How to Build an Outdoor Jungle Gym for Cats

It is good practice to allow cats to get fresh air and exercise, but cat owners are often apprehensive to let their feline roam the outdoors. Cats that regularly go outside have a life expectancy of only 5 years, versus indoor cats who have an average life span of 15 years. Predators, disease and injuries can claim the life of an outdoor cat or an indoor cat that escapes from its home. One alternative to this issue is creating an enclosed outdoor jungle gym. Cat jungle gyms can be expensive, but you can build one easily with cheap wood and carpet scraps.

Things You'll Need

  • Cotton string
  • 4-foot chicken wire stakes
  • Hammer
  • Flat-head screwdriver
  • 3-foot mesh chicken wire
  • Bricks, rocks or metal stakes
  • Fishing line
  • Garden poles
  • Staple gun
  • Garden net
  • Twist ties
  • Plywood, 1/2 to 1 inch
  • Saw
  • Nails
  • Screws
  • Electric screwdriver
  • Wood glue
  • Carpet scraps
  • Scissors (optional)
  • Beams, 8 inch by 4 inch
  • 6 rolls of sisal
  • Plastic tarp
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Instructions

  1. Enclosure

    • 1

      Determine the area where you will construct the enclosure. Use the cotton string to outline the enclosure borders.

    • 2

      Hammer stakes along the cotton string every 5 feet. Completely submerge the metal flange at the bottom of the stake into the ground.

    • 3

      Pry open the metal hooks along the chicken wire stakes using the flat-head screwdriver. These hooks will hold the chicken wire into place.

    • 4

      Hook the 3 foot chicken wire (with at least 1 inch mesh) onto the stake hooks, keeping the wire as close to the ground as possible. Once the wire is attached, close the hooks with the hammer.

    • 5

      Line the bottom edges of the chicken wire fence with bricks, rocks or smaller metal stakes. This will discourage the cat from escaping beneath the fence.

    • 6

      Tie garden poles to every other stake using fishing line. Use the staple gun to insert one or two staples in the top of the garden pole, where the chicken wire ends.

    • 7

      Drape the garden net around the inside of the chicken wire, securing it in place temporarily with twist ties. Once the net has been affixed, weave the net to the chicken wire and through the staples of the garden poles to secure the net. The netting will keep the cat from trying to climb the chicken wire.

    Jungle Gym

    • 8

      Cut a base for the jungle gym using 1/2 inch to 1 inch plywood. The base of the jungle gym must be wider and thicker than the top pieces for stability.

    • 9

      Begin nailing together plywood and 4 inch by 8 inch beams to create a tiered jungle gym. Do not go too high, otherwise the gym will lose stability. The simpler the design, the better. This will give the cat more room to jump and run across the jungle gym. Screw the finished piece together for extra stability.

    • 10

      Squeeze wood glue all across the top of the plywood tiers. Place the carpet scraps over the glue and staple them into place. Trim the carpet edges with heavy duty scissors, or fold the carpet underneath the tier and staple it.

    • 11

      Spread some wood glue on the 4 inch by 8 inch beams. Begin wrapping sisal tightly around the beams to create scratching posts. Frequently staple the sisal to keep it taut while wrapping. Make sure there are no gaps between the coils of sisal. Knot the end and staple it several times to secure it underneath the tier.

    • 12

      Drape a plastic tarp over the jungle gym and enclosure when not in use to protect it from rain and snow.