How to Build a Cat Condo With a Hammock

According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, one of the best ways to keep a cat from scratching couches, chairs and walls is by providing your cat with an activity center. Cat condos and perches can become expensive when purchased in stores; however, you can build your own cat condo using recycled and inexpensive materials. Not only will your cat have something to scratch on and enjoy, they will also have somewhere to lounge.

Things You'll Need

4 ft. wooden stepladder with rag rack
Scissors
500 ft. quarter-inch rope
Staple gun
Tape measure
Quarter-inch plywood
Saw
Carpet scrap
Wood glue
Hammer
Thin nails
Canvas fabric
Sewing machine
Rectangular cat bed
Heavy duty self-adhesive Velcro strips
Marker
2 in. by 4 in. boards, 2

Instructions

Condo
- 1
  Open the wooden stepladder. Cut a long length of rope and wrap one end around the bottom of the first leg of the ladder. Staple the end of the rope into place on the inside of the leg.
- 2
  Continue wrapping the rope around the leg. The rope should not overlap; each coil should lie on top of the other, so that the rope in effect "climbs" up the leg. Secure the rope a few staples once it reaches the bolt that holds the step in place. Make sure to staple the rope inside the leg, in an area where the staples will not be seen.
- 3
  Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for all four legs of the step ladder. Keep in mind that the rope needs to be wound very tightly. If necessary, staple each coil of rope into place while winding.
- 4
  Wind the rope using the same technique around the steps and top of the stepladder.
Lounge Area
- 5
  Measure the length and width of the rag rack of the stepladder. Cut the plywood to these measurements.
- 6
  Cut the carpet scrap to the measurements of the plywood, but add about four inches to each side. In each corner of the carpet, make a four-inch diagonal cut.
- 7
  Squeeze wood glue all over the surface of the plywood. Lay the carpet scrap face-down on a flat surface and position the glue-side of the plywood in the center. Press lightly, then let dry.
- 8
  Fold each carpet flap so that it wraps around the bottom of the plywood and staple into place.
- 9
  Nail the carpeted plywood onto the rag rack.
Hammock
- 10
  Measure the distance between the middle rungs of the ladder, then measure the width of the ladder. Cut the canvas fabric into a rectangle using these measurements, but add an additional four inches to the width and 16 inches to the length.
- 11
  Hem the edges of the fabric about two inches.
- 12
  Attach a hard-bristled strip of heavy duty self-adhesive Velcro along the underside of the shorter side of the fabric, as close to the edge as possible. Repeat this with the other short side of the rectangular fabric piece.
- 13
  Drape the canvas over the middle rungs of the ladder in a hammock fashion. Wrap one end around the rung until the end touches the underside of the hammock. Mark this spot and repeat for the opposite end.
- 14
  Attach the soft-bristled self-adhesive Velcro strip along the area you marked. The Velcro strip should reach horizontally from end to end of the fabric.
- 15
  Drape the fabric over the middle rungs in the same hammock fashion. Wrap one end around the rung until the hard-bristled Velcro end meets the soft-bristled Velcro end. Repeat this for the opposite end.
- 16
  Attach Velcro strips to the top of the canvas hammock and the bottom of the rectangular pet bed. Place the pet bed on top of the canvas hammock so that it is secured in place by the Velcro.
Stabilizing
- 17
  Measure the distance between the point at the bottom of one ladder leg to the point at the bottom of the opposite leg.
- 18
  Cut the two 2 in. by 4 in. boards so that they coincide with these measurements.
- 19
  Nail the boards between the opposite legs of the ladder on each side to provide more stability when cats are climbing.