We built a large cat run for our many rescue cats when we moved to our house 2 years ago. I've attached some pictures. Actually, what we did was build a really big dog area, oval/square in size, kind of like a small horse riding ring and then we sectioned off one end of it for our cats. Quite a few of our cats are pals with the dogs so they can visit with the dogs through the fencing. Our cats who are not very fond of the dogs just ignore them for the most part but if they start barking at a crow or something, a few of the cats fluff up like halloween cats but just for half a minute and then they're back to exploring their outdoor world.
We used agricultural fencing and made sure the holes were not too big for potential escapees. We used 6 foot fence posts (the ones that look like giant pencils) and then dug a foot and a half down to secure them into the ground. We live by the ocean so we collected dozens of pieces of driftwood to use as posts running down the centre to support the fencing across the top. And they make fantastic scratching posts. The fencing on the top is a mix of chicken coop fencing which is quite light and easy to work with and fish netting that the previous owner had laying around that he had been using for deer netting to protect his garden.
We don't put any litter boxes out there because there is alot of grass and dirt and they sometimes 'go'out there but unfortunately they like to 'hold' it and then use the box when they come back inside! LOL
We put a few of those nylon collapsable camping chairs in there that they love to lounge on in the sunshine. The run itself has a tree at one end so there is always a shady spot for them.
We let the grass grow really long in some areas of the run because our cats absolutely LOVE playing 'jungle kitty' and stalk each other and bugs etc..
Our run is about 60-70 feet in length and about 15-20 feet wide. They really love to run and this length of run allows them to actually pick up speed. We see them racing around in there all the time.
Some things I would suggest that we wish we had done but didn't are:
I would have built the run connected to the house. As it is, we have to load everybody up in their carriers and lug them a hundred feet or so and some of my cats are pretty big and by the time I get them all out there I'm tuckered out! So, we ended up getting a dolly and bungie cords and now I load them up on that and wheel them out to the run. It's quite comical.
Also, like you, I worried about 'carrying' them out because if I lost one, I would be so devastated. You never know when a cat might get spooked by an odd noise or whatever.
The other thing I would strongly suggest is to make a door that is also made for people. We made a door that half the size of a normal door and boy do we regret it! Everytime we need to round everybody up we have to crawl in there and collect them all. And, we have a few that think it's hiliarious when we chase them from one end of the run to the next trying to catch them. Lots of fun. LOL
Also, I wish that we had created a covered section to the run. On summer days when it sprinkles here and there throughout the day, I throw a tarp across the top of one end but it really would have been better to have a covered section on a permanent basis.
Hope this info helps. I'm sure you kitties will just love it!
I've attached a few pics of our run.
In one of the pics you can see some lawn chairs. My husband and I like to have coffee and 'cat watch'. We're always so amazed by how entertaining they can be! LOL
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