How to Make a Cat Climber

Cats love to climb and claw furniture, whether their owners like it or not. Give your feline a place to call its own -- to scratch and climb all it wants -- by building a cat climber. Designing and creating your own cat climber will not only give your feline a place to scratch and perch, but you'll also be able to make it in the specific colors and shapes you want.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood or particle board
  • Carpet, fake fur or rope
  • Wood glue
  • Staple Gun
  • Staples
  • Screws
  • Catnip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Design your cat climber. Think about the location of the the cat climber inside your house. Decide on the elements of the climber: how many perches or cubbyholes you want to build. Sketch your ideas and decide the measurements.

    • 2

      Cut your cat climber materials to the determined measurements. Woods such as plywood or particle board are easy and durable material to use for construction. A basic cat climber should have a baseboard on the bottom to keep it secure, a post for climbing and scratching, and a top perch where the cat can sit.

    • 3

      Cover the cut wood with scratching material before assembling the climber. You can use carpet scraps from a local carpet store, or other materials such as fake fur or rope. Wrap the material tautly around the post, perch and baseboard. Use a staple gun to secure the material to each piece of the climber.

    • 4

      Assemble the cat climber. Attach the baseboard to the post using wood glue, screws or staples. Use the material that works best with the design. Attach the perch to the top of the post using wood glue, screws or staples. Add on any additional perches, levels and posts to create a taller cat climber.

    • 5

      Let any glue used on the cat climber dry before setting it out for your cat. Also, ensure there aren't any screws or staples sticking out that could get caught in the cat's paw. Sprinkle the cat climber with catnip and let your cat enjoy it.