How to Make a Cat Retreat Condo

Cats do a great deal more sleeping than humans, so it's important that cats have a cozy, dark place to get their sleep. A cat condo is an ideal spot for napping during the night, and for retreating from the hustle and bustle of a busy household during the day. While store-bought cat retreats can be costly, you can make your own, customized retreat for Fluffy with just a few materials and tools.

Things You'll Need

  • Plywood
  • Bendable wood board
  • Wooden post
  • Remnant carpeting
  • Sisal rope
  • Saw
  • Carpet tacks
  • Bolts
  • Brackets
  • All-purpose glue
  • Box cutters
  • Nails
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Make your base by cutting one two-by-two feet piece of plywood. Apply a very light layer of all purpose glue, then cover the piece of wood with carpeting, using box cutters to trim where needed. Use carpet tacks to ensure the carpet covering is adhered tightly.

    • 2

      Create structural support by cutting your wooden post, which can be found at any hardware store where fencing materials are typically found (the post is the same you would use when erecting a fence), to the height you want it. Keep it less than two feet; otherwise, you'll need to add other structural support to your cat condo or risk easy tipping. Cover the post with a light layer of glue and then wrap with rope until completely covered. Use nails to secure the rope in place at the top and bottom.

    • 3

      Begin to create the "condo" portion by cutting your bendable wood board to the appropriate size. Consider the size of your cat and whether you have more than one cat when determining size. You will essentially be bending the board into a circle and then joining the two edges to create a wide tube with the top and bottom open.

    • 4

      Cut a hole into your bendable board large enough for kitty to fit through effortlessly. Cover the bendable wood with carpeting as in step one. Leave a couple of inches at each edge where you will be joining it to make a tubular structure.

    • 5

      Use small brackets to close the "tube." Cut two circular shapes of plywood to cover the top and bottom of your "tube." Attach with nails. Cover both the inside and outside with carpeting as previously done.

    • 6

      Attach condo to post using a bolt going through the middle of the tube down into the post. Reinforce the area where the post meets the bottom of the "condo" with angle brackets.