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DIY Cat Tree Plan To Build An Awesome Tree For Your Cat
If you have a cat in your apartment, there are many ways to keep it busy. And that's important because exercise and playful activities make for an exuberant nature. Under-challenged pets can quickly develop behavioral problems. Isn't that a good reason to provide variety and entertainment?
With a little craftsmanship, you can build a cat scratching post yourself. A paradise to play and sleep according to your ideas to fit the needs of your feline friend. We’ll show you how to make a homemade cat tree step by step and what you need for it.
Why You Should Build A Natural Cat Tower
A scratching post does several things at once: your cat can exercise, play, sharpen its claws, and relax or retreat. All this is important for your cat. Particularly if you keep it in the apartment most of the time, you should definitely provide for such a balance.
But why build it yourself? Of course, you can buy many models. However, if you have some crafting skills, we recommend you build the cat tree yourself. This has several advantages:
●Adapt the cat tree to the fitness or age of your cats.
●Design the cat condo according to the play preferences and needs of your velvet paw.
●Design the DIY cat tree in the style of your living space with the appropriate materials and colors.
●Be creative and make the cat tree an eye-catcher.
●You determine the quality and budget.
●Extend the cat tree individually at any time.
Basically, every cat is different. And so is every apartment. If you build the cat tree yourself, you can decide how it looks and adapt it exactly to the place where it should be (living room, hallway, balcony). Moreover, you can let your creativity run wild and create a great entertainment paradise of cat furniture. For example, you can integrate the DIY cat tree into a cat climbing wall, which you can also build yourself.
Before sketching your DIY cat tower plan, consider the following things:
●How active is your cat? Which elements make sense or are needed? This is important when deciding whether you want your cat tree to be freestanding or wall-mounted.
●How old is your cat? Does he need more steps, ramps, or lying areas?
●How heavy is your cat? For large or heavy cats, the tree must be more stable.
●How many cats do you have? If you have more than one, you may want to consider adding more tree branches.
●How much of a budget do you have planned for the project?
●Where should the cat tree be placed?
●How tall do you want the cat tree to be? A good cat tower should be at least 3.2 feet tall, but you can go as high as you want.
Expert advice:
The dimensions, as well as the condition, depend on your desired location. If, for example, you plan to build the cat tree yourself for the balcony, you must additionally secure it. After all, you don't want anything to happen to your cat while it's romping around.
Free Cat Tree Plan: Ideas, Materials, Accessories
Once you have a plan of how your homemade cat tree should look, you have to think about the material. First, you need a suitable tree trunk. Here, for example, wood from a fruit tree proved to be most suitable. Birch, oak, or beech are also great for building a scratching post yourself.
We do not recommend coniferous woods because they are softer and may not withstand the claws of your cat as well as other types of wood. In addition, they are very resinous, and there is a risk that the fur of your cat will stick together.
You have several options to procure a suitable tree trunk:
●From your own garden or from friends or neighbors.
●From a sawmill
●From a timber merchant or farmer
●From nurseries
●In the forest (always consult a forester)
●Driftwood, if you live on the coast
Make sure the tree trunk is long enough for your cat to scratch on it while stretched out.
Get Creative For Your Furry Friend
For a homemade cat tree, you need a little more craftsmanship than for other cat toys. But if you like to be creative and have fun building it yourself, then this project is just right for you! At the same time, you give your velvet paw an individually designed scratching post on which it can let off steam at any time. There she can also withdraw undisturbed when she needs some rest. In any case, we wish you much pleasure in building and your cat much joy in exploring, scratching, and relaxing!
DIY Cat Trees Are Not Your Thing?
If you’ve decided that crafting your own cat tree is too much of a hassle, we got you. Acquiring the right type of wood can be quite time-consuming. Plus, you have to have a lot of different materials and tools ready, which can be quite expensive. Your cat deserves a great home and a cozy place to play and relax, and if you’re not sure you want to put in the effort for it, we recommend you check out our best cat trees. Your cat will thank you.
How To Build The Base Of My Cat Tree?
If you build the cat tree yourself, you need a base plate that is stable. For this purpose, very thick wooden boards or a mold that you can fill yourself with flash concrete are suitable. You can get both at the hardware store. Depending on which elements you want to integrate into your cat tree, you will need a few additional materials.
DIY Cat Tree Ideas At A Glance:
●More branches as climbing elements or as a support for a hammock/lounging element.
●More tree slices or boards as levels for lying areas and lookout points
●Sisal rope, gladly also in different strengths
●Sisal carpet or scratching cardboard
●Soft fabrics for padding resting levels
●A basket for possible caves or retreat levels
●Long wood screws, nails, and staples
●Wood glue or hot glue if needed - make sure they are waterproof or saliva-proof and non-toxic
●Double-sided adhesive tape
●Angles for attaching the levels
●Fabric or plush for recesses or padding
●If casting mold, flash concrete for the support leg
What Tools Do I Need For My DIY Cat Tree?
To craft a good and stable cat tree, you won't be able to do it just using your hands. Plus, you need some materials to work with and build the actual structure of your cat tree. The following tools and materials are required for the minimum configuration of your DIY cat tree:
●Cordless screwdriver/drill
●Screwdriver
●Staple Gun
●Carpet knife or scissors
●Saw, in case you still need to cut the wood of the levels
●Sandpaper
●Hammer
●Spatula (for removing tree bark)
●Trowel
●PVC pipe
●Cardboard tubes
How To Build Your Own Cat Tree in 10 Steps
After obtaining all materials and tools, you can start assembling your cat tree. For this, we have prepared simple instructions in 10 steps:
1. If the tree still has bark, remove it outside with a spatula. This helps the tree dry faster, and insects, which are possibly under the bark, do not come into the house.
2. If you have chosen a mold with flash concrete, build the base plate.
3. Cover the base plate, whether wood or concrete, with sisal carpet. This looks more homely.
4. Attach the tree trunk to the base plate. This forms the foundation:
Wooden base plate: screw the tree trunk to the base plate from below. It is better to use a few too many screws than too few. After all, this is about the stability of your cat tree.
Concrete base plate: Place the tree trunk in the wet concrete and let it harden.
5. Wrap the sisal rope around the trunk and branches. Secure the beginning and end with staples, making sure there are no gaps. You can fix the rope with a little hot glue in between.
6. Cover the remaining levels with sisal carpet. This protects the wood, and your cat has more opportunities to sharpen its claws.
7. If necessary, sand the edges of the levels and branches a little to remove protruding wood splinters and make the edges rounder.
8. If planned, place a basket or a cave as a retreat on one of the levels. It is best to use screws for this.
9. Depending on your (and your cat’s) taste, you may add a hammock or play features such as a monkey fist.
Add a fiddle board to the homemade cat tree. With this food game, you promote the intelligence of your velvet paw and satisfy their hunting instinct at the same time.
Get Creative For Your Furry Friend
For a homemade cat tree, you need a little more craftsmanship than for other cat toys. But if you like to be creative and have fun building it yourself, then this project is just right for you! At the same time, you give your velvet paw an individually designed scratching post on which it can let off steam at any time. There she can also withdraw undisturbed when she needs some rest. In any case, we wish you much pleasure in building and your cat much joy in exploring, scratching, and relaxing!
DIY Cat Trees Are Not Your Thing?
If you’ve decided that crafting your own cat tree is too much of a hassle, we got you. Acquiring the right type of wood can be quite time-consuming. Plus, you have to have a lot of different materials and tools ready, which can be quite expensive. Your cat deserves a great home and a cozy place to play and relax, and if you’re not sure you want to put in the effort for it, we recommend you check out our best cat trees. Your cat will thank you.
Best Cat Tree For Multiple Cats:
●Space for up to 3 cats ●5 platforms ●1 hammock ●1 cat cave ●Easy to clean
This cat tree is perfect if you have more than one cat. It is 64.6” in height, so the most diligent climber among your cats can climb high and enjoy the view from the upper platform, while the others enjoy the comfort of super soft plush platforms or take a nap in the hammock.
For the more shy ones who like to play hide and seek or just want a little more privacy for themselves, the cat cave in the middle is the perfect place. No matter how wild your cats are while playing, this cat tree will remain steadfast and stable thanks to the reinforced base plate and anti-tip kit.
Of course, the cat tree needs occasional cleaning, but this is done very quickly and easily. You can easily remove the plush covers from each platform and put them in the washing machine, and because the platforms are soft even without those covers, so your cats can continue to play and relax on them!
Best Cat Tree For Single Cats
●Best for one or two cats ●1 platform ●1 hammock ●1 cat cave ●1 scratching mat
If you have only one or two cats, this one is right for you. It features one top platform with plush edges and a hammock, giving your cats the freedom of choice when they need a place to relax.
A large scratching mat in the lower part of the cat tree offers your cat the opportunity to train its claws extensively. The scratching mat also serves as a ladder to the den, where your cat can hide or rest when it needs a little privacy.
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