On the Top of the cat tree waking up from a nap
When my husband and I moved into our first home, we ended up being gifted with two kittens from my aunt and uncle. Soon after bringing them home I noticed the cats had a problem with heights. By means of not staying off the table which we used as a desk and counter where we prepare food. I was completely not okay with this idea. So for their enjoyment and to sanction food surfaces as a "no cat zone" I set out to find a cat tree or cat tower to give them. I perused the stores for one that was tall and sturdy for when they got older. I mostly found ones with carpet covering the surface and usually were short. This concerned me because it would not satisfy my little gray calbi and her love of being up high. When I found what I liked it was sticker shock and I was just not willing to spend that much. For those cat tree’s covered in carpet, it was just a plan no.
Then I saw someone make one and cover it in sisal rope and I loved the idea and how it looked. The raw wood look was beautiful plus the organic look of the sisal rope was an appealing replacement for carpet. I looked into sisal rope and if it was safe for them to play with and I found it recommended due to the fibers being natural. Plus the functionality of easily being able to replace the rope later when they had scratched it to pieces. However the cat trees I found did not meet the expectations of what I wanted for them. So I started sketching out a design and my husband pitched in some ideas on how to make everything fit together. I finally had the idea together and went and bought the supplies. This was a time in our life where we just had our house with no shop or place to work. We stored our tools in our guest room on shelves. So I ended up working from our back porch to make my cuts I needed for the wood and constructed it inside the house. I guess the one beauty of this, We did not have to carry this tall, heavy and awkward shaped object into our house. This is one of my first carpenter projects and was when I realized I enjoyed designing projects and making them from scratch.
What you will Need:
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Wood listed under cut all the wood
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wood fluted dowel pins (I purchased this from harbor freight, try to stick with the same dowel size to make it easier, I used different sizes due to the assortment package I purchased but I don't recommend the headache this caused)
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Bottle of wood glue (I used Titebond original which is for indoors)
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(4) sisal rope rolls (I bought this at Walmart, hyper tough brand 100ft 1/4in)
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2 ½ in screws (zinc finish is fine for indoors, wood screws.)
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1 in wood screws
Cut all the Wood:
For the safety of your cats use all untreated wood due to the chemicals they put in treated wood and with it being indoors this should not cause a problem.
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(1) 8ft 4×4 post
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Cut one foot off which made the center post 7ft, this made my cat tree 87” in total height.
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(1) 8ft 2×2 for platform anchoring
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Cut into 4 pieces at 3 ½” and drill 2 holes on the same side evenly spaced along the long edge. See picture below for illustration.
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(1) 8ft 1×3 for platform support
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4 pieces at 24”, ends cut at an angle, this will go against the center post and at a diagonal brace under the platform.
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See picture below for illustration.
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Can use furring strip or regular
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(8) 8ft 2×4
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Cut 5 boards into 5 pieces at 19”
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Cut 2 boards into 3 pieces at 32”
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Cut 1 board into 3 pieces at 21”
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out the left over 2×4 cut 3 pieces at 5 ½” drill 2 holes on the same side along one of the short ends, spacing them evenly between the ends and each other. (this is for stairs between each middle platform)
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See picture above for illustration.
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Check your discount section in lumber to see if there are any materials to use. This is where I obtained a few of my boards.
To Assemble
For each of the platforms grab five of the 19” boards. Take the five boards and line them up with the long sides together, mark places for 3 dowel pins even spaced in each marriage line between boards. See illustration for a visual.
To get these 4 measurements use a measuring tape to get the depth of your 2×4. Since these boards are not actually 2” by 4” you will need to know their actual size should be close to 3 1/2” x 1 ½”. Start with the measurement for the depth which should land in the center such as 0.75” or 3/4”. Write this measurement down and use it for every hole you drill for the dowels in the platforms. Then pick 3 measurements evenly spaced down the length of the 19” side for where you will be placing the 3 dowels. So for my spacing I would come in 1 ½” from the end on both ends of the board and for the center hole I would place it at 9 ½”. Drill your holes in each side that the boards touch. 3 boards will be double sided while 2 boards only one side, leaving no holes on the sides that are facing out.
Wipe them off then Pour some glue in the holes and smear some glue along the sides that touch another board. Then push your dowel pin into the holes and push the 5 boards together. Wipe off excess glue that seeps out then clamp or use ratchet straps to hold the boards together to dry. Do the same for all 5 platforms. Let them sit for 24 hrs to bond or as the directions state on the wood glue instructions. If you end up with ink labels on your boards like I did, sand them lightly to remove the ink and make the platforms smooth for kitty paws.
This PDF gives a demonstration of depth and spacing for placement of dowels in platforms.
For the base, lay out your (6) 32” boards and mark the center 2 boards for the 4×4 post in the center of the length. Cut out the section for the post and do a dry fit before assembling the base that everything works together. Then lay them back down with the 2 boards cut for the 4x4 post in the center. Next slide the (3) 21” boards under like skids running perpendicular of the 32” boards and spread them out evenly under the (6) 32” boards. Make sure the center skid is directly under the opening for the 4x4 post to sit on. Then drill pilot holes in the 32” boards one on each end and one in the center where you will place a screw threw into the 3 skid boards. Keep the end screws away from the edge to help from creating cracks and drill pilot holes to help also not split your wood. I placed my screws about 2 in from the edge. Then sink all the screws in the base.
In the center where your 4×4 post will go drill 4 holes for dowel pins in the under lying skid. Same as before pour glue in the holes, smear glue on the surrounding boards that will touch the post then slide the post onto the dowels. Allow it to fully dry before proceeding.
Next measure out the height of the four platforms. 2 will sit on the right and 2 will sit on the left in an alternating pattern on the post helping keep the weight distributed. There will be one more that sits directly on the top the post. My Measurements starting from the top of the base to the bottom of the supporting 2×2 for each platform is 20”, 35”, 50”, 65”. Alternate the side the platform sits on the post to even out the weight. With the platform on the very top, it will sit closer to the next platform due to this it will not get a step and this helps the cats be able to climb up.
Starting from the base measure to the first point at 20” and take a 2×2 piece and hold it up and use a level to make sure it sits level against the post. Then holding it in place drill the holes. This hole should go all the way through the 2xw2 and into the post. Next put glue on the surface that will be against the post, put it in place and set your screws. Do the same for each of the 4 platform supports with their respective measurement. Then center the platforms on each 2×2 piece drill holes evenly through the top of the platform and into the 2×2 support and sink screws for each of the 4 platforms. Then for the top platform drill holes in the top of the post and center of the bottom of the platform lining them up for dowel pins, add glue and attached together with clamps or ratchet straps to dry.
For the 3 steps that go between the platforms in the middle, measure out a spot evenly between platform 1-4 and mark the post. Grab one of the 5 ½” cut 2x4 pieces with the 2 holes on one short side. Then line it up against the post in between one set of platforms and drill 2 holes to match in the post. This will be for the dowel pins to attach each step to the post. Pour glue into the holes and smear glue on the end that is against the post and place your dowel pins and press the step against the post. Then clamp or strap each of the 3 steps against the post to dry. Wipe off excess glue before it drys.
In between the platforms and steps using a glue gun and a construction stapler wrap the sisal rope, attaching the rope as you go around the post until you have covered the open spaces on the post. My rope was not continuous, I did sections to fill in the spots between what was attached to the post. I usually stapled the first part of the rope and used the hot glue to attach the center of the section and finish that section with a staple.
Lastly is the platform support 1×3, decide how you would like this support to sit and determine the angle you will cut the 1×3 ends. Place the board against the post and firmly under the platform. Drill 2 holes in the end along the post and sink the (2) 1” screws. For under the platform we sank one small cut off screw end which just had the threads into the wood and pushed it into a drilled hole in the bottom of the platform.
Add pillows, blankets, seat cushions or make beds to place on each platform for comfort.
I made modifications after this by using a 1x1 board to add support to the lowest level which helped the overall stability.
Also I made from an old mattress, foam cushions covered in pillow cases for each platform.
I did not have very many tools so my cuts are not perfect but I am to this day still satisfied with the cat tree and so are my cats especially the gray one. But from time to time we still find her in the strangest places, like the kitchen sink- sleeping or in the office on the file cabinet and then up on the shelves on the wall. She is my curious cat but the cat tree has really helped give her a place up high off the other surfaces. Plus this keeps my cats happy with a designated place to scratch that is not the furniture. They love scratching on the sisal rope, cats need a place to sharpen their claws and they do this naturally out in nature. I also gave them a scratching board which is horizontal and they use both. This gives them options. Giving our feline friends places to call theirs is important for their comfort and well being plus for the safety of our things and happiness living in the same environment together.
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