Constructing a Queening Pen- Idea
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Photos and text by Alice Baker Earthangels
Ragdolls
I wanted a queening pen in my bedroom.....
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so I could
always be with expectant moms, but I didn't want a big clunky cage...
So we took an entry way into another room, enclosed it,
covered it with faux tile waterproof paneling and
made a 2 story queening pen that opened into my bedroom but did not take up any
floor space. The enclosure was designed with the idea that it could also
be used as one big pen with a trap door to
the bottom for any cat that needs to be
confined. |
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(Click on photos to enlarge)
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The enclosure area is 8 feet tall, 3
feet deep from front to back and 5 ft long.
Each pen is 4 ft high, 3 ft deep and 5 ft long with
a shelf in each that is 2 ft high which is a comfortable
hop for mom but not for babies. When I first put
mommy to be in, the top shelf is blocked so she
is not hopping around with a load of babies (so as not to risk torsion).
She gets jaunts about the house but
a week before due date she stays in there unless directly supervised. |
On the bottom shelf I put a Rubbermaid storage
container with a door cut in it for a hiding place that is sanitary, safe, cozy,
and big enough for mom to move around in for queening.
Each level of the pen has lighting fixtures with natural
elements in it like they use for plants, fish,
reptiles ect, plus natural lighting in the room
from a big window seat.
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After kittens are born, I open top shelf and put litter
box up there it keeps the bottom clean for
babies and keeps kittens out of litter as the
babies get older I give them a short post to play with, eventually
on and as they get older they get a taller more
challenging one that is safe. |
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The
posts are removed daily to change bedding and then go back in. Mom
gets out whenever she wants and will usually come find me when
she wants to go back in with babies. When they
are starting to really get crazy in there about 4-5 weeks I move them into the
living room in the potty training pen that is 8
ft long 4 ft wide and 21/2 ft tall with a vinyl floor.
We are not quite finished with it yet, still
needs some finishing touches (mostly paint ) and
there are a few things I will change as soon as
I get a chance. The second
story I plan to tear off the carpet and put in vinyl flooring. The bottom shelf
has vinyl with sealed seams.
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The top shelf was originally for mom to give her a
place to get away from the kittens and to keep kittens out of her litter and
food. It also gives them more floor space for
toddling around ect. As the babies get older
they get a kick hopping around up there, so I
give them a bigger post just before they go into potty training pen. |
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I also put them back in this queening cage when I clean their training
pen so it gives them something to do in a safe place.
Some of the details of the construction:
| Two pieces of vinyl coated shelving were used to
construct the door. |
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Screws with large washers were used to attach
the shelving to the wood framing
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| All cut ends of the shelving were covered with
rubber caps for safety. |
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| The door opens out to make cleaning and access
easier. |
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| We attached a wood barrier across the top to
keep the kittens from pulling the door in. |
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This is our first queening pen and is working out quite well for us. Good
Luck with your own projects!!
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