DIY Cat Tree House

Purchasing a prefabricated cat tree house can be an expensive investment. A cheaper alternative is to build your own tree house. When it comes to designing the cat tree house opt for stability first, looks second---especially if multiple cats will be using the tree house. Ensure you have a good base with secure shelves and platforms.

  1. The Base

    • There are two ways to go about building the base of the cat tree house. You can start with a main pillar and build shelves and platforms off of the main trunk, or you can have four corner pillars and build it like a tower. The tower form allows the cat more room to run and can be more stable. By having the topmost platform wider than the base, you create a roof and a larger lounging platform. Decide how tall you want the tree to be and use 4-by-4s for the pillars. Consider building the tree house taller than the people living in the house so the roof does not get in the way.

    The Floors

    • Decide how many floors you want for your cat tree house and ensure that they are far enough apart (about 16 to 18 inches) that a full-grown cat can move comfortably from level to level. Also, cut the holes for floors in different spots for variety. Use plywood, about 1/2-inch thick, for the floors. Support the floors by laying cross beams attached to the pillars using 2-by-2 or 1-by-2 pieces of wood. Help the cat get from floor to floor by building ramps between them. You can also cover these with sisal rope or carpet.

    Carpeting and Sisal

    • The cat will likely use the cat tree house as a scratching post. As such, consider wrapping the pillars with sisal rope you can attach using a nail or staple gun. As for the floors, use heavy-duty carpet and lay it over the entire floor, or in various patches, using carpet glue to attach.