How to Create Your Own Cat Tree

A cat tree is a structure that a pet cat may use every day. The structure not only offers a place for a cat to sleep up above the ground, but it also keeps your pet active as it jumps, climbs and sharpens its claws on the different levels and platforms. While many manufactured cat trees can cost you hundreds of dollars to purchase, you can construct your very own cat tree with a couple tools and construction supplies.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood base, 24 inches by 18 inches by 4 inches
  • Top piece of plywood, 22 inches by 25 inches by 1 inch
  • Plywood scraps
  • 3 pieces of lumber, 2 inches by 4 inches by 5 feet long
  • Carpet, 9 feet by 7 feet
  • 12-inch diameter stiff cardboard tube, 4 feet
  • Sisal rope
  • Nails
  • 5 corner brackets
  • Screws
  • Hammer
  • Saw
  • Utility knife
  • Tape measure
  • Drill
  • Glue gun with glue sticks
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wrap each of the 5-foot long pieces of lumber in sisal rope by nailing one end of the rope to the bottom of each piece of lumber and wrap around the post until you reach 21 inches from the bottom. Nail the top end of the rope to the lumber. This will offer enough length of sisal rope for your cat to sharpen its claws on. Cover the remainder of the exposed wood in carpet, making sure to cover the top nail in the sisal rope. These will be the poles or supports of the cat tree.

    • 2

      Cover both the bottom platform of plywood and top piece of plywood in carpet, nailing it in place with a hammer and nails. Nail two of the poles into the bottom platform, about 4 1/2 inches from the each side of the base. Nail the last pole in the middle of the back of the base. Nail the top piece of plywood to the top of all the poles, making sure that the top is level. If it is not level, you may have to re-cut your poles.

    • 3

      Construct an enclosed house for the cat by making a box out of plywood scrap. Cut two pieces of scrap plywood to 16 inches by 13 inches for the floor and roof of the house. Cut another two pieces of scrap plywood to 10 inches by 16 inches for the sides of the house. Cut one last piece of plywood to 13 inches by 10 inches for the back of the house. Nail all the pieces together, leaving one side open for the cat to jump into. Cover both the inside and outside in carpet, nailing it in place. Attach corner brackets to the bottom of the house and screw them into the carpeted poles, under the top plywood, to hold the house in place.

    • 4

      Measure a piece of cardboard tube to 24 inches long and cut with a utility knife. Cut the piece cardboard tube lengthwise, so you are left with a half a piece of tub to use for a bed. Cover the bed with carpet by gluing it with a glue gun to the tube. Cut another piece of cardboard tube to 19 inches long, cut in half lengthwise again and carpet like before. Glue both pieces back together after you have carpeted them to create a carpeted tube for your cat to play in.

    • 5

      Drill the half-tube bed between the poles of the structure where ever you think it is appropriate to be positioned. The tube should fit snugly between the three poles. Make sure that the screws are drilled in all the way, so not to injure the cat. Drill a corner bracket into the back pole support just below the tube to further support it. Repeat this step with the full-size tube, drilling it just below the half-tube bed, between the poles. Glue small pieces of carpet over-top of both brackets so that the cat will not injure themselves on any sharp edges.