Quick answer: Keep a terrarium out of reach of cats by housing it in a closed pine plywood cabinet with a hinged front, fixed to wall studs at least 60 cm from any launch point. Choose plants from the ASPCA non-toxic list, keep lilies out entirely, and give the cats a separate perch so the cabinet is not the best seat in the room.
A terrarium on a desk looks calm until a cat lands on it. Glass tips, soil spills and leaves get chewed. In a home office with two cats, the problem doubles: one cat jumps, the other follows to see what the fuss is about.
This beginner build moves the terrarium into a small closed cabinet made from pine plywood, fixed to the wall above the cats' usual routes. It needs a saw, a drill, a stud finder and an afternoon. The aim is not just to keep the glass up high, but to make the cabinet a dull place for cats while the rest of the office offers better spots.
Why Height Alone Rarely Keeps a Terrarium Out of Reach of Cats
Cats climb. A shelf that looks high to us is often one jump from a desk, a chair back or a filing cabinet. An open shelf also invites a cat to sit beside the glass and paw at the lid. A closed front removes both problems: there is nothing to stand on and nothing to knock.
Plant safety matters too. The FDA warns that for cats the entire lily plant is toxic, including the pollen and even vase water, and that a small amount can cause kidney failure. Even inside a cabinet, keep lilies out of the room; pollen travels on hands and clothes.
Planning the Cabinet for a Home Office
Measure the terrarium first, then add 5 cm to each side and 10 cm above the lid so you can lift it out. Most small terrariums fit a cabinet about 45 cm wide, 30 cm deep and 40 cm tall inside.
Next, map launch points. Stand in the room and note every surface a cat could jump from: desk, bookcase, printer stand, window sill, chair back. Keep the cabinet at least 60 cm horizontally from each, and mount the base above head height of a sitting adult so the cats are not tempted from your chair.
Timber and Hardware for This Build
| Part | Material | Size (cm) | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sides | 18 mm pine plywood | 40 × 30 | 2 |
| Top and base | 18 mm pine plywood | 48.6 × 30 | 2 |
| Back | 6 mm plywood | 48.6 × 43.6 | 1 |
| Door | 18 mm pine plywood | 48 × 43 | 1 |
| Hinges | Small butt or concealed | — | 2 |
| Catch | Magnetic or roller | — | 1 |
| Cleat | 18 mm plywood strip, 45° bevel | 45 × 8 | 2 |
Sides sit between the top and base, so the overall width is 48.6 cm and the inside width is 45 cm once two 18 mm sides are subtracted. Check your own terrarium before cutting. A clear acrylic panel can replace the door's centre if you want to see the plants, set into a rebate rather than glued on the surface.
Assembling the Planter Perch
- Sand all plywood edges to remove splinters, then seal with a water-based clear finish and let it cure fully before plants go in.
- Glue and screw the sides to the base and top, checking for square with a tape measure across the diagonals.
- Pin the 6 mm back on to lock the box square.
- Cut a 45° bevel along one cleat strip; screw half to the cabinet back and half to the wall.
- Hang the door on two hinges and fit the catch at the opening edge.
- Drill four 8 mm vent holes near the top of each side so warm, damp air can escape.
- Lift the cabinet onto the wall cleat and add one screw through the base into the lower cleat or a second stud.
Our guide to using a stud finder for safe wall loads covers locating studs and choosing fixings. A full terrarium can weigh more than you expect once wet soil is inside, so do not rely on plasterboard plugs alone.
Picking Plants That Are Safe if the Door Is Left Open
Doors get left open. Choose plants as if a cat will one day reach them. The ASPCA keeps a toxic and non-toxic plants list you can search by name; check every plant against it before buying, using the botanical name rather than a shop label.
Common terrarium plants that appear on the ASPCA non-toxic list include the Boston fern and the nerve plant (fittonia), but always confirm the exact species, because related plants can be listed differently. Our list of cat-safe houseplants for apartments and the guide to swapping toxic plants for lookalikes help when a favourite turns out to be risky.
A Two-Cat Layout for the Office
With two cats, one often watches the other and copies. Give both a better option than your shelf. A window perch on the opposite wall (our no-drill rental window perch ideas suit offices you cannot drill), a scratching post by the door and a bed near your desk spread the cats out and leave the cabinet as the least interesting place in the room.
International Cat Care notes that cats like high places to sit and places to disappear from view. If the only high point in the office is the terrarium cabinet, it will be investigated. Add one or two dedicated high spots first, then hang the cabinet.
- Perch A: window sill shelf, opposite wall from the cabinet.
- Perch B: top of a sturdy bookcase, cleared and covered with a mat.
- Ground level: a scratcher near the office door, where cats tend to mark on entry.
- Your chair: push it in when you leave, so the seat is not a launch pad.
Testing the Cabinet Before Plants Go In
Hang the empty cabinet for a week. Watch whether either cat tries to reach it. If one lands on top, look for the launch point and move or block it. A top surface angled slightly forward with a strip of plywood can also stop a cat settling, but blocking the route is usually simpler.
Press down firmly on the front edge with both hands. It should not shift or creak. If it does, add a second fixing into another stud before loading anything.
Daily Care Without Letting the Cats In
Open the door only when the cats are out of the room or busy eating. Mist and water from the front, then close the catch before you walk away. Keep tools such as small scissors and tweezers inside the cabinet, not on the desk.
Check for condensation weekly. If the inside of the door stays wet, open one or two more vent holes. Persistent damp can mark plywood, which is why the finish should be fully cured before use.
Common Beginner Errors
- Hanging the cabinet beside the bookcase the cats already climb.
- Leaving a gap above the cabinet that becomes a hiding shelf.
- Using a terrarium plant labelled only as 'tropical mix' without checking species.
- Gluing acrylic to the face so it pops off when a paw pushes on it.
- Skipping vent holes, leading to mould on the plywood.
For more ideas on plant zones, our cat-safe plants and indoor garden hub collects every build in this series. The wall shelves and window perches hub is useful for planning the cats' own high spots.
Terrarium Cabinet Questions
How high should a terrarium be to keep it out of reach of cats?
Height alone is unreliable because cats jump from furniture. Keep the cabinet at least 60 cm horizontally from desks, bookcases and sills, mount it above the head of a seated adult, and use a closed door so there is nothing to stand on or paw at if a cat does land nearby.
Which terrarium plants are safe for cats?
Check every plant on the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list using its botanical name. The Boston fern and the nerve plant appear as non-toxic, but confirm the exact species before buying. Keep true lilies and daylilies out of the home entirely, since the FDA warns the whole plant is toxic to cats.
Can I use an open shelf instead of a closed cabinet?
You can, but an open shelf gives a cat a ledge to sit on and a lid to paw. A closed front with a magnetic catch removes both. If you prefer open shelving, place it far from launch points and choose only plants confirmed as non-toxic.
How do I stop two cats copying each other onto the shelf?
Give both cats better high spots first, such as a window perch on the opposite wall and a cleared bookcase top. Push your chair in when you leave so it is not a launch pad. Test the empty cabinet for a week and block any route either cat uses before adding plants.
