Homemade cat trees?

I'm not positive if this is the right place for this post. Sorry if its not! I know some on here have built cat trees. I was wondering if anyone had a good website or something on how to build your own. Also what were your experience with them? Were they easy to make? How much did it cost? I conned my little brother into agreeing to build me one for the kitties. But I need to know how. He thinks he knows about how to do it but wants me to choose what I want it to be like. I really have no idea other then for it to have alot of things for them to play with. And to be able to climb high. Thanks

I've never built our own, but I know John really wants to. I do know that LuckyGirl (Heather) had her husband build a really awesome one for their 2 cats!

There is a website, with some DIY plans you can buy. They're so cool!!!!! If my cats were indoor cats I would so make some!!

http://www.cattreeplans.com/

hmmm i cant be much help because I have been wondering the same thing for a while as well so I am glad that you made this post you may have helped me out as well I really wanna either buy bella and stormie one or make one but I dont know, which would be cheaper? Money differences things like that lol !!

Amber, my DH made them two. I printed out a TON of cat tree pics from the web to give him ideas, and he went & got a bunch of stuff to make it. I'd follow these steps, and if your brother has some normal carpentry skills he should be fine. We spent a total of $100 for 2 very large cat trees, and a giant beam to go from one to the other (which they LOVE I might add!).

1, make a plan....pick out one that you want him to make.
2, measure your space....if you only have ceiling so high he needs to know, and width & depth too, give him what you want the criteria to be.
3, have him make a blue print picture.....draw it out, with measurements of each section (ours is 3 levels high)
4, get materials....1-2 sheets of plywood (depending of your sizes) and 2x4's etc.


**the other thing is, we had 2 small tables that were junk, the small triangle table DH used for the top level of 1 of the cat trees, he covered it in carpet and secured it on top....maybe if you could find some old end tables at a salvation army or something, those could be cut smaller and covered in carpet.....

Here are the links to the pics threads of my 2:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=105872
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=106264

Shawn and I made ours and we have about $35.00 in it.
Here's my post about it.
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...ight=cat+trees

Let me know if I can help in any way.

Also, I saw some at Wal-Mart today for $50.00!

If there is a store that sells woodworking equipment and if its a well stocked store they may carry plans to build furniture and other items. There is such a store in Green Bay and they had a plan build a cat house. I didn't check it there was a website listed on this companie's plans.

No advice here, but just wanted to wish you good luck, and don't forget to show us the final product if you do make one

Thanks everyone! I have been looking at different trees online and have printed some pics up and see if you could comebine a few of the looks. Zacky boy is really good at that kinda stuff. Hes only 15 but is already being taught carpentry by a friend of my parents because he saw something that Zack made. So it will give him some practise on bigger things. He's really excited about it. And so am I!

Make sure to show us some pics of it when he gets it done!!!