Each individual walk-in cage is approximately 5' wide and 7' deep and 8 feet high.

The pens reach from the floor to the ceiling and are attached to the concrete wall with nails hammered through the PVC into special wall anchors.

The door to each pen is 6 feet tall and 26 inches wide.

On the door to each pen is a small bulletin board. Attached to the board is an information card for each cat. The cat's name, DOB, color, sex and any other info like breeding, special diets, medications, etc. is written on each card.

Recessed fluorescents provide general lighting.

Each cage has plenty of room for food bowls, water bottle, litter pan, bed, scratching post and toys.

Some even have a small child's lounge chair for that special nap.

For cats who prefer a different bed, they have a carrier in their cages to lay on.

I often think this would come in very handy in the case of an emergency if the cats had to be evacuated quickly.

(3) The Isolation Area

Of course, I also occasionally need to isolate a kitty from the rest of the feline family.

If I have a new cat who needs to be quarantined or a cat has a behavior problem which needs to be corrected, I have roomy isolation cages available.

Each cage is 4 feet deep by 4 feet wide by 8 feet tall.

Each cage can be used as one large pen or can be divided into 2 cages.

They are made out of the same PVC tubing as the cattery walk-in cages but the vinyl coated wire mesh is a smaller square - 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch wire.

Castors allow the cages to be rolled about easily.

(4) The Grooming Room

My grooming area is compact. Everything is within easy reach.

It is located within my laundry room.

The bathing sink is right next to my washer/dryer.

This allows me to just toss my towels and washcloths in the washer as I do each cat - very efficient :-). It also provides a handy surface for placing my shampooing paraphernalia when doing a bath.

Towel storage is in an inexpensive dresser obtained from Good Will within handy reach of the sink area.

The grooming sink has a florescent light over it.

In the bottom of the sink are two wire racks which keep the cats are up high enough so they are not standing in water when being rinsed. A dish sink cover placed on top of the racks makes it comfy for the cat's feet.

The sink has a hose with a garden sprayer attachment which works well for rinsing soap off the cats.

The sink was installed higher than usual so that I don't have to stoop over. It safes my back from aching.

Directly above the sink is a cabinet in which I store all my shampoos and conditioners.

I buy gallon jugs of bath products as they are the most economical.

For convenience I don't use the shampoo directly from the jugs but transfer small amounts to plastic squeeze bottles from Walmart.

The smaller bottles are much easier to use.

An inexpensive computer table from Walmart serves as a grooming table. The pullout keyboard drawer is handy for tucking combs onto or sometimes I pull it out to extend the grooming surface. I sit on a computer chair on wheels.

I have attached a grooming arm that helps the cat remain in place.

The stand dryer is just a reach away to my right. The shop vacuum stores under the table for quick clean-up.

Also on the right is a 7-drawer white cart which contains my grooming supplies, meds and odds and ends.

Everything is within easy reach.

PVC pipes and connectors were used to make the frames for the cat pens.

Plastic cable ties were then used to attach the wire to the PVC pipes.

The vinyl-coated wire is 2" x 3" - great for adult cats but too large to use in kitten enclosures.

The wire comes in 4-foot wide rolls. Metal clips are used to attach wire to wire when spanning widths greater than 4 feet.

This photo shows the "T" connectors used to make the frames, and the cable ties used to attach the wire to the PVC pipes.

Each door has several hook and eye latches:

We also have a latch up at normal waist height on both the inside and outside of the cage.

The latches on the outside are spring loaded latch so the cats can't open them.

The latch on the inside I use when I can go in and feed and clean.

There is also a third simple latch at the bottom of the door to prevent escapes.

PVC Cross connectors provide a "foot" that raises the pipe and wire off the floor. This makes it easier for sweeping and mopping.

Each door has 3 - 2 inch hinges.

We used 1 1/2 inch screws to go through the hinge and put a bolt on the back side so it remains very secure.

The floor is covered with roll vinyl. The vinyl runs up the wall about 8 inches with a trim board on top to keep it secure. This prevents anything from getting under the flooring.

All the seams were sealed with vinyl floor seam sealer. It comes in a "kit". You can "seam" two pieces of vinyl together and they look like one solid piece.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherrie Koenig and her family began Angel Paz Persians in January 2001 in Oregon.

With husband, Louis, and teenage daughter, Danielle, Sherrie shows in Region 2 of CFA and recently granded their second homebred, a black and white male named GC Angel Paz Smudgie.

Beginning with Bicolor Persians, future plans include branching into Tabby and Whites.