Edit Article

Using Wood and CarpetingUsing a Ladder

Edited by Icy pinguin, , Maniac, Confusionist and 14 others

Cats naturally love to climb trees - and get stuck there, of course. A homemade cat tree will provide your kitty with hours of entertainment and fun, with little to no chance that she'll need a firefighter to help her get down. To make a cat tree, you'll need to create a tall structure with a few different levels where your cat can perch. Consider wrapping the base in rope so it can double as as scratching post. Read on to learn how to design and construct a one-of-a-kind tree for your cat.

Ad

EditMethod 1 of 2: Using Wood and Carpeting

  1. Make a Cat Tree Step 1 Version 2.jpg
    1
    Design your cat wooden tree. Before purchasing materials or starting to build, you need a design plan, which you can sketch out onto paper to determine your material shopping list. There are several things to consider when designing your cat tree.
    • First, consider your space and aesthetic considerations. Determine where your cat tree will be placed, and how wide and high it should be to fit well into that space.
    • You should also consider your cat's preferred use of the cat tree. If your cat likes to climb, consider building a tall cat tree with several perches. If your cat would like a private place to sleep, consider building in a covered sleeping nook.
    • Finally, you should keep your own handiness in mind. If you are relatively inexperienced with building and using hand tools, keep your design simple so that you aren't overwhelmed.
    Ad
  2. Make a Cat Tree Step 2 Version 2.jpg
    2
    Buy the required materials for your cat tree. Use your design plan to determine how many materials you will need. Plywood works well for horizontal platforms; dimension lumber and cardboard or PVC pipe work well for vertical supports, and carpet is ideal for covering the wood. You may also need the following tools to assemble your tree:
    • A drill
    • An electric stapler
    • A table saw
    • Hammer and nails
  3. Make a Cat Tree Step 3 Version 2.jpg
    3
    Cut all materials to size. Using your plan as a guide, cut all the plywood and lumber sections to size. A simple back saw is ideal for cutting dimension lumber, while a handheld circular saw is excellent for cutting sheets of plywood. Sand rough edges if desired.
  4. Make a Cat Tree Step 4 Version 2.jpg
    4
    Build the base of your cat tree. The tree needs a sturdy base, which should extend farther out than any other component of the tree. To make the base, a good option is to cut 2 squares of plywood to size and glue them together for extra thickness. A 24" (60 cm) square is an ideal size for a basic cat tree.
  5. Make a Cat Tree Step 5 Version 2.jpg
    5
    Cover the base in carpet. Before attaching any vertical supports, it's best to cover the base with carpet or a thick upholstery fabric. Cut the carpet to size, wrap its edges over the edges of the plywood base, and staple it in place with a staple gun.
  6. Make a Cat Tree Step 6 Version 2.jpg
    6
    Attach the vertical support members to the base. The vertical supports can be attached to the base with screws, nails, or wood glue. You may want to wrap the supports in carpet before affixing them to the base.
  7. Make a Cat Tree Step 7 Version 2.jpg
    7
    Attach the horizontal perches to the supports. The plywood perches can be attached by screwing and gluing them to the tops of the vertical members. Wrap them in carpet or fabric after affixing them so that the screws aren't visible through the carpet.
  8. Make a Cat Tree Step 8 Version 2.jpg
    8
    Continue building according to your design. Continue to affix each component, referring back to your plan for measurements and placement. Adjustments to your design can be made ad-hoc to account for stability issues or mismeasurements.

EditMethod 2 of 2: Using a Ladder

  1. Make a Cat Tree Step 9.jpg
    1
    Obtain a ladder. For this simple, unique cat tree, you'll need an old wooden ladder. Look around at garage sales thrift furniture stores, and antique stores for one 3-4 feet high. It's fine if the wood looks old, but be sure the foundation of the ladder isn't too rickety - you want to make sure you cat stays safe.
    • Choose an old-fashioned ladder that looks like an upside-down "v" with several steps on either side.
    • Very tall ladders and ladder made from slippery materials aren't going to work as well.
  2. Make a Cat Tree Step 10.jpg
    2
    Gather other supplies. The ladder is going to be the base of the tree, but you'll need to alter it a bit to make it more cat friendly. Gather these supplies:
    • A piece of plywood long and wide enough to rest on two rungs of the ladder at the same level. This will provide a little platform for your kitty. If you want more than one platform, you can get more than one piece of plywood.
    • A hammer and 2" nails.
    • A piece of canvas or denim you can use to create a little hammock between the two bottom rungs.
    • A can of paint in whatever color you'd like, if you want the tree to match the decor of the room where you'll be putting it. Try to buy nontoxic paint.
    • A hanging toy to hang from the top of the ladder, for your cat to play with.
    • Rope to wrap around the legs of the ladder.
  3. Make a Cat Tree Step 11.jpg
    3
    Sand and paint your ladder and wood pieces. Use fine-grain sandpaper to sand down the ladder so you remove any jagged edges and splinters. Do the same to the pieces of plywood you bought. Paint the ladder and plywood pieces with a coat or two of your paint, if you're using it. Let the paint dry completely.
    • You can get creative with your paint job if you want. Paint it brown and green to make it look like an actual tree, for example. You can also use stencils to make cute designs up and down the sides.
  4. Make a Cat Tree Step 12.jpg
    4
    Nail the plywood platforms to the ladder. Position the first piece of plywood so that it is lined up across two ladder rungs of equal height. Use the hammer and four nails to nail the plywood into the wooden rungs, placing one nail in each corner of the plywood. If you have a second piece of plywood to create another level, use the same procedure to nail it down.
    • Make sure the platforms are very secure when you're finished nailing them down. Use more nails if you need to keep them from jostling around.
  5. Make a Cat Tree Step 13.jpg
    5
    Install the hammock. If you'd like to make a little cat hammock, measure and cut your piece of cloth so that its four corners stretch between the four legs of the ladder. Nail a corner of the fabric to the inside of each leg, making sure that the nails are all at the exact same height.
    • Be sure the fabric you use for the hammock is thick enough to hold the weight of your cat. You can double the fabric or hem the edges before nailing it down to make it sturdier.
    • Use more than one nail per corner if necessary to keep the hammock in place.
  6. Make a Cat Tree Step 14.jpg
    6
    Wrap the ladder legs in rope. If you want the cat tree to double as a scratching post, you can wrap the bottom of the ladder legs in strong rope. Cut the rope in four pieces. Use wood glue to secure the end of the first piece of rope to the base of one of the legs. Start wrapping the leg with rope, gluing it in place as you go, until you're finished with that leg. Repeat with the other four legs.
  7. Make a Cat Tree Step 15.jpg
    7
    Finish decorating the tree. Hang the toy you bought from the top of the ladder, so it will entice your cat to come and play. Add any other finishing touches you want to make your cat tree unique and fun for your cat.
    Ad
Add your own method
Save

EditTips

  • Be sure to cover all exposed hardware (nails, screws, staples), on areas that your cat could come in contact with.
  • Sisal or hemp rope makes an excellent scratching surface. Wrap it tightly around a piece of dimension lumber and secure it at each loose end with a nail or screw.
Ad

EditWarnings

  • Make sure any screws, nails, and staples are all covered completely and are not left exposed to eliminate injury to your cat.
  • Make sure that the rope will not come undone Your cat could get tangled and hang itself*

EditThings You'll Need

Ladder Tree

  • Wooden ladder
  • Plywood pieces
  • Rope
  • Paint
  • Hammer and 2" nails
  • Large piece of canvas or other sturdy fabric

Wood and Carpet Tree

  • Pencil
  • Paper
  • Plywood
  • Dimension lumber
  • PVC pipe
  • Carpet scraps
  • Tape measure
  • Back saw
  • Miter box
  • Circular saw
  • Sandpaper
  • Wood glue
  • Staple gun
  • Staples
  • Wood screws
  • Nails

EditSources and Citations

Article Info

Categories: Cat Toys

Recent edits by: Ron D, Colecrane, TJean

In other languages:

Français: Comment fabriquer un arbre à chat, Español: Cómo hacer un árbol para gatos, Italiano: Come Costruire un Tiragraffi per Gatti, Deutsch: Einen Katzenbaum bauen, Português: Como Fazer uma Árvore de Gato, Русский: сделать дерево когтеточку для кошек, 中文: 组装猫树, Nederlands: Een klimboom maken voor je kat

Ad

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 91,410 times.

Was this article accurate?

YesNo

Contribute
to wikiHow!

Edit this article