Build Your Own Cat Tree

From LoveToKnow Cats

If you are ready to build your own cat tree, it is time to consider what style and materials you will use as well as which plans best fit your needs.

kitten, post, cat tree

Choose Your Plans

Choosing between all of the cat tree plans can be overwhelming. Spend some time thinking about which plans will work best for your situation. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • How many cats will use the cat tree?
  • How big is the room that the cat tree will occupy?
  • Does the tree need to be easily movable, or can it be relatively heavy?
  • Are the cats clawed or declawed?
  • How much money is available for this project?
  • How much time is available for the completion of this project?
  • What level of experience is needed to complete this cat tree?

You can find cat tree plans on the Internet as well as locally. Some places on the Internet that you might wish to check are:

Idea File

If you are an experienced woodworker, you may be able to create a cat tree by just looking at one. Following are a variety of images of cat trees that may get your creative juices flowing.

Materials Used to Build Your Own Cat Tree

There are a wide variety of materials to choose from when planning a do it yourself cat tree. Some items are more common than others, and there is really no right or wrong way to build this piece of cat furniture.

Concrete Forms

These round forms are often called Sonotubes or Quik-tubes, and are used to make concrete piers and cylinders. They are used for curved perches. They are made from an extremely heavy cardboard and treated to be water resistant. You should be able to find them at your local home improvement store.

Lumber

You will need various types and sizes of lumber for your project. If you use ready made plans, they will include a materials list with specific sizes of lumber. It is best not to use treated lumber since it contains chemicals that may be harmful to your cat. Since the lumber will usually be covered up, you really don't need to buy the top quality. You may even be able to get some of what you need for free if you ask around at building sites.

Hardware and Tools

You will need:

  • Bolts
  • Washers
  • Wood screws
  • Staples
  • Wood glue
  • Nails
  • Screw driver
  • Hammer
  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Staple gun
  • Clamps
  • Level
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Paper for making notes

There may be other items that are needed for the type of cat tree that you decide to build. The items listed above are usually the basic requirements.

Other Items

Other materials you may need, or want, to use for your homemade cat tree are:

  • Burlap
  • Canvas
  • Carpet
  • PVC pipe
  • Sisal rope

You can even use logs with the bark still on them and large pieces of dead trees with branches, as long as they are solid.

Design

Be sure that you have a solid base on your cat tree. You want it to be wide enough to support the upper parts of the cat tree without allowing it to tip. As long as your base is sturdy and the various components are balanced for safety, you can create any design you want.

You can create ladders, stairs or a combination of both to allow your cat to access the higher areas of the cat tree. Batting toys hanging from various levels can provide added entertainment (for you and your cat). Small compartments with paw-sized holes will keep your pet busy for hours, especially if you add a few small balls on the inside.

When you build your own cat tree it can be anything you can imagine.

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