2. Using a stud finder, I pulled the netting backward, stretching it up at the same angle as the stairs. I then measured the same distance of 85″ up from the steps and installed the next U-hook into a stud.
The first time I mounted this, I had two of the brackets held in with drywall anchors. If a cat does fall, I thought the force would pull the bracket from the side rather than directly out. I didn’t think this would cause the bracket to rip out of the wall. Also, if a cat did fall with enough force to pull the bracket out, it would still cushion the fall between two levels, rather than falling directly down 12 ft.
Once I realized how heavy the test kitty was, I was worried that the weight from dropping him would rip the mounting points out and explode brackets on the stairs if I used the drywall anchors. Our test kitty is a stuffed animal full of metal brackets, and he feels incredibly heavy because the weights are all centralized.
I decided the best solution was to use the studs for all mounting points