Who has built their own cat tree?

all it took was some 4X4s,plywood,carpet,sisal rope,dowel rod,old pillows with some jean material stapled over it--and we used L brackets to attach the base with the perches.

My DH and I made one for Rosalie (since we only had her at the time) in Nov. It's nothing big and fancy but it was VERY easy to make and relatively cheap. We got the carpet free (went to a carpet place expecting some random scraps and they gave me enough of a roll that I still have a TON left over!) I got the roll that they use for the carpet, we already had a roll of twine and spray adhesive (why, I have no clue, lol) and the 2 planks of wood were only about 5$. We had to buy staples for the staple gun and a new blade for the jigsaw, but all in all we spent about 15$. Here's some pics.

wrapping the pole in twine (this is the part that took the longest to do)


measuring the whole on the top piece.


stapling the carpet to the box (it was just wide enough so we just wrapped it around and stapled it all over the place)


putting on the top.


Finished product


Rosalie enjoying it (she still does NOT go inside except to get her toys out then she puts them back in when she's done, lol)


playing with the toy we added, which has since been pulled off, LOL!



I'm eventually going to make another for both cats and this one will get donated to the local shelter.

We built our own. It was around $100 when it was all done. We had to buy some tools, and had Lowes cut some of the wood for us. We bought sisal, faux fur, got some carpet remnants, and used concrete tubes to make the curved loungers. We built it in 2007.



When it warms up, my husband is going to make some stairs and perches for other spots in our house. My oldest needs steps to get up to high spots he likes to go. I think my in-laws mentioned they would like a perch too.

These are some really great cat trees!

Originally Posted by crittermom

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Are those "treated" 4x4's? If so, do a little google checking on them.

nope--not treated.Made sure of that when we got them.

Originally Posted by crittermom

nope--not treated.Made sure of that when we got them.

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Treated? Like pressure treated? Should I avoid that sort of wood? Was thinking of going to Lowe's tomorrow and buying the base and posts to make a frame. What is the best kind of wood to get?

pressure treated lumber is supposed to be bad for cats.If they claw,and then lick thier paws,the chemicals on the pressure treated lumber--can make them sick.
Ask for NON treated lumber.

I have been inspired to build my own cat tree as well. I have been looking around to buy one but I have to make sure there's enough perches for everybody, or buy more than one, since they don't always like to share. I threw out the old one, which was made primarily of cardboard covered in carpet, after Missy sprayed it. No possible way to get the smell out, since soaking it with an enzyme cleaner would have ruined the cardboard frame. I have drawn out some sketches of what I want and future DH is going to build it for me. His dad has lots of scrap wood and an entire roll of leftover carpet so it will be virtually cost-free for us. We will have to buy sisal rope or twine because I want to wrap all the posts entirely in that. I will try to post pics afterwards, since what I have in mind is going to be a masterpiece once completed!

I posted this elsewhere, because I couldn't find this thread.

The ugliest cat tree in the world. Made from scrap carpet, scrap lumber...and a tree!

Originally Posted by mrblanche

I posted this elsewhere, because I couldn't find this thread.

The ugliest cat tree in the world. Made from scrap carpet, scrap lumber...and a tree!

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It's terrific. they are ALL terrific, every homemade tree or play center I've seen here is just wonderful!

(I can't remember where I posted this already, but a cat play center can be made out of cardboard boxes if you haven't got anything else. Just get some sturdy boxes and duct tape them together in a creative way, cutting holes here and there for crawl through spots, and leaving space for sitting or curling up. )

Originally Posted by mrblanche

The ugliest cat tree in the world. Made from scrap carpet, scrap lumber...and a tree!

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Not ugly at all! And and excellent use for a trunk which might otherwise be hauled off.

How did you secure the platforms to the tree trunk? (Hoping you'll say "sheetrock screws" 'cause I've got loads 'em left over from various other projects. They are the duct-tape of the metal fastener world .)

Got a 5 or 6" limb that's going to have to come down this spring, this would be a perfect use for it. I've gotten some great ideas from this thread. Thanks to all who posted!

Originally Posted by bedweary

How did you secure the platforms to the tree trunk? (Hoping you'll say "sheetrock screws" 'cause I've got loads 'em left over from various other projects. They are the duct-tape of the metal fastener world

.)

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heehee, it's like looking in a mirror. If duct tape won't hold it, I turn to the sheet rock screws!

I built one once and was extremely full of myself for doing it. It lasted 43 minutes. I built another one with a hole in it so they could crawl through it and my 11 lb boy got stuck in it. So those days are over. Now I just throw a box on the floor and Bella plays for hours with it.