Things You'll Need
- 3 boxes (overall sizes may vary, but a large, middle and small size is needed for the 3-tiered effect)
- Ruler
- Compass
- Pencil
- Box cutter (mind the blade) or sharp knife
- Duct tape
- Scissors
- Carpet pieces (optional)
- Cardboard mailing tube (optional)
- 5 to 6 feet of sisal rope(optional)
Instructions
How to Make a Kitty Combo From Cardboard Boxes
Use strips of duct tape to close and seal the flaps on the large box. If you'd like to put a piece of carpet inside this box, do so before closing and sealing it. (The bottom and largest box ideally should be about 24 by 18 by 18 inches, but any large box will do.)
Use the compass to draw an 8-inch circle on the fronts of each of the three boxes, and 8-inch circles on the tops of the large and middle-sized boxes. Cut out all circles using a box cutter or sharp knife.
Cut off the two longest flaps on the middle box. Repeat this step with the smallest box.
Center the middle-sized box on top of the large box. Use the short sides of the middle box to determine how long each slot should be. Draw lines on top of the large box (which should now have a center hole in its top) that correspond to the short sides of the middle box. Cut along the lines with a box cutter or sharp knife. These are Slots A. The flaps on the middle-sized box are Tabs A.
Insert Tabs A into Slots A to begin to form the tier. Fold the inserted tabs against the top of the large box, and securely tape them in place. You can also use duct tape to secure the seams where the middle box and the large box meet. There's no such thing as too much duct tape.
Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the smallest box and the middle-sized box, inserting Tabs B into Slots B. Secure all flaps and/or seams with duct tape. You now have the basic three-tiered, duct-taped kitty condo.
If you like, cut carpet pieces to size with scissors and add them to the outside or inside of the boxes, as long as the entry and climbing holes are not blocked.
Add to your kitty condo, if you desire, by pushing a cardboard mailing tube wrapped with a length of sisal rope (secured with duct tape at each end) through a hole cut in the top of the smallest box. (An easy way to find the right diameter is to center the tube on top of the small box and trace its base using a pencil.) Insert the tube through the hole, until it touches the base of the small box, and the remaining part of the tube protrudes above the top of the small box. Secure with additional duct tape as needed.