This is how to build a second story

[jdomans]

If you click on my name and go to my gallery, you will see 12 photos of how to build a second story for your cage. A picture is worth a thousand words.

[jdomans]

Step 1


Step 2



Step 3 (using zip/cable ties)

[jdomans]

Step 4

Close up of grids:

[jdomans]

After cutting any grids you must file them down:

Step 5:

[jdomans]

The ramp is made so it can be raised and held up with a small bungee when cleaning the cage

[jdomans]

Making litter boxes:
We fill the bottom layer with Yesterday's News


Then a top layer of kiln-dired pine:


We cut out a slot for the fiddlesticks to fit in:

[jdomans]

Finished litter box:

[jdomans]

Jackie, hang on as I am going to shoot a quick video and put it on photobucket. Give me a few minutes and take a look.

[jdomans]

Here is our cage as of today:
Designing a cage - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Please note that we have rescued two babies and the inside colored grids are for baby proofing. We are also in the process of a garden theme.

[jackie158]

Wow, look at all those pigs! I want to pignap them all! Thanks so much for putting this up. Is it ok if I can make something simular to your second floor? I like the ramp.

[jdomans]

I have no patent on it my dear. Have fun!! LOL

[fashion victim]

How or where do I suspend the second floor (loft)?

[jdomans]

In the pictures we use zip/cable ties and it is on the top of the bottom grids that run across the back wall. I am sorry I don't know how else to explain it to you. Look at the pics again. They show it all. Because it is so long and the litter box so heavy we have a full and a partial grid below to support it. Again attached with zip ties.

[fashion victim]

oh! OK! Thanks, I understand now. I'm not sure if I'm going to build a second floor because I plan on making a huge (4x7) first floor but I'd like to know how to just in case. Another thing I'd like to know: if I make like a playpen out of the grid squares, how many squares should I use in terms of height?

[jdomans]

I have PMd you.

[luvub40]

Please excuse my idiocy, but exactly what do you cut the grids with-when I go to Home Depot I need the name of it. And also, did you file it down with some sort of pedicure tool or can I find that thing in Home Depot also?

[jdomans]

Oh my I hope your nails don't need that file! I can't tell you the name of the file. It is one out of a pack of various sizes of files. They are two sided files. Just take a grid in with you and have someone point out what you need to file the cut grid down with. As far as cutting them, just a pair of mediumish wire cutters is all you need. Bolt cutters are not necessary at all.

[peppererwin]

Wow this post has helped me so much! Also in the video I saw that you have hanging baby keys, so thats okay to do that right?

[Memory]

What do you make the ramp out of exactly? What's that brown stuff? Did you just bend the cubes to make it, and then attached it with cable wires. Sorry, I just didn't really understand that part so well...

[jdomans]

Step 5 is the ramp which is made from 2 grids bent at a 90 degree angle and then zipped tied together. The brown stuff is a $3 doormat from Wal-Mart that we cut and the zip-tied to the grids.