Thinking about making a Cat Tree

[KenOfCary]

We've been feeding the cat on top of the washing machine and the German Shepherd keeps jumping up there and stealing her food. So I thought I might make a tall cat tree with a platform up high to feed her on. Needs to be sturdy or anchored to the wall to keep the dog from knocking it over.

Any ideas on design or tips on how to construct it are appreciated. I'm thinking just 2x lumber as it will mostly be covered with indoor/outdoor carpet and the wood will not be visible.

Just in the thinking stage at this point.

 

[Raymond]

Hey, Ken. Most cat trees are free standing but a google search turned up a lot of ideas.

cat tree indoors - Google Search

 

[Darl Bundren]

Maybe a series of small cat-appropriate shelves that lead up to the food platform? Mount them with french cleats. Ooooh, you could also make one of them a box for Kitty to snooze in when the dog's being an ass.

 

[NCGrimbo]

Easiest way to keep it from tipping is to anchor it to a stud in the wall. Or just make ledges up the wall that the cat can jump to.

 

[mpholway]

I just built the cat tree below out of cedar (outdoor use) for a customer. It is 6 feet high and 3 feet x 3 feet at the base.

 

[FredP]

Hmmm. Cat tree huh? Well, what kind of glue would you use? Just kidding Ken. Glad to see you back in a shop after the move

 

[KenOfCary]

I just built the cat tree below out of cedar (outdoor use) for a customer. It is 6 feet high and 3 feet x 3 feet at the base.

View attachment 227019

Like the design. How are the posts attached to the horizontal boards?

 

[KenOfCary]

Easiest way to keep it from tipping is to anchor it to a stud in the wall. Or just make ledges up the wall that the cat can jump to.

That won't be hard as the only open wall is an outside log wall. No need to find a stud.

 

[KenOfCary]

Maybe a series of small cat-appropriate shelves that lead up to the food platform? Mount them with french cleats. Ooooh, you could also make one of them a box for Kitty to snooze in when the dog's being an ass.

That's a good idea as the floor space in the laundry room is pretty much all used up. The only available wall space is an outside log wall so anchoring the shelves shouldn't be much of a problem.

 

[farmerbw]

Ken, I made this a while back for a friend with 2 cats. Used some cedar and cypress trunks, sisal rope, 2x4s, scrap plywood, and some leftover carpet.

Cat Tree

• farmerbw
• Dec 16, 2011

Cat Tree

• farmerbw
• Dec 16, 2011

Lower platform and bed covered

 

[prototype3a]

I've been trying to source the "sissal carpet" that is used on many commercial cat trees off and on for several years with no real luck.

Several years ago, I built a cat-tree-post using pieces and parts from various commercial options combined with my own framework made from scraps. If you have BIG cats like we do, I understand the desire to anchor it to a wall. Occasionally, our cats knock over my post despite it having a surprisingly large base.

 

[KenOfCary]

I've been trying to source the "sissal carpet" that is used on many commercial cat trees off and on for several years with no real luck.

Several years ago, I built a cat-tree-post using pieces and parts from various commercial options combined with my own framework made from scraps. If you have BIG cats like we do, I understand the desire to anchor it to a wall. Occasionally, our cats knock over my post despite it having a surprisingly large base.

Not so worried about the cat tipping it over, but the Shepherd when she tries to get to where the food will be. The Shepherd can jump about 6' in the air as evidenced by the nose marks on the back sliding glass door.

 

[DSWalker]

Ken, we also feed our cats on top of the washer. Luckily, our 3 dogs haven't figured out the jump up for a snack idea.

Below are some floating shelves I made for our cats. We have tongue and groove walls behind the drywall, so 3-4 kreg pocket holes were plenty to hold them up with a 3" screw. They've been up at least a year and are holding tight.

Sounds like you have a good wall for something similar. You could make one a little oversized to feed from. They seem to appreciate the carpet scraps when jumping/landing for extra grip or the occasional cat nap.