. Question: What is best method and best material for planks so that they can be replaced if necessary due to weather rot? Has anyone run into things they would have done differently if they could start over? Many Thx from U.S./Virginia.

[Mymphf]

How about thinking about using a rubber floor tile? That would reduce the degeneration times (one would think anyway) and reduce how often you would need to get up into the tunnel to replace it. The description in the link below states that you can have tiles with our without holes for drainage of liquids, i.e. rain. I would imagine this to be more lightweight than wooden planks also.

This link is for an Australian website however, I'm sure you'd be able to find something similar in the US where you live.

Good luck with your project, I hope you share photos with us when it's complete!

[seaside2]

@ Mymphf -- Many thx for your ideas. Just looking on the internet, I can see you "aussie's" are experts when it comes to providing enclosures for your cats. (Husband's mother was from Geelong.) We have 4 cats (2 Norwegian Forest, 1 Maine Coon, and 1 Domestic Tabby). I will definitely post pics... thanks for your interest in seeing them.

@ Mymphf -- I just took a look at the link and those tiles are definitely a possibility; I saw something similar in a picture but I didn't know what they were.

Another Question: Husband wanted to use pressure-treated wood. I've read somewhere that the arsenic used in preservation is not healthy for the animals; any thoughts about that ???

[Mymphf]

I know a few people that I know have used treated pine logs in construction of their enclosures - mainly for upright poles of their structure. I'm not sure any health risks for their cats.

I also know that if you were to burn these logs it's not a good thing due to the poisonous gasses that are generated.

The cats will no doubt use these poles to scratch on and you could wrap the poles in rope or offcuts of carpet if this worries you.

Lots of distractions within the enclosure - scratching poles and toys, cat friendly plants and the like - should keep your kitties well occupied so they leave the poles alone. I can't really imagine that if you were to use decking for flooring that they'd be inclined to chew on the floor!

I would love to see pics of your cats! I have two Maine Coons and a great friend of mine is slave to Norwegian Forrest cats as well. Always happy to meet a fellow coonie slave!

[stephm1188]

You can get untreated wood, pine etc if need be. I doubt it'd be terribly weather proof, but would be no harm to kitties.
You might be best chatting to a carpenter or someone in a hardware shop, they can tell you what would be best outside. I have nooooo idea.