DIY Cat Tree Advice

mithrilrider

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Hi, this is my first post. I will soon be getting a cat and wanted to build a cat tree to save money and for fun. I made a design, but not exactly knowing much about cat trees, I though I should post the design for some helpful ideas from others. It will be carpeted also, although I'm not sure how to do that part. If anyone has advice on that also, it'd be great. Thanks.
 

bigorangemenace

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O_O I think they use really big staples to put the carpet into the wood, and then use a pointy object to pull the flattened carpet fibres out from under the staple so it looks better. They might use glue or nails too. That is a really cool design! :p There was a post around here somewhere where these people make and sell these things for really cheap. Making your own is cool but if the costs of the supplies get too high you might opt to buy one. I dont remeber the thread but it is in this forum. Its about cat trees
they ahve really cool ones.
Oh, a differnet idea instead of just puting carpet on the two by four connector parts, you can get that kind of yarnish stuff cats like to scratch? that thread shows alot fo designs with the yarnish stuff on it. cats love it :p
I would suggest maybe taking that grey thing otu under the mouse toy though? this way your cat(s) will be able to get at and play with the mouse better :p Maybe you could make something like a curved tunneL? :O Like if you take that grey platform off and extend the tunnel up so it comes out just before the platform with the mouse above it? that would be cool. But thats just something I would like if I were making a cat tree. I have a feeling the swing at the top might be too small also! Because you wont want to make the box with the hole in it all THAT large. And trust me, some cats get fat. Maybe instead of the swing below, turn the top platform into a kind of swing/platform. By taht I mean like some of the ones you can attatch to your window? It wont be as flat and hard, the cat will be able to sit in it nicer. Unless you build it REALLY REALLY BIG, that swing will be good fora kitten but not a cat. (you could also make the swing detachable, and maybe splurge for a bit fuzzier softer carpet to go on the platform just under the swing, so that if your cats get too big for it, they can lay on teh soft carpet. cats love soft things :p Hope that helps you a bit ^_^ Oh and cats dont really care what kind of carpet is on there, but I think the extra soft carpet would be a good idea
SOrry if I confused you in any way! Lol!

Welcome to TCS btw ^_^ Are you a carpenter? Or just a one (or maybe more time) cat tree building tyupe person thingy XD
 

bigorangemenace

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http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51819 Here is the link to it (though its only like five or six questions down lol) O_O THey do give good ideas. I like how they are cheap, but I would have to see one for myself and be able to feel it before I bought it because ithey do seem a bit.. flimsy to me. I know they probably arent, and are well made, but I would still ahve to check them out
anyways hope that helps too :p if nothing else maybe it will give you some ideas.
 

rosehawke

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Originally Posted by MithrilRider

Hi, this is my first post. I will soon be getting a cat and wanted to build a cat tree to save money and for fun. I made a design, but not exactly knowing much about cat trees, I though I should post the design for some helpful ideas from others. It will be carpeted also, although I'm not sure how to do that part. If anyone has advice on that also, it'd be great. Thanks.
Neat design! On the right though, you're going to need more support than just the two 2x4's, I'd suggest putting a 3rd in the middle next to the tube. Also that tube is not strong enough to support the weight you're putting on it, so you'll need another 2x4 supporting the shelf on the left also.

And welcome to TCS!
 

tourmaline

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Hi, I made my own cat tree and the supplies are suprisingly expensive! I used a hot glue gun to adhere the carpet to the wood and tubing. It worked well and there are no potential staples for the cats claws or feet to get caught on. I would not recommend using staples. I screwed all the pieces together. You have to be careful with some types of carpet and using a drill by the way. If it is nomral carpet its fine, but with the carpet that has little balls in it (folded over fibers) they get all twisted and tangled in the drill. For that type of carpet I used nails. I of course had both types of carpet. I would recommend the normal fluffy type since its handy to drill through and the cats seem to like it better. The other material is sissel rope. That is glued on. My other piece of advice is that the whole structure has to be stable. If they knock it over and get scared they may not like it anymore. Good luck!
 

pam morgan

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Nice design. Higher is better for young cats but this is nice for older cats where them jumping from high levels is not good.
 
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