‘WE SPENT NEARLY £5,000 BUILDING A FAIRYTALE CASTLE IN OUR GARDEN FOR OUR CATS’
Source: Express (Extract)
Posted: July 27, 2024
A cat-loving couple has invested nearly £5,000 to create a whimsical medieval castle for their pets.
This impressive gothic fortress stands seven feet tall and spans approximately 16 feet across. It features a base constructed from railway sleepers and a structure made of treated timbers.
The project took about two weeks to complete and now proudly stands outside the home of Kathryn and Peter Brereton in rural Staffordshire.
The feline fortress features a paw-cullis, two towers, a custom entrance from the house, and an array of steps and walkways for the cats to survey their domain.
As these photos reveal, Siberian forest cats LunaBella, a four-year-old silver-white female, and SoleilTigre, a two-year-old red male, thoroughly enjoy their roles as the royal princess and prince of their new medieval abode.
Owner Ms. Brereton designed the grand, free-standing cat chateau in collaboration with her business partners, Keith Haddon and Ally Della from Creative Custom Enclosures.
Ms. Brereton said she first sketched out her vision three years ago and was thrilled to see her dream come to fruition.
She told Express.co.uk: “I’ve seen many catios, but they often look like large pens. I credit Keith and Ally for turning this dream into reality because we invested so much energy and time into it.”
Originally from California, Ms. Brereton drew inspiration from the castles she had seen in Wales and throughout Britain.
She added, “I’ve always had a passion for history, and I wanted a castle design that felt authentic rather than resembling a child’s playground. This design is what emerged from my vision, and Ally and Keith guided me through every step of the process. They are absolutely amazing.”
Ally Della and Keith Haddon of Creative Custom Enclosures started their business following Ms. Della’s own experience with house cats.
She shared, “I had an indoor cat who really wanted to be outside. We eventually let him explore, and he loved it. Unfortunately, one day he just didn’t come back.”
“No matter what we did, every channel we went through, checking local vets etc, we never found him.
“My daughter was devastated, and I was devastated and then we got our new little one and I thought I don’t want him to be an outside cat, but I don’t want him trapped inside. So that’s when I started looking at catios.”
Ally, who transitioned from a finance background to this new venture, has acquired her skills on the job, working alongside Mr. Haddon, who is skilled at crafting anything from wood.
She said, “Seeing the joy on other cat lovers’ faces when their projects are completed is incredibly rewarding. Kathryn’s catio castle was certainly our most ambitious and creative project to date.
“Each design is unique and tailored to individual preferences, as we build according to the customer’s specific requirements.
“Kathryn had a clear vision of what she wanted; she just needed someone to bring it to life.”
“We are over the moon with the result, it does look brilliant inside and out. We worked so closely with them every step of the way, that’s how we work building a really close relationship with our clients.”
Ms. Della noted that prices can vary based on the size and complexity of the design, with smaller catios starting at around £700.
She explained, “The structure is well-protected, and this is the first time we’ve used black bitumen roofing, which enhances the Gothic aesthetic of the castle.
“Most importantly, the cats absolutely love it, which is the ultimate goal: to provide them with freedom and outdoor space while keeping them safe.”
