Cat Tree Plans

All you cat lovers would be interested in customizing a cat tree specially suited for your adorable pet cat. Cat trees are nothing but cat furniture with some tiers to bear semblance to a miniature tree like figure, with ample amounts of platforms and hiding spots for your feline to feel all comfy and secure. They are also known as cat condos, cat towers or cat gyms. The purpose of building a cat tree that look like trees is to stimulate the cat's natural tendencies of climbing, scratching and hiding. These cat trees are great furniture for the cats to relax and play on. They come in all kinds of sizes and varieties. However, the cat trees available in pet stores is really expensive, thus, it's wiser to build your own cat tree and save the extra bucks. There are several simple cat tree plans that one can choose from and build one at home itself.

How to Build a Cat Tree

Cat tree may take some time to build, however, once you see your cat comfortably relaxing on it, all the hard work put into it seemed to have been worth it. Let us have a look at how to build it.

Material Needed

• Once 22" length of 12" (diameter) Sono tube
• Two 2'x2' pieces of 3/4" plywood
• Two 8'x2"x4" pieces of lumber
• One 1"x2" piece of lumber
• 12, 1/4" x 3-1/2" lag bolts
• Heavy wire brad staples
• Staple gun and staples
• 500' of 3/8" sisal rope
• 3" long nails
• 20 1-1/2" wood screws
• 12 flat washers
• 4 26" squares and one 34" square fabric
• Wood glue

For the perch, take the 22" long sono tube and cut it into three curved pieces. This will act as the perch. The 2'x2' piece of 3/4" plywood will form the base. For the posts take the 8'x2"x4" pieces of lumber and split them into 4'-6", 2'-9", and a 9" length piece each. For the supports cut the 1"x2" piece of lumber into three 19" pieces and two 13" pieces of lumber. To cut all this wood one requires tools like saw, hammer, drill, measuring tape, screw driver, pencil, carpenter's level and wooden clamps.

Construction Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Cat Tree Base
For the base of the cat tree glue the 2'x2' pieces of 3/4" plywood to one another to form one 2'x2'x1-1/2" base. Once this glue dries, using the drill, drill away six holes along one side of the 2'x2'x1-1/2" base piece, such that the first and last hole are drilled at a distance of 2'' from the edge. Moreover, these holes have to be drilled in three pairs with equal distance between them. Use a 1" drill bit to countersink the holes, thereby providing a depression for the bolt heads and washers to fit in. Now cover the base with the 34" fabric and use the staple gun to keep it in place.

Step 2: Preparing the Posts
We already cut the two 8'x2"x4" pieces of lumber into 4'-6", 2'-9", and a 9" length piece, thus, we have total six pieces of lumber to work with. Use the drill to drill two holes at the bottom of each piece of wood. Now take the 19" long 1x2" support we cut and attach it between the top portions of each post wood pair. Take the 9" pieces together and join them together. Then attach the 2'-9" pieces, and then the 4'-6" pieces. Join them together with nails. These have to be placed between the posts.

Step 3: Joining Base and Posts
Using the 3-1/2" lag bolts, join the posts to the base. Next take the 9" post assembly prepared and attach it to the base front by inserting a bolt through the washer first. After this take the previously prepared 2'-9" post assembly in the middle of the base piece. Finally take the 4'-6" post assembly and attach it to the rear of the base. While tightening the bolts, do not tighten them completely just now itself.

Step 4: Joining Support Shelf Perch
A rough framework of your cat tree is ready in step 3, which can be made to stand in an upright position. On either side of the post and the inside of the post clamp a 13" 1x2 between the 2'-9" and the 4'-6" posts. To allow the posts to align themselves freely and properly make sure the base bolts are not tightly bolted.

Next, keep the top of the 1x2 supports 21" over the base and level them. Further, take the 13"x19" shelf perch and place it flat on them. There should be no wobbling, thus, make sure you adjust the clamps and support 1x2's till the shelf attains flat position. Then using a screwdriver and 1-1/2" wood screws, screw them to the posts. Once this job is done, remove the clamps and screw the 13"x19" shelf to the 1x2 supports with the help of three screws on each side. Once can now tighten the base lag bolts.

Step 5: Join the Perches
Take one of the three curved pieces of Sono Tube that we initially cut and place it on top of the post assembly. Join it to the assembly using wood screws, with two screws in each of the 2x4 post. Similarly screw the other pieces to the posts and the perches have been attached. Have the perches covered with poly batting and the 24" piece of fabric using the staple gun. Do the same with the shelf perch.

Step 6: Post Covering with Sisal Rope
In order to cover the posts, one needs heavy wire brads which are to be wrapped from the bottom to the top of the post. Cut small pieces of the rope and individually attach them to the 1x2 shelf supports. This wrapping part happens to be a time-consuming process.

There are various cat tree plans available and the best part is you can add your own modifications to it. The above plan is a simple and basic way of constructing a cat tree for your cuddly pet. Hope your pet enjoys the cat tree you make for him or her!