Conference misery::feline_v1

    Make one! (or have it made for you)  Use 2x4's and wire fencing
    (NOT chicken wire or screen, tho'...too easy to break through/tear)
    with a small hole diameter so they can't try to poke their heads through...
                                                                              
    Lynne
    

        Where are you?? I can either send you a catalog that shows pictures
    of a "kitty condo" that can be purchased in various different
    configurations or I can simply get the address/phone number and you can
    get your own... They show different set-ups that vary from a small 4' X
    4' cage to a three or four story palace, complete with cussioned
    perches and tunnels....
      John Mc

    Hi John,
    
    I am in the Marlboro, MA complex ... MRO1-2/Z24 is my mailstop.  I'd
    love to see the catalog.  I'm actually happy to see that what I
    imagined CAN be a reality for my kittens!  I thought I would have to
    make my own, but since I am concerned about safety, I was afraid about
    properly finishing it off to make it "kitten safe."  They have a habit
    of chewing (or trying to make a meal of) everything they come across. 
    (smile)  
    
    Nancy

    John do you have a phone number for that catalog place?  thanks
    

    I believe I saw something like this in a recent Cat Fancy magazine.  
    But I just remember the picture and not whether it was an ad, article
    or whatever.  If you don't subscribe, you might want to consider
    picking up a copy at your local magazine stand and looking through it.
    
    Good luck,
    Karen.

    Hi Karen,
    
    Yes, that's a good idea.  I am hoping that John will get back to us
    with the catalog or number to call to get a catalog on this sort of
    thing, but in the meantime, I think I will follow your advice and get a
    copy of Cat Fancy this evening on the way home.  I can't imagine what
    these things cost, but at this point, I'm much too besotted with both
    of these "babies" to deny them anything that would enrich their lives
    further (smile).  Call me crazy,
    
    Nancy

	I have a copy of the R.C. Steele catalog here in my office.  They
	sell mainly kennel supplies, and have a variety of cages/runs/pens
	for sale, at reasonable prices.  Their toll-free # is 800-872-3773.
	They take Visa/MC and also sell cat items.

	Sandy

    Good possibilities, John!!  :^)
    
    I'm sure you were simply encouraging us to use our imaginations,
    right?!
    
    :*)
    

      D***!!!
      Just as I entered .8, I got thrown out!!
    
      Trying again!
      
      (1)the one I was thinking of that looks neatest of all is in the "J &
    B Wholesale Pet Supplies" catalog...but the Winter/91 issue sez it's
    been discontinued...might make sense to call though, since they did
    have some left--at closeout prices. Phone's 1-800-526-0388 or
    1-800-872-6027. They are at 289 Wagaraw Rd, Hawthorne, NJ 07506. I've
    found this company to be fairly low priced and nice people..
    
      (2)Pedigrees, 1989 Transit Way, Box 905, Brockport, NY 14420 has a
    "Kitty Porch" that is a heavily screened box that fits into a window.
    They do not have an 800 number, but their regular one is 716-637-1431..
    
     (3)Master Animal Care, Lake Road, P.O. Box 3333, Mountaintop, PA
    18707, has a Cat Playpen that is a cage on casters that can be wheeled
    around wherever you want it. The big version has two benches at
    different heights--carpeted--and a lot of room on the bottom for a
    literbox. the "junior" has one bench... 1-800-346-0749
    
      (4)For those in the West, "Animal Town, P.O. Box 1710, El Cajon, CA
    92022, also has the Cat Playpens.. 1-800-421-1777.
    
    
      John Mc

    Hi John,
    
    Nancy again!  Just wanted to thank you for that info and let you know
    that I did contact J&B Wholesale and they said that, in fact, the cage
    you spoke of has been discontinued.  But they are sending me a catalog.
    
    I also wanted to let you know that another fellow feliner sent me a
    note offline telling me about a place called KALI-KO-KATHOUSES.  They
    have cages made of PVC steel (the white stuff that doesn't rust) and
    their setups are modular and can be enlarged or made to your own
    configuration (this is what I was told by the woman who answered the
    phone when I called this a.m.).  Anyway, they are pretty neat, and even
    can be outfitted with shelves and something called a bunk hammock --
    yes folks...a hammock for your kitty!  And since I am a person of
    excess (smile), this appealed to me.  So for those of you who might
    want to receive their catalog, here is the number to call:
    
    	800-658-5925
    
    or write to:
    
    	KALI-KO-KATHOUSES
    	Box 10695
    	Prescott, AZ  86304
    
    Thanks for all the input!  I hope to make a decision soon!  
    
    Nancy

    The cage on casters that John described in his reply is called a Tokyo
    cage by cat breeders.  You can get them at cat shows for a bit less
    than through the catalogs.  By the time you pay shipping to the catalog
    companies, it is much less expensive to by it from a show.  I paid
    $125 for mine.
    
    Also, a vendor out here named Katrees (makes cat furniture, scratching
    posts, etc.) makes replacement shelves for the tokyo cages that are
    covered in linoleum rather than carpet.  They are much easier to clean, 
    and are cooler during the summer.  My cats love the linoleum shelves.
    I keep the doors to my tokyo cages open and the cats will go into them
    just to lie on these shelves.
    
    Katrees also reps for a company that makes PVC cages.  I think the
    manufacturer is a California company though.
    
    Jo

      Re .11
      those sound exactly like the discontinued one's through J&B... the
    photo in the old catalog even had an access port from the house to the
    cage setup...with a closeable door for wintertime...and they were also
    PVC coated...
    
       We also 'indulge' our animals....first thing we did when we bought
    our house was call the fence company and have a 50' X 50' chain-link
    fence 7 feet tall attached to the house so the dogs could play in
    safety...
    
    John Mc

    The cages that Nancy is talking about are made out of PVC pipe and
    won't rust and you can hose them down or wipe them down with clorox
    and water solution.  The shelves are covered in either carpet or a
    type of fabric that looks like lambs wool. (Not sure if it's the
    real thing or not. However, they are washable)  The hammocks and
    some of the corner shelves are made of a type of webbing like what
    lawn furniture pillows and pads are made out of, again washable
    and very cool to lay on as the air circulates all around.
    
    If any of you were at the Boxboro show this spring you saw this
    companys wares for sale.
    
    Barbara
    
    

    Hi Jo,
    
    The linoleum shelves sound like a nice alternative.  I was wondering
    about that myself, as the cage I get will be out all the time, and I
    wasn't sure with the rain and such if the carpet would get smelly.  I
    wish there was a show within the next week or so, though, as I am very
    impatient and wanted to get my kitties out into the sun as soon as
    possible.....there's a whole summer (and the smell of the herb garden
    beneath my window) to enjoy!
    
    Nancy

    re: PVC cages - I did see them and I didn't really like them.  The
    bars are to wide and you can barely see the cat inside the cage.  For
    the price it just didn't seem worth it to me.
    

    I almost forgot - there's a place Cindy Gerry told me about that has
    very reasonable prices for things.  Much of it includes shipping and
    for the things that don't include shipping the cost for that is
    quite reasonable.
     
    The Dog's outfitter:  1-800-367-3647 or  1-717-384-5555
    1 Maplewood Dr   PO Box 2010   Hazleton, PA   18201-0676
    
    They carry a good assortment of cages and supplies for cats as well 
    as dogs.  In fact they carry the Tokyo cages for 115.75 + shipping

    Thanks, Nanc....  we've been talking offline, but I agree that although
    the materials used to construct the Kali-Ko line of houses is really
    quite superior, when I recieved the catalog my first reaction was that
    the bars were so thick that the kittens may have a hard time seeing the
    outside world.  I would prefer that they not even realize (if that is
    possible) that they are in a cage...with the PVC houses, this would not
    be possible.  The only alternative, it seems, for other brands would be
    to take the playpen in during bad weather to avoid rust.  Wouldn't want
    the "kids" to ingest it..don't know what this could do to them.
    
    Nancy
    
    P.S.  Barb, if you are out there, I really like that other catalog you
    sent me....there is some great stuff in it that I will be ordering.  Do
    you need the catalog returned soon?  Let me know.

    There are other PVC cages that don't have so many bars on them.  They
    are framed with PVC and then covered in hardware cloth or some other
    screen type material.  Can't think of the name of the vendor, but he is
    located in southern California.  Will try and get some info on them
    this weekend at the show.
    
    Jo

    
    	I made my own outdoor run for the cats out of 2/4's and chicken
    	wire. Works great! It's 16 feet long, six feet wide and 3 feet
    	high. The next one will probably be a little bigger, with shelves
    	and tunnels built in...This one is placed directly on the lawn,
    	so they get to munch grass if they want to...
    
    	Sherry
    

    All are great suggestions.  I know that the PVC homes by Kali-Ko run
    on the average of $400 - $450 for the size I was interested in
    (4 x 4 x 6).  I like the idea of the pvc frame with screening....
    I had thought of the chicken wire, but was afraid the animals might
    get caught up in it...or dig themselves under the screen and get
    away.  I like the idea of munching grass though.  Nancy suggested
    a great idea of placing the playpen on blocks so that they could
    not dig under....  we'll have to see.  If you have the name of that
    vendor in CA, Jo, send it along.  I'll give them a call.
    
    Nanc

    Let me clarify - that Playpen is actually a cage out of the
    Dog outfitters catalog.  It runs about $110 for an 8'x8'x42"H
    cage.  My only concern is that the openings are 2" x 6".  Certainly
    plenty big for a kitten to escape from.  but it should be fine for
    an adult cat.  Its made of rigid welded galvanized wire and includes
    a top and door.
    
    If anyone is interested the number for Dog Outfitters is:
    1-800-367-3647.  They are located in Hazelton PA and have VERY
    reasonable prices (many of which include shipping) for things.  They
    carry a selection of feline supplies despite their name.  :^)