DIY Cat Jungle Gym

Cats, particularly indoor cats, need to exercise and be mentally stimulated. Outdoor cats have trees on which to climb, stretch and wear down their claws. Indoor cats often make due with furniture. Rather than punish your cat for acting on its instincts, simply provide your cat with its own "furniture" for exercise and play. Making your own cat jungle gym gives your cat the exercise it needs while saving your furniture and your budget.

Things You'll Need

  • 4-foot folding step ladder
  • Tape measure
  • 2-by-4 inch wood stud, cut to length
  • Hammer and nails
  • 12-inch diameter cardboard concrete mold, cut to length
  • Sisal rope
  • Glue
  • Cat toy
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Instructions

    • 1

      Open the step ladder and stand it up as if you were going to climb it.

    • 2

      Measure the distance between the bottom of the right front leg and the back right leg of the ladder. Record this measurement on a slip of paper, or remember it. Repeat this procedure with the left legs of the ladder.

    • 3

      Cut the wood stud in to two pieces that match the measurements you recorded in Step 2.

    • 4

      Attach one end of the wood stud to the inside of the front right leg of the ladder with a hammer and nails. Attach the other end of the stud to the back right leg of the ladder. Repeat this procedure on the left legs of the ladder to create a brace to hold the ladder open. When you have finished, the ladder should look like it is on skis.

    • 5

      Cut your concrete mold to whatever length you desire. This will create a tunnel for the bottom of your jungle gym. Once cut to length, begin at one end of the tube and wrap it tightly with sisal rope. Attach the end of the rope to the tube with strong glue or tack it in place with a nail. This rope is durable and gives the cats a surface for scratching and climbing. The more tightly you wrap the rope onto the tunnel, the longer the rope will stand up to your cat's rough play.

    • 6

      Place the tube through the legs of the ladder, allowing it to rest on the braces. From inside the tube, attach it by nailing it to the braces below. Be careful to hammer the nails all the way down, so that there are no sharp edges that could injure your cat.

    • 7

      Wrap the ladder tightly with sisal rope to create a scratching and climbing surface, starting at the bottom of the ladder and working your way up,. Attach the end of the rope to the ladder with strong glue or tack it in place with a nail. Cover every surface of the ladder, including the legs, steps, hinges and braces.

    • 8

      Attach a toy to the ladder by gluing an end of sisal rope to a cat toy. Tie the other end of the rope securely to any step or hinge of the ladder, allowing the toy to dangle in an area the cats can bat and jump at it.

    • 9

      Check the finished structure for safety, ensuring there are no loose nails or rope, that no nails stick out, that glue is dry and the braces and tunnel are securely fastened to the ladder.