Many cats enjoy climbing trees. A homemade cat tree will provide hours of entertainment and fun for cats, and can be made for a fraction of the cost of cat trees sold at pet stores. In order to build your own cat tree, you will need to build a tall structure on different levels where your cat can perch. Making your own cat tree allows you to customize it according to your cat's personality and aesthetic preferences, and with a little information and some basic tools, this project can be both fun and easy.
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Method 1 of 2: Making a Cat Tree out of Wood and Carpet
Step 1. Design your cat tree
Before buying materials or starting to build a cat tree, you need a plan, which you can sketch on a piece of paper to determine what materials you need to buy. There are several things to consider when designing your cat tree.
- First, consider your space limitations. Determine the location of the cat tree, and the size that will fit in the room. It's a good idea to take measurements to make sure your finished product fits snugly in the room.
- You also need to consider your cat's personality. If your cat enjoys climbing, consider building a tall cat tree with several perches. If your cat likes a covered place to hide or sleep, consider creating a covered corner to sleep in.
- Lastly, you should take your carpentry skills into account. If you're basically inexperienced in building things and using tools, keep your designs simple so that you don't get overwhelmed with them.
- If you're not sure where to start, there are several websites with pictures of homemade cat trees you can use as inspiration, or even patterns for cat trees that others have made.
Step 2. Purchase your materials
Use your design plan to determine the materials you will need. Plywood works well for horizontal bases; Standard sized sawn wood and PVC pipe cardboard can be used as vertical supports, and carpet is suitable as a base for the wood. You may also need the following tools for assembling your tree:
- Drill and some wood screws
- Electric stapler
- Table saws and hand saws
- Hammer and nails
- Carpet cutting knife or tool knife
- Wood glue or other strong adhesive
- If you want to create an enclosed area for your cat to perch, you may also want to purchase a cardboard tube. These sturdy cardboard tubes make great perches and tunnels for cats.
- The tube can also be cut as needed with a tool knife to make a sunken base or bed with an open roof for your cat.
Step 3. Cut all the ingredients to the desired size
Using your plan as a guide, cut all pieces of plywood and sawn lumber to size.
- A simple hand saw is good for cutting standard sized saws, while a hand held circular saw or table saw is better for cutting sheets of plywood.
- Sand the rough edges, if desired.
Step 4. Create the base for your cat tree
Cat trees need a solid base, which must be wider than the base or other tree components to keep the tree from falling. To make the base, a good option is to cut 2 squares of plywood to size and glue them together to make them thicker.
A 60 cm square of wood will do well for a standard sized cat tree, but the taller the tree, the larger the base will need to be, to ensure it is sturdy
Step 5. Cover the base with a carpet
Before installing a vertical support, it is better to first base it on the base using a thick carpet or upholstery.
- Cut the rug to size, leaving each side a few inches longer than the wood base. Then cover the edge of the plywood base with the edge of the carpet, then secure it to the bottom of the base using a stapler.
- You may need to trim the corners of the carpet a little so that it folds neatly under the wood base.
Step 6. Attach the vertical supports to the wooden base
Useful vertical supports to hold the base together can be attached using screws, nails, bolts, or wood glue.
- Turn the wooden base so that the carpeted side is facing down. Then, punch a hole in the bottom with a drill in the part where the support will be placed. Attach the stand by inserting screws or nails through the holes and pushing them into the stand.
- You may need to cover the support with a carpet before installing it, as it will be easier to do this now than once it is firmly in place.
- To make a cat tree that can also be used as a scratching area, wrap one or more supports with sisal rope, then secure each end with a headless nail or staple, placing it in an area where the cat cannot see it. If you're using a stapler, you may need to tap it with a hammer to make sure the nail doesn't stick out too long.
Step 7. Attach the horizontal perch to the support
Plywood perches can be attached using wood screws and/or glued onto vertical wood.
Wrap it in a rug or cloth after pinning it, so the screws aren't visible on the rug, then attach the rug to the underside with staples as you did with the base
Step 8. Continue building according to your design
Continue assembling each component, according to your plan for measurements and placement.
Adjustments in the design can be made when you take into account stability issues, new ideas, or incorrect measurements
Method 2 of 2: Making a Cat Tree from Stairs
Step 1. Get the ladder
For this simple and unique cat tree, you will need an old wooden ladder. Look at garage sales, thrift stores, or antique stores for stairs 0.9 – 1.2 m high.
- Choose an old-style staircase that looks like an upside-down "V" with multiple steps at the same height on both sides.
- It's okay if the wood looks old, but make sure the ladder foundation isn't too shabby. You need to make sure the cat tree doesn't fall over and hurt your cat.
- Try to find a ladder with a height of about 1.2 m. A very high ladder can be unsteady or too high for your cat.
Step 2. Gather equipment
The ladder will form the base of the cat tree, but you will need to modify it a bit to make it safer for the cat. Collect the following equipment:
- A sheet of plywood long and wide enough to be placed on two steps at the same height. This will be the base for your cat. If you want more than one base, you will need more than one sheet of plywood.
- Hammer and nail measuring 5 cm
- Carpet
- Electric stapler
- A piece of canvas, denim, or other strong fabric that can be used to make a hammock between two steps
- Can of paint (optional)
- Toys that hang from a piece of string or string
- Sisal rope for wrapping the foot of the ladder
Step 3. Sand, then paint your stairs and wood finish
Use fine sandpaper to sand the ladder and remove any uneven edges or debris. Do the same with the plywood you bought.
- Paint the stairs and plywood with a coat or two of paint, if you wish to apply paint. Let the paint dry completely.
- Use your imagination when painting. You can simply paint the stairs to make them match the existing room decor. But you can also paint it brown or green to make it look like a tree, or use a stencil to place the design on the top and bottom sides.
- Instead of painting the mat, you can make it more comfortable for your cat by covering it with a rug, attaching it to the mat after nailing it tight. Use staples and fix the carpet by placing the staples on the circumference and the center. Make sure the staples are not sticking out of the base, by tapping them with a hammer if necessary.
Step 4. Attach the plywood base to the ladder using nails
Place the first sheet of plywood parallel to the two steps at the same height. Use a hammer and four nails to attach the plywood to the wooden steps, with one nail at each corner of the plywood.
- Make sure the base is very stable once you're done nailing it. You can use more nails, or switch to wood screws to make them more secure.
- If you have a second sheet of plywood to make one more tier, use the same procedure to nail it.
Step 5. Install the hammock
Many cats love to sleep in hammocks. If you want to add it to your cat tree, measure and cut the sheet so that the four corners extend between the four legs of the ladder. Attach the corners of the fabric to the inside of the foot of the ladder using nails or staples, making sure all the nails are at the same height.
- Make sure the fabric you use for your hammock is thick enough to support your cat's weight. You can double the fabric or the edge hem of the fabric before nailing it to make it more sturdy.
- A slightly stretchy fabric is the perfect fabric for a cat hammock.
- Make sure the nails or staples don't stick out where your cat could be scratched or injured. Tap the staple with a hammer, if needed.
- Instead of a hammock, you can also use cardboard tubes, which are attached to the ladder by placing it on two 2x24 pieces of sawn wood that are fastened to the base of the ladder between the legs with bolts, nails, or screws. This will make your cat tree less portable, but sturdier.
Step 6. Wrap the legs of the ladder with rope
If you also want to make your cat's tree a place to scratch, you can wrap the bottom of the ladder's foot in strong, rough rope.
- Cut the rope into four parts. Use a stapler to secure the end of the first rope inside the base of one of the legs of the ladder.
- Wrap the leg tightly with the rope, and tap it with a hammer if needed. Secure the other end with a stapler, ensuring that it is away from anything the cat might scratch frequently.
- Repeat on the other three legs.
- If you want, you can cover the entire leg with the rope, from top to bottom, using a new rope between each step. This will allow your cat to reach a scratchable surface in almost every part of the cat tree.
Step 7. Finish
Hang the toy you bought at the top of the ladder, where the cat can reach it, so that it entices your cat to come and play. Add any other finishing touches as you wish to make the cat tree unique and fun for the cat.
Tips
- Use a balance gauge so that the base is level and balanced.
- Check out examples of cat trees online to help you design.
- Rubbing a little catnip on the carpet can make your cat more attracted to the cat tree.
Warning
- Make sure that any visible hardware (nails, screws, staples, etc.) is not sticking out of the wood or carpet where your cat can touch it. Wherever possible, make sure the area is covered with carpet.
- Make sure the rope on the cat tree is not loose. Your cat can become entangled and injured.
- Make sure your cat tree is sturdy and stable before letting your cat play there. If it is unstable, additional screws or nails may be needed.
