How to secure cat wall shelves?

[JPH]

Hi all, love this page with Bunnings and hope you can help. I am creating a space in my living area for my cats (3) to climb, play and rest. This is the only wall I can put the shelves. Installation instructions requires fixing the centre screw of each shelf to a stud in the wall - but no studs in this wall (cavity for sliding door - which I never close).

I used plasterboard anchors (holds up to 24kg) hoping it would be ok. As you can see in the circled area, one shelf came off when one cat (5kg) jumped on it. The other shelves have managed to stay on but 'creaks' and I am anticipating it also will fall off (with cat onboard).

I was looking at options. For example, panelling to go on the wall and then installing cat shelves again ... I have an additonal set to install - but don't want to proceed until I can find a solutions.  Any thoughts would be appreciated. 

[EricL]

Hello @JPH 

Thanks for sharing your question about your cat wall shelves. I propose thinking about attaching a CUSTOMwood 2400 x 1200 x 16mm Raw Standard E0 MDF to your existing wall (cut to the size of your wall). It can be fixed in place by using Selleys 350g Heavy Duty Liquid Nails and Zenith 8G x 40mm Countersunk Rib Head Chipboard Screws - 100 Pack. I suggest checking the outside perimeter of the wall of the sliding cavity door to make sure that there is a timber frame around the edge. This is where I suggest anchoring it with screws. Please make sure to drill pilot holes for the screws.

Once the panel is secure, I suggest painting it in the same colour as your walls. Once the paint cures you can mount the cat shelves directly onto the MDF panel. My best advice is to drill pilot holes to make sure that the screws travel all the way into the panel.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag and @AlanM52 for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know. 

Eric

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @JPH 

My idea is similar to @EricL's tho not using a solid piece of timber/mdf.

I was thinking of hanging either metal straps  (harder) or dress pine studs (easier) down the outside of the wall. There will be studs and noggins I suspect above the sliding door that you can find with a stud finder. You can use them as an anchor point for some "outside" dressed studs. Secure the bottom to the skirting board via screws. The top screwed bolts (decent size at least 80mm long to go through fake stud, plaster and then into true stud/noggin) will carry most of the load. 

Then you can attach the cat steps/beds to the studs.

Dave

[AlanM52]

Hi @JPH,

When I saw that I am thinking feature wall and... bring the outside --> inside.

I propose using MDF/Plywood sheet and call it - Cat Wall.

With bottom edge of the Cat Wall sitting on the floor taking all the weight plus cat zoomies.

Top has pine spacer blocks cut to match the skirting board depth.

Install the Cat Wall and check all OK.

At this point I would consider:

Do I just paint the Cat Wall white?

Maybe wallpaper with a Floral or Botanical print?

If you decided on a white Cat Wall consider a Phone Projector

They are very affordable and will really increase the entertainment value of the Cat Wall.

Search YouTube or the Web for video clips like this one.

Set the video clip to repeat 😊

Cheers

[JPH]

Thanks EricL for the advice.

[JPH]

Thanks Dave-1, I like the idea of the 'outside' studs. It's similar to the panelling I was thinking about.

[JPH]

Hi AlanM52, thanks for the advice. Haha the cats do like watching YouTube

[JPH]

Hi @EricL, @Dave-1 , @AlanM52 

Thank you for your advice, I have done a combination of all feedback. Here is a pic of the "Cat Wall" and it seems to be holding up with all 3 cats on it. Appreciate your help with this.

[EricL]

Hi @JPH 

That's absolutely wonderful and looks very secure!

Eric

[AlanM52]

Looking good.

What about a thick climbing rope?

Cheers