* Remodelaholic *: Cats

Showing posts with label Cats. Show all posts

Cat-astic!! Old Cabinet Transformed: Guest

13 May 2010

Okay, you guys know I have cats... maybe? and I love them. Actually I love all pets, and someday I want a farm, with dogs and goats and geese and a pig maybe (but I could never slaughter it) any-hoo, for now it is two cats and two hens... And when I saw this project I blurted out "Genius!" loudly to my computer screen. I have seen ideas like this before. but this is the first in blog land and it is a nice surprise project. Lisa at Recaptured Charm made a great transformation with this old thing. Check it out!

Alrighty! It’s time to let the cat out of the bag !

Remember the old cabinet I posted last week , it looked like this. I must reinforce that this cabinet was really one step from the garbage. It was cracked everywhere, warped and filled with holes.

I was waiting for just such a cabinet for this project !

Since I didn’t need any of the insides of this cabinet, we cleared out everything, plus the drawers, and just used the drawer fronts.

The drawer fronts were then applied to this piece of wood, which will later be hinged to the bottom of the cabinet.

Now for a coat of KILZ Primer and a very LIGHT coat of white. Since this cabinet was in terrible shape there really wasn’t any choice but to treat it as a rustic piece of furniture. Embrace it’s flaws.

The previous TIN handles were just NOT gonna cut it! We couldn’t reuse them if we wanted to.

Because of the nature of this project I really didn’t want to spend any money on it. I searched the garage for something that I could use for handles. Right in the corner of the garage sat a box of firewood and branches from the tree in my yard. How perfect!

Well here she is, all dressed her rustic garb.

Isn’t she beautiful ?

Ok, another angle…

But what makes her so different you ask ?

Surely this is just another cabinet… no ?

Lets look from this angle..

and.. perhaps THIS angle..

and who’s that going to check it out ??

Hey Coco !

So lets just turn back the clock a bit.

First we had to make sure there was a vent. Not only to let in a little light but some much needed air.

Then of course there’s the cat flap, which was the only money I spent on this cabinet. Around $12.

Here’s a peek with me holding up the cat flap for a look inside.

LOVE the cracked floor!

So there you have it.

The cat is out of the bag! (or in my case.. the washroom)

Here was Coco’s litter box before ( I’m ashamed to say), in a bathroom that is desperate need of a makeover. (That will be coming soon.)

BEFORE

After

DISCLAIMER

**No real, fine furniture was hurt during the making of this project*

***No this is not staying in my front entrance next to my kitchen!!**

What do you think?
Genius! (couldn't help but scream that out again!)

Don't let the Bed Buds Bite

30 November 2009

This is what it looks like whenever I change the sheets.

It is Buddy our cat, in his own way of "helping".

And watch out he bites!

(not normally, but the anonymity that the sheet provides, allows his tough alter ego to show through!)

Friends of a Feather

10 November 2009

Buddy would sure like to be better friends with our feathery flock. He'd like them, to consider him, their friend. In fact, I am sure he would love to have them over for dinner! Unfortunately for him, and fortunately for our chickens, there is an ever present barrier.

That actually doesn't stop them from hanging out. The chickens like to sit on thepatio furniture and look in, and even occasionally watch a movie with us. Buddy likes watching them watch us.

Here they are watching a show with us.

Even Kitty is sorta interested in her two legged-outdoor siblings.

We know they at least have something in common, they both like a good perch.

Replay: the girls hanging out.

20 October 2009

I know I've shown you pictures of this before, but it is so funny to me. Every time I feed Etta, Kitty comes over to cuddle, like it is her own personal time. I guess it is sibling rivalry?

Actually it gives me hope that they will get along someday....

Another day, same scenario!

Giddy'up Lil Cowgirl

05 October 2009

Our stake (this is the LDS church's name for a regional group of congregations) had a great activity recently. A huge swap! You brought whatever you wanted to get rid of(in good clean condition of course), then you were able to look around and see if there was anything you needed/wanted from other people. I got some great sewing supplies, children's books and this little rocking horse.

I repainted it with my 1.00 mis-mixed paint that I have used for about 15 projects and counting. That way it would be more stream-lined and match our black furnishings. Gotta love free!

Before and After:

It is already popular with the local wildlife!

Not a good morning.

23 September 2009

Warning: you may want to check the blinds around your house, for your families safety- read the following story to understand.

Yesterday, I woke up before Etta did. It was nice a quiet rainy day morning. I sat and ate my whole wheat Chex cereal in perfect peace and quiet. When I was done, I heard her Etta waking. I walked in and we smiled at cooed at each other for a minute of two. After picking her up, we headed to the front room so I could feed her, and that is when I heard Kitty crying, in a strange talking sort of way, upstairs.

Now, I should explain that this is a normal happening. Kitty will cry out, really vocally and loudly, several times until we answer her. But this time, I felt a really urgent need to go check on her. It just didn't seem right. I am SO thankful for that warning in my heart from the Spirit.

I rushed up the stairs but didn't see her immediately. I head toward her favorite hang out, which is behind the drapery in the corner. As I approached I could see something was wrong with her, she was not sitting normally. When I get close enough to see her from around the sofa, the most horrific sight met my eyes. There is my cat strangling in the blind cords! She was hanging there by the neck in the cords.

I quickly deposited Etta on the couch and leapt over the sofa to Kitty. I scooped her up in my arms and began unwinding the cords from around her tiny body and throat. She was obviously really upset and struggling against me. I got half of the cords off quickly ands easily but the others were knotted so tightly that I couldn't get them off her. Every time I tried to loosen them she would cry but I couldn't get them off. I had to pull up the blind to give her more slack, set her on the floor and run to get a pair of scissors. It was so tight I could almost not get the scissors underneath it, and finally I was able to cut the blind cord off to get her free.

I am so thankful she is alive. Luckily not only was it around her neck but her body too, which I believe kept her from getting into more trouble.

Now, before you think I am a neglectful mother, I must say that I am pretty careful with my blind strings. When I moved into the house they were all huge knotted messes about 40 feet long. I have in time shortened every single blind to only the necessary length to let the blind down. Meaning, when the blind is down there is only about 4 inches of length left of the cords. Then, when the blind is pulled up I wrap the strings sailor style around 2 nails at the side of the window, under the drapery up about my head height. This keeps the cords from tangling, and now I know, much worse.

I know that there are warnings for children strangling in the cords, and that is why I shortened them and usually have them tied up. What if this had happened while we were gone? We just got back from vacation.

So a cautionary tip- Keep all cords up away from the kids, and tell everyone who may operate the blind to also wrap them up.

Now, if you have any love for your children and pets, please go check all your blind's cords. I am certain that a child would have died if this had happened to them. I know they sell some little sailor things for blinds but if you don't want to go out and buy those, do what I've shown below, all you need are two nails, a hammer and a rule that the cord ALWAYS be wrapped up when you raise the blind!

I most certainly never will forget again!