Bespoke Assembly & Installation

Two Piece Tomcat & Fatcat

Please refer to the Tomcat & Fatcat Floor-To-Ceiling install instructions that come with your Hicat® - there’s a separate install pack with instructions for the Two Piece assembly including bolts & hex key.

Install the feet onto the bottom section into the end cap that has three pilot holes, drill the ceiling hole, install grommet & position the bottom section of the Hicat® in its proposed position.

Assemble the top section with the enclosed bolts from inside the upper compartment of the bottom section through the fixing holes - never bolt the units together in a horizontal position & lift as this could damage the internal collars.

When the unit is assembled & in its proposed position install the ceiling connector into the top cap by tilting the unit slightly then locate the connector into the ceiling grommet & continue following the install instructions.

There is the option of assembling the unit with the ceiling connector installed into the top section then locating it into the ceiling hole with the bottom section beneath the top section then assembling the unit together - this method sounds easier on paper as you won’t have to tilt the whole unit to install the ceiling connector but there will be more fiddling about trying to position & locate the fixing holes with the bolts after the top section has been located into the ceiling hole because of restricted movement.

Magic Freestanding Fatcat

These units require ballast to be placed inside the unit to stop them from toppling - we recommend a minimum of 40kg of sand for your typical medium sized single cat household but this should be increased for multiple or larger cats noting that we would always recommend over doing the ballast rather than under doing it to keep things safe.

The ballast chamber is accessed through the Worm Hole Shelf in the lower Access Hole Compartment - individual 5kg sands bags work best as you can pack these neatly into the chamber but you can also use anything that basically passes through the aperture in the shelf, for instance dumb bell weights.

The unit comes with an MDF/Twist Inserts that can be placed over the hole in the Worm Hole Shelf after the ballast has been added - we would recommend using the feet if assembling the unit on a hard floor but the unit might feel more stable without feet if sitting on a carpeted floor.

Always move the unit by tilting it slightly & rotating it on its feet or rim if feet are not installed - never lift the unit using the Access Holes or by gripping the body as this will damage the bottom collar at the base of the unit.

If you’re moving your unit between floors or home the easiest way to relocate it is by running a pair of lifting straps under the base with a person either side of the unit taking the weight or if you’re moving it some distance you can use the straps to lift it onto a skate or trolley.

Make sure you’re happy with the stability of the unit before allowing your cats to play on it - it’s very important that the unit is sitting on an even & level floor otherwise stability will be compromised.

Mini Disc Polecat Install

Screw on the the feet at one end of the Polecat into the pilot holes - either end of the Polecat is fine as these units can be installed either way up.

Push the middle sized connector into the grommet at the other end - ensure that the connector is fully engaged into the grommet.

Push the mini disc onto the connector without removing the nano gel tape backing then lift the Polecat into its proposed position making sure that the unit is levelled out & plumb - check the ceiling clearance noting that the fit should be snug & you may have to give the unit a little nudge to force into an upright position.

When lifting the Polecat it’s best to have the seam facing away from you as you tilt the unit into position - this is because the feet are recessed in slightly more on the end cap with the unit rotated this way & this will give you a few more millimetres to play with when installing the unit.

If the Polecat is too tight then swap out the middle sized connector for the smaller one - as a visual check there should be a 25mm (1”) gap between the top of the Polecat & ceiling so if it’s greater than this swap out the middle sized connector for the longer one.

When you’re happy with the fit you can take down the Polecat, remove the backing from the nano gel tape, & stick the mini disc onto the ceiling in its proposed position - make sure that the surface is dust free then give the disc a firm push to fix it onto the ceiling making sure not to curl or pucker the tape when fixing.

Carefully lift the Polecat into position & locate the connector into the mini disc - again, level out the Polecat making sure that the unit is plumb.

If your Polecat is installed on a hard smooth floor & moves during boisterous play you can use the enclosed no-slip mat under the feet to stop any unwanted movement - this can be slid under the feet by tilting the unit slightly rather uninstalling the Polecat completely.

It’s best to check the Polecat on a regular basis to make sure that the mini disc is secure & that the unit is still stable - this is really important over the first week or so as carpet, floorboards & plasterboard ceilings may give slightly as the Hicat® is bedding in.

Retro Polecat Back Fixed Wall Mount

This retro fixing is used to install a Floor-To-Ceiling unit as a back fixed Wall Mounted unit & is installed the same way as the Wall Fixing Kit with a couple of small variations.

Assemble the Wall Mount by threading the stainless steel cable around the Polecat & loop it back through the Wall Mount to the M8 furniture bolts at the back of the block - use the hex key to secure one end of the cable to one of the bolts making sure the cable is between the head of the bolt & washer.

Using a pair of pliers tension the other end of the cable around the other bolt again ensuring that the cable sits between the bold head & washer - the bolts tighten clockwise so its best to run the cable in the same direction around the bolts when making these connections.

When running the cable around the Polecat take time to guide the cable in between the seam of the eternal finish to hide as much of the cable as possible - after securing the Wall Mount onto the Polecat the excess cable can be cut but it’s best to thread this back through the wall mount so that it can be used to tighten the tensioned cable if required noting that it can also be knotted before threading back into the Wall Mount.

It’s best to check on things from time-to-time to make sure that the Polecat is stable & the Wall Mount is secure - the cable will bed into the unit after the install & will probably need to be tightened after the unit has been in use for a while.

Polecat Top Cap & Shelf Wall Mount

These alternative Polecat Top Caps & Shelves are installed the same way as the Wall Fixing Kit with a couple of small variations.

Assemble the Polecat with Top Caps & Shelves using the enclosed smaller length connector & then mark-up the wall bracket positions on the wall after levelling out & positioning the unit - it’s important to make sure that the back of the mounts are flush & plumbed with the wall when marking up otherwise they will skew out of position when the unit is fixed into position & fastened.

Acrylic End Caps

Follow the standard install instructions for the Hicat® but fix an acrylic ring on to the base before lifting the unit.

If you are installing a Floor-To-Ceiling Hicat® lift the unit into an upright position taking care not to catch the ring edge on the base as you lift - as you raise the unit hang the second ring on the ceiling connector & locate the unit into its ceiling hole then secure the top ring onto the end cap.

Once installed fix down the top acrylic ring onto the top of the unit.

Polecat Press Up Assembly

Screw on the feet at one end of the Polecat into the pilot holes & screw the adjustable ceiling plate into the other end as far as it can go - either end of the Polecat is fine as these units can be installed either way up.

Locate the Polecat in its proposed position & rotate the ceiling plate up to the ceiling by rotating it anti-clockwide whilst keeping the unit as plumb as possible - you need to tension the plate so there is no obvious movement when applying pressure to the body noting that you can turn the body clockwise after the plate is in place to fine tune the tensioning.

Once the Polecat is tensioned make sure it’s plumb & levelled out on all three feet - always make sure that the unit is stable before allowing your cat/cats to play.

It’s also best to check the Polecat on a regular basis to make sure that the ceiling plate is tensioned & that the unit is still stable - this is really important over the first week or so as carpet, floorboards & plasterboard ceilings may give slightly as the unit is bedding in.

Polecat Tensioned End Cap Assembly

Screw on the feet at one end of the Polecat into the pilot holes & screw the adjustable foot into the other end with the Velcro Hook side of the coin attached - either end of the Polecat is fine as these units can be installed either way up.

Locate the Polecat in its proposed position & adjust the ceiling foot so that it is approximately 4-5mm short of the installed ceiling height.

Attach the Velcro Loop side of the coin onto the adjustable ceiling foot & carefully lift & press the Polecat up to the ceiling keeping the unit as upright as possible - once the adhesive coin has adhered to the ceiling carefully rotate the Polecat body clockwise to lower the unit onto its feet keeping it as upright as possible whilst turning.

Once the unit is resting on the floor tension out the unit by rotating the body carefully so there is no obvious movement whilst making sure it’s plumb & levelled out on all three feet - always make sure that the unit is stable before allowing your cat/cats to play on it.

It’s also best to check the Polecat on a regular basis to make sure that the Velcro fastener is attached & that the unit is still stable - this is really important over the first week or so as carpet, floorboards & plasterboard ceilings may give slightly as the unit is bedding in.

Add On Lids & Recessed Tops

Start by drilling out the black grommet in the centre of the top end cap on the Tomcat or Fatcat using the supplied drill bit.

Assemble the Lid or Recessed Top onto the end cap using the bolt to fix the unit in place from inside the unit - it’s best to have the bolt inserted through the hole with the Allen key attached to help locate the Lid or Top into position from above then tighten.

If your unit does not have an Access Hole at high level allowing the top to be connected from inside the unit then we can supply a threaded rod that can be screwed into the Lid or Top & then this can locate into the grommet on top of the unit but we recommend using some Velcro in addition to this fixing between the surfaces to make sure that the add-on piece does not move.

Ceiling Mounting Disc

These discs is kit can be used as a mounting disc over existing ceiling holes for Floor-To-Ceiling Hicat® units or as part of a new Polecat, Tomcat or Fatcat install.

Follow the standard install instructions for your unit but also mark-up & drill two 10mm holes for fixing the disc - you can use the disc as a template to mark-up.

Install the fixing plugs & screw the disc to the ceiling then follow the standard install instructions for Polecat, Tomcat or Fatcat.

Fatcat Ceiling Spacers

The assembly follows the Fatcat Floor-To-Ceiling install so the install pack includes fixings in case you do decide to install the Fatcat at a later date - there’s a separate pack with the instructions for the Ceiling Spacers assembly.

Attach the feet screwing them into the pilot holes on base of the Fatcat - the unit will have centre ceiling connector hole in the top end cap & comes with a connector but these are not used for this install.

With the Access Holes facing you & using them to hold the Hicat® lift the Fatcat in to it’s proposed position - if you need to level up the unit then use the neoprene feet spacers that come with the install pack.

Slide the thick spacer with felt discs facing up in between the unit & ceiling - you should feel the spacer locate over the grommet on the end cap when the spacer is centred.

The Fatcat is fabricated so that there should be a 20mm gap above the unit when installed based on the supplied ceiling measurement - additional thinner spacers are supplied in case this measurement is slightly out & you can combine different thickness spacers to get the best fit.

Spacers do not need to be tight to the ceiling but filled enough of the gap to stop the unit toppling - if you try to tilt the Fatcat slightly you can check the stability & make any adjustment as noted above to stop any unwanted movement.

Remove the spacers to relocate the Fatcat noting that you should be able to rotate the unit without removing the spacers.

Upside Down Units

If you’ve specified a Floor-To-Ceiling Tomcat or Fatcat with an Upside Down Top Cap so you can re-install your Hicat® inverted by simply swapping the feet & connectors - Polecat units can be installed either way as standard.

All you will need is a cross headed screwdriver remembering that the Compartment specification might mean that the climbing experience could be different for your cat as they will have to re-orientate themselves with changes in access hole & shelf arrangements.

Wall Mounted Shelves

Shelves should only be installed on to masonry walls using the enclosed installation kit noting that you will need to purchase a 10mm masonry drill bit - there is the option of installing 600mm wide shelves into 400mm centred battens on plasterboard walls but don’t recommend doing this with shorter 400mm shelves as there will only be one fixing into a batten.

Mark-up shelf support holes on the wall using a spirit level noting that shelf fixing holes are centred at 200mm, 400mm & 600mm apart depending on shelf width.

Drill a 65mm deep hole at marked up points - it’s really important that the drilled hole is as perpendicular to the wall as possible.

Insert the wall plugs then slip the washer on to the pin & screw in to the wall using a SW10 spanner - there is some play when screwing the pins into the wall plugs so take the opportunity to make sure that the tips of the fixings are centred at the correct distance apart.

Push the shelf with the side seams facing down (up arrow on back edge) on to the pins up to the knurled ring - use the spanner to level out the pins & set the shelf in a locked out position then push it all the way up to the wall.

Ceiling Clamping Kit

The assembly follows the Fatcat Floor-To-Ceiling install so the install pack will include ceiling connector, drill bit & glue in case you do decide to install the Fatcat at a later date - there’s a separate pack with the instructions for the Clamping Kit that includes MDF discs & felt spacers.

Screw the enclosed clamps into the three inserts in the top cap then assemble feet, level out & position the Fatcat as per the install instructions - the unit will have centre ceiling connector hole in the top end cap & come with a connector but these are not used for this install.

Once in position adjust the clamps from inside the Access Hole Compartment using the Allen key until they are pressing onto the ceiling - take care not to over tighten them & carry out regular inspections to check that the spacers are in contact with the ceiling as floorboards & ceiling may give over time.

Hanging Scratching Board

Set out the split batten on the hanging surface at the same spacing of the split battens on the back of the scratching board e.g. if the battens are 800mm from top edge to top edge then use this dimension noting that the hanging channel on the spilt batten needs to be installed facing up.

If the board becomes worn across a particular area you can rehang the panel upside down simply by flipping the hangers on the panel 180º noting that the drilling holes may not align so it’s best to slightly offset the hanger left or right from it’s original position & make new screw holes.