Building your own cat window box can be a simple DIY project and provide a great reward for your indoor cat. Many people who reside in an apartment building or with little outdoor space can build a window box cat enclosure to allow their cats to bask in the sun and get some fresh air.

Since all windows have different dimensions, this article will outline the basic steps to building a cat window box, allowing you to tailor the design to your window measurements.

The easiest type of window to work with is a sash window. These are older style slide up windows. However, if you have a different type of window, don’t despair, you can still build a cat window box, although you may need to get a little more creative.

It’s a good idea to put the cat in another room while you do this, especially if it’s bold and is likely to find and open a window too tempting.

Grab a tape measure, pencil, and paper, and prepare your cut list. Once the room is secure, open the window. Use the tape measure to accurately measure the width of the opening, and consider how tall you intend to make the box. Will it be tall enough for your cat to stand on? Will he allow you to clean it from time to time?

Consider how much you want the box to protrude from the inside wall of the house. You will need two pieces of plywood, one for the floor of the cat’s cage and one for the window frame. You will need to reduce the dimensions of the window frame width to allow the finished box to slide in and out of the window frame without damaging the window frame.

Most large DIY stores or lumber dealers can cut the cape to size. It’s worth doing this for yourself, as the result will likely be more accurate than trying to cut it with a handsaw at home.

You will also need to purchase lumber for the rails that the window box will sit on outside the window, and the fasteners and screws to secure the entire structure in place.

Next, you’ll enclose the structure with mesh and secure it to your window frame for added durability. This way you can avoid using ugly square brackets.

Cut the mesh to size with the appropriate tool; nylon snips or wire shears. Staple the screen to the frame using approximately one staple every inch. Check the entire assembly for any sharp parts, such as splinters of nails or mesh.

Open the window and insert your cat’s window box into the opening. It should stay in place without any additional fixing. If you have sash windows, closing the window at the top of the box will keep it steady, but in some cases you’ll need to screw the inside to the window.

Give your cat a couple of days to get used to his new cat window box. I’ve never seen a cat who doesn’t ultimately love their new outdoor cat enclosure.