Our new Tree for $16!

I found a way to make a nice cat tower for only $16 (including tax )

I bought a plastic shelving unit from Home Depot for $14. It is sturdy on it's own, but I did some things to make it sturdier. This unit is made by the PLANO company and is made in the USA. There are flimsier look alike units out there, don't be fooled.

Jennie was on it as soon as I placed the first bed.



Mazy found it shortly after, as did Queen Eva



Once I put a bed on the top shelf, Mazy chose that one.



I put in a hammock, as I've always wanted one for the cats. Queen Eva claimed that immediately.



On the bottom shelf I placed four cases of canned cat food for stability. With a soft fleece blankie over the cans, and another hanging down as a curtain, it does dual purpose, storage and a cozy Fort.



The unit is also anchored to the wall in two places with hooks in the wall and strong bootlaces.

I also plan to wrap the poles to make scracthing/climbing posts. For now I am using cardboard (only one made so far) but hope to eventually cover some of them with sisal. I will put the sisal right over the cardboard as the poles are not very wide, the cardboard adds bulk.



Currently I am using their soft fleece blankies for beds. When it gets cold I will replace the blankies with their self-warming beds (that I make myself)


Tolly did not get on this Tree until last night.



I bought a roll of that non-slip shelf liner stuff at the dollar store to put under beds.

Total cost for the new cat tree $16. That will go up when I buy the sisal, but that won't be for a while. They will have to make do with cardboard and carpet remnants for now, as that is what I have on hand.

Happy cats, happy me, happy wallet

Thanks for the tip! I don't want to use sisal rope though because it sheds, AND because my hands aren't strong enough to wrap the rope tight enough.

I want to use sisal fabric. I will probably just pick up a couple sisal mat scratchers and use them. That won't be for a while though because the whole point of this project (so I could justify spending the $16 which was not in the budget) was that the only cost be the shelving unit. (and I cheated to get the non slip shelf liner at the dollar store)

I cut up some fleece and sewed straps (made of the same fleece) to each corner, and tied the straps to the poles, above the next shelf up, which holds the ties in place.

I always have a ton of fleece blankies, because I make my self warming cat beds out of them.

Fleece has a stretchy way and a non stretchy way. I took two pieces and put them together, each opposite of the other (stretchy/non stretchy) in the hopes that would keep the hammock from stretching and sagging too low.

Well it still does sag too low for any cat but Queen Eva so I have to either shorten the original square and re-sew the straps or support the bottom with a non-giving canvas with it's own straps. I've been eyeing an old canvas gym bag I have in the closet. I think that will do it.

Yeah, I've been pricing sisal. And that's the problem with the sisal cat mats too, made in China.

The cats do have one very sturdy made in USA sisal post (tall) with tunnel attached. They love it.

So they may have to settle for just cardboard and cut up retired throw rugs on their posts, as there is no money for anything else at the moment. As it is I had to give up my dried cherries for the month to fit in the cost of the shelving unit.

Worth the sacrifice of course.

Thank you! The reason I cut the fleece and put the pieces together is because the weave of the fabric is different depending on which way you are looking at it. The fleece blankets I use are 50 x 60 inches.

The 60 inch length is stretchy, the 50 inch width is not. In an effort to prevent the hammock from sagging too much from the stretchy side, I placed the two pieces of weave opposite ways. Not sure how much it helped, I still am going to have to support the bottom with something with less give I think, or take the straps off and shorten the hammock..

Thank you!

I make these self warming cat (and dog) beds. I use the inexpensive fleece blankets that always come out this time of year, in grocery stores and drug stores. Originally I stuffed them with old retired pillows, but I've long since run out of those, and have to purchase the filling. The beds are lined with space blanket material, which reflects body heat.

I use these inside:



They are all hand sewn. I've already done some sewing this year, I was worried about Queen Eva messing with the thread, but Tolly and Mazy are wonderful baby sitters and have kept her occupied.

pile of self warming beds


Tolly modeling an early (first year) bed


I send them to my special kitty friends at Christmas. Some I make specifically for a specific cat, others are made without a specific recipient in mind.

I've made them for dogs, too.

They take a long time to make because of my arthritic hands and wrists, I can only sew for about an hour at a time before needing a rest.

Thank you! I get that a lot (I should sell them) but if I sold them it would be work, not fun, you know?

All but two in the pile in the picture (they are from last year) were made with a specific cat in mind. The other two found homes too, one of them only just recently (I always like to have a couple extra on hand).

I do think, now and then, about making a pile and bringing them down to a craft fair but then...nah. I have enough work in my life already.

Besides, if people paid for them, they would have the right to complain about them. And if someone doesn't like my workmanship, I don't want to know.

I make them for love.

Not a dumb question and yes, I cut the space blanket to fit. I fold it so the reflective (shiny) side faces out on both sides of the bed.

I use two layers of fleece blanket, and stitch the reflective lining to the inner layers of fleece to keep it in place.

I love making them and have pictures of most of the cats and dogs I've sent them to, using their special beds. I cherish them.

I usually include a small swatch of the space blanket material so people understand what is in there.

I am careful to remind people to never put the beds in a clothes dryer, but they are machine washable with a gentle cycle, and air dry. The inside takes quite a while to dry because the reflective lining kind of holds the water in for a while.

Aww...thanks for the nice compliments. Your cats will love it. in the above post I added extra detail about how I make them (using two layers of fleece and stitching the reflective blanket in place to the inside layer of fleece etc)

The space blanket makes a nice crackly sound that cats love, too.

I put them away in summer.