- 4"x4" posts
- Plywood
- 1"x2" Wood strips
- Screws
- Screw gun/drill
- Drill & drill bit
- Jigsaw
- Wood glue
- Wicker basket
- Cat toys
- Pencil
- Sand paper
- Optional: Paint/Stain
- 6, drip free pots (clay or ceramic with drip catchers and waterproof liners)
- Potting soil
- Cat grass seeds
- Water
- Plastic bag
DIY Family Travels Gallery Wall - Home & Family
Instructions for table:
1. Measure the space that you have for your tabletop cat garden. This will determine how many pots you can add.
2. Have your hardware store cut the plywood, 4”x4”s, and 1”x2”s to your desired length.
3. Set up your 4”x4”s on each corner where your plywood would be. Add wood glue to the top of the 4”x4”. Have a friend help you set the plywood on all four 4”x4”s and help you hold them underneath the plywood while you screw them in place.
4. On your plywood top, take your clay pots and draw a circle around them in pencil to mark where they need to go. This will be your outline and guide for the hole that you need to cut with your jigsaw.
5. Using a drill with a large drill bit, drill into one of the circles to create a starting point for your jigsaw.
6. Start your jigsaw inside your drilled hole and begin cutting out the circle that will hold the pot. (Cut the circle about ½ inch smaller than your template.)
7. Continue this same method until all of your holes are cut.
8. For the wicker basket in the middle, do the same technique. Lay it on the table and trace it with a pencil. Then drill out the hole for the basket. Keep in mind that you want to do this hole a little smaller than the basket. Since the kitties will be laying in here, you want to make sure that it won’t fall through.
9. Add pieces of 1”x2” around the top of the plywood to give it a finished look. Use wood glue to hold it in place. Add a couple of screws to keep it in place while the wood glue dries. (Note: You could also use a nail gun if you would prefer.)
10. OPTIONAL: Paint or stain your structure. Try to match the area that you will be putting the table top garden. This step will be personal to your own home.
Tips
1. Find a wicker basket with a large rim. That way, it will hold the basket in place while it is filled with kitties. (For instance, my cat Eros is 20 pounds – you want to make sure that the basket is sturdy and won’t fall under that amount of weight!)
2. Make sure you sand down any cut sides of the wood that may be rough. You don’t want kitten paws getting splinters!
3. RANDOM tip…did you know that catnip is also good for humans? Catnip tea's biggest health benefit is the calming effect that it can have on the body. Catnip contains nepetalactone, which is similar to the valepotriates found in a commonly used herbal sedative, valerian. This can improve relaxation, which may boost mood and reduce anxiety, restlessness, and nervousness. (If we want to share this at all, we can just say that it reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation.)
Instructions for cat grass:
1. Fill a small plastic pot 2/3 with potting soil and spray to moisten slightly
2. Spread the cat grass seeds on soil, densely to cover soil, but not too thickly.
3. Add a shallow layer of potting soil over the seeds, water, and cover loosely with plastic bag
4. Set indoors or outside in bright spot but no direct sun. (Make sure the soil does not dry completely).
5. Remove plastic bag in 2 days when you see seeds sprouting, keep moist
6. Grass will grow very quickly in next few days and when it's about 6"-inches tall,
7. Transfer to 6inch clay pots in table
· Your cat grass will be fresh for about 2 weeks or until the grass starts to yellow.
· If your cats love cat grass, start new plants every 5 days so you have a steady supply!
· *Buy bulk seed for wheatgrass or oat grass in farm store for best prices!
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