How to Make a Cat Tree From PVC Pipe

Your cat needs to exercise her claws regularly, both for fun and to shed old nail sheaths when her new claws grow in. But if you want to keep her from shredding your furniture, consider how she'd like a cat tree all to herself, which she can claw, climb and sleep on to her heart's delight. You don't have to buy a pre-made one from the pet store either---those can be pricey. Instead, why not try your hand at making your own?

Things You'll Need

  • Drill and drill bits
  • Nail gun
  • Staple gun
  • Jigsaw
  • Utility knife
  • Epoxy
  • 10-15 sheets of ¾-inch plywood, in desired shapes
  • Wood glue
  • Carpet
  • Construction adhesive
  • 4 pieces of PVC pipe, 1-inch thick, at desired height
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the largest sheet of plywood as the base of your cat tree. If you want to make the base extra sturdy, you can use two of the ¾ inch sheets of plywood together for it. To attach them firmly, roll wood glue onto each half with the paint roller, then screw the plywood sheets together at each of the four corners.

    • 2

      Plan the design of your cat tree. Do you want to use the PVC pipe as a base, and fix the plywood perches on top of this? Or do you want to make an enclosed, apartment-style kitty complex, and use the PVC as embellishment or scratching posts outside? Either way, draw out the plans for the cat tree before you begin to cut the remaining plywood.

    • 3

      Cut out perches for the cat tree from the remaining plywood. You can make your perches as wide or thin as you'd like, in any shape you enjoy. Simply trace out the designs on the plywood, and use the jigsaw to cut them out. Cut the PVC pipe to the desired length, coat the bottom with epoxy, and use the drill bits to carefully attach it to the sturdy plywood base of your cat tree. If you want to reinforce the PVC piping so that it is extra-strong, slide a wooden dowel into it. Then, also using epoxy and the drill, you can attach the plywood perches to the top of the PVC piping. If you want your kitty apartment to have an indoor complex, you can create a box with the plywood, and cut door holes on each end for kitty to crawl through.

    • 4

      Cover all of the areas the cat will be crawling through or climbing up with carpet. Use the utility knife to cut the carpet into the same shapes as the plywood pieces, and then attach the carpet to the plywood with the staple gun. You can use construction adhesive to attach carpet to the PVC piping. If you placed a wooden dowel inside the piping as reinforcement, this provides a solid core into which you can drill to affix the carpet at various intervals with screws. Be sure to cover the screw-heads with small pieces of carpet once you have done this, so kitty won't hurt herself.