How to Build a Cat Tower? – DIY Cat Furniture Ideas & Plans

Cats are wonderful creatures and showcase a superior vibe to other pets. You can create an artificial space for your furry friends to relax, chill and play. A modern cat tree is such a place that can offer various benefits to your pet cats. You’ll find the most valuable methods to build the perfect structure that will cater to your kitty’s needs. Explore our guide how to make a cat tree that looks like a tree using the tips given below will be a fun experience.

What is a Cat Tree?

A cat tree, also known as a cat tower, is an artificial structure built for a pet kitty to play, relax and have fun. Each tree will serve a different purpose so, it is better to build one at home using the various DIY techniques listed below. Since our feline friends need to adapt to the indoor surroundings wherein they have a restricted space to move around, it becomes crucial that the cat tower has to be more engaging and sturdy at the same time.

How to make a cat tree? Is it worth?

It may be obvious but building a cat tree is worth it for sure because your pampered kitties can easily engage in various acts such as climbing, scratching, relaxing, etc. The multi level cat tree house is simple to build and has a manageable nature, i.e., the structures you build will demand less maintenance and prove more cost-worthy. You must aim to minimize extra costs and plan the structure of the tree accordingly. It may seem a hectic and painstaking process but once completed, your kitty will love the personalized space you’ll offer them. Activities such as climbing or scratching trigger mental stimulation for cats. Moreover, the cat tower will be a safe space for the kitty. There are tons of best cat tree for large cats available in market, but making one with love is different right, here is the detail guide to build one.

Guide to Building a DIY Single Tube Cat Tree

With these simple steps and a little imagination, you can build a cardboard tubes for cat trees hassle-free that will prove to be a dream come true for your lovely kitty. Take a note of the materials and tools you need to how to build a cat tree in our step by step guide.

Materials and Tools You’ll Need

How to Build A Single Tube Cat Tree?

1. Use a thick plyboard that is considerably bigger to ensure a sturdy foundation for the whole structure. You can also join two plyboards of the same size to increase the strength offered by the boards.
2. Cover the base with the carpet or rug, whatever is available to ensure more traction. Ensure that the foundation is fully covered and secured with staples correctly. Choose a good-quality stapler to fasten the carpet or rug to the base.
3. Now, construct multiple vertical supports for the platforms using the smaller plyboards. Using a combination of wood glue and hot glue, wrap a rope or twine around the vertical supports. Ensure that there are no visible spaces and the wrapping is secure enough.
4. Attach platforms covered with rug or carpet onto the vertical supports. Ensure that the platform sits over the supports securely using screws and bolts. To add to the fun, securely attach cat toys under the platform that’ll promote more engagement with the kitty.
5. Use the concrete form tube to create a cozy cubby for your cats so they can check in as and when they desire. Make sure that the cat condo tree entrance is sizeable and the inner section of the tube is smooth. Attach the cubby onto the platform using wood glue and screws. Your carpeted cat tree structure is ready.

Guide to Building a Cat Hammock/ Perch

Building a cat tree with hammock is a perfect idea if you own more than one cat. You can create the perfect perch for your dear kitty using the steps given below.

Materials and Tools you’ll need

How to Build a Cat Hammock?

1. You’ll need to cut the PVC pipe into smaller pipes of different lengths. Cut out three pipes from the PVC pipe that are six inches in length and cut out three that are twelve inches in length.
2. Using a drill, make a hole at the center of each two- inches PVC cap and repeat the process for the other caps.
3. Put the lag screw through the cap and fix the PVC caps into a wall. Make sure that you secure a piece of rope that has a considerable length to each of them.
4. Fix each PVC cap at an equal distance from each other. Just make sure that four of the caps are placed adjacent. The other two caps will act as climbing steps once PVC pipes are attached.
5. Cover one opening of each PVC pipe with cardboard and wrap a rope onto each of the pipes securely using hot glue. The rope should be tight enough to prevent unraveling when cats scratch their paws onto it.
6. Fix the Caps securely onto the other end of the pipes and firmly wrap the rope onto the caps. You need to repeat the process for each PVC pipe.
7. Stitch two thick towels together and wrap both ends of the towel onto each pipe placed adjacently. Avoid placing the towels tightly. Repeat the same process for the other two pipes. Your hammock is ready.
8. The other two pipes will serve as the stairs to climb onto the hammock or be used by the cats to scratch their paws.

Guide to Building a Portable Ladder Climber

This is an easy-to-make, portable climber that will serve as the place to relax and be stimulated simultaneously. You don’t need to invest a lot of time and effort in building this cat climbing tree for your dear cats. Moreover, this is the perfect option for those owners who have multiple cats.

Materials and Tools you’ll need

How to Build A Cat Ladder Climber?

1. Wrap the twine over the front side rails of the ladder using hot glue. Make sure that the wrapping is secure enough to sustain thuds from your cat’s paws.
2. Cut out two wooden plyboards of the same length as the distance between two adjacent side rails. These plyboards will serve as scratchers. So, cover these plyboards with carpet using hot glue and a staple gun.
3. Prepare a ledge, joining all the steps according to the size of your cat. Cover the ledge with faux sheepskin securely using the staple gun.
4. Screw the pipe holders with the backside rails onto the wall to ensure that the ladder remains stable when the cats climb onto the ledge.
5. Securely screw the plyboards on both sides between the first and the second ledge. Make sure that the cat scratching posts are accessible from both sides of the ledge.
6. Your portable ladder climber is ready. Make sure that your kitties are comfortable in the structure.

How to Build Non-Permanent Floor to Ceiling Cat Tree?

1. In order to make floor to ceiling cat tree, you need to mark and cut out the three shelves. Mark the hole and the outside edges of the first shelf using a short piece cut out from the cardboard tube. Cut the outside edges and the wall side using a jigsaw.
2. Drill the cut holes and cut out the first shelf in the design of your choice. You can choose any design for the three shelves, but choosing identical designs will be more aesthetically pleasing.
3. Use this design as a template to carve out the other two shelves from the plyboard. Mark the tube cut accordingly. It is crucial to locate the pole cut accurately.
4. Cut out the second and the third shelves accordingly. Try to stick to identical designs for all of the shelves.
5. You need to cover all the shelves with a carpet securely using a staple gun. Cut out the extra fabric and make sure that the cut-outs are visible. Ensure that the fabric sits on the shelves tightly.
6. Cover the Cardboard tube with rope using hot glue. Make sure that you apply glue after every four to five rows. Wrap the rope along the tube tightly. Leave necessary spaces for the shelves.
7. Slide on the shelves at the designated places. Wrap the rope over the leftover regions tightly using adhesive. No patches of the tube shall be visible.
8. Attach the fasteners at both ends of the tube and firmly fix the scratching tower onto the ceiling and floor. Your structure is ready to use now. You can shift the position of the structure as and when you want.

Guide to building a Cat tower using PVC Pipe and Baskets

Many cat owners will prefer this design due to its attractive appeal and the usage of readily available materials.

Materials and Tools you’ll need

How to Build Cat tower Using PVC?

• Cover the length of the PVC pipe with the rope tightly using hot glue. Make sure to highlight five markings onto the pipe. Leave some space near the markings.
• Attach the five baskets to the pipe at the marked places using brackets and screws. The size of the basket should be such that it can easily hold your cat’s weight.
• Create a comfortable seating area within the basket using the carpet and hot glue. The carpet at the base of the baskets must be placed tightly using glue and screws.
• Cover the base and other openings adequately to avoid scraping your pet. Your cat will like this new place to relax.

Conclusion

Cats have the instincts to climb over things and gauge their territory. Building any of the towers discussed above will help your cats to cherish their wild instincts. Showcase your affection towards your lovely little kitties by investing your time and effort in building these safe spaces for them. These little efforts can help your cats a lot.