How to make a good cat tower?

Question

I can't believe how much these things cost, so I decided to make one. I need some good plans and some supplies that I could use. Does anyone know if I can get some 17" tubing or legs that are already round?

Answer 1

go wander around your local home supply store and check out the concrete forms. they are plenty strong enough for a cat but can be worked with easily. remember stability is key...

Answer 2

I've made 2 and offer my suggestions.

Certainly the store bought are pricey, and I'll assume you can guess why.

My first was crafted around an old Wooden coat tree. It had stability already and I added a base made of 1/2 inch plywood. Over that I put an appropriate size cardboard tube, then installed SHELVES kind of like a circular staircase, with brackets, and did SISAL rope all the way up. The shelves and base I covered with cheap indoor/outdoor carpet from HD. To have more flex in any carpet and if your budget allows you can use bathroom carpets.

All my ex's cats love it still, nearly 10 years later.

The second I built was similar but I used an old Torchiere for the base structure, and added all the extras as explained above, though the shelving/steps/ laying places had to be afixed differently.

Consider this from a Cats point of view. A high perch and alternates, perhaps large cardboard tubes cut in half acting as cradles, a Hammock of heavy Muslin or canvas, a BOX at the base perhaps with portholes large enough of ingress and egress, and carpet/sisal as two finishing substances for the actions of a cat.

Stability and height are your choice. Certainly the bottom can be weighted to allow that it won't tip, or it can be attached to a ceiling, as some offer, to allow non tip.

You can get tubing at an HD or Lowes, often used as concrete pour forms. You can get smaller dimensions as well, and from carpet stores where you might ask about discarded, especially where you may BUY carpet from.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

Buy you a 4/4 board and cut about 7 ft length .

Then get a staple gun and staple a nice carpet rug piece properly measured to fit around the board and put a perch on top. Cats love them.

You can then get a post hole digger and put the bord about 2 feet deep outsdie in the yard and the Cat can play.
If you want it inside the house I would use a 3/4 ply square cut about 2 by 2 and nail it to the bottom of the post and keep the length about 4 ft this way the Cat can;'t tip it over./

Answer 4

Here's some more plans...

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/5421/forest.htm

http://amby.com/cat_site/cattree.html

I also had a friend who made his own. He used an old 25gallon bucket, carpeted it inside and out, put it on it's side and screwed it into the large post running up the center or his tree. I believe he also had a small ledge it sat on for extra support. And I think he cut a whole in the top (which was actually the side of the bucket) for kitty to have another access hole. The main idea is a sturdy base, places to sit and climb on and to scratch (rope, carpet, etc). Let you imagination run!

Answer 5

Check your local carpet store where they sell carpet off the roll. Also check the swimming pool shops for tubes. As for plans for cat trees and towers, check your library for books to take out. Good luck...

Answer 6

Here, you can dowload plans for some really nifty-looking towers (but I think it costs money to order the plans): http://www.cat-tree-plans.com/

Here is someone's personal description of how they built their own cat tower: http://www.43things.com/entries/view/259139

Here is a detailed step-by-step guide with photos. You can also download this person's plans for free. http://www.ronhazelton.com/howto/cat_tree.htm

Hope that helps! Good luck...

Answer 7

Go to hope depot, they should have it. You could also ask them if they have ones that they cut for customers, and then the customer did not want it, you'd be surprised at the paints and different things you can find real cheap, just for asking.

Answer 8

Here is the best site. I uses a 4x4 with carpet and a pole.

Answer 9

couldn't you use good sturdy PVC pipe and cover it with carpet.