Let's See Your Cats!!!

The cats are loving the tree I built for them a few weeks ago. The older one takes daily naps on the top platform. She seems to enjoy high places...hence the reason I made it so tall.



The kitten mostly just plays on it....leaping, jumping, climbing.

 

We have those break-free collars on our cats, if they get hung up on something and pull just a bit, the collar unsnaps and comes off. I think it's a good idea even for indoor cats, they can get regular collars hung up on anything

 

Nice, we were looking at new trees for our cats earlier this month...freakin things are expensive at the pet store. It dawned on me, why the hell don't I make one myself lol. It's just wood and carpet

 

We wanted a tall one. Had a tough time finding that. My wife said....just build one. Ok, I will.

A sheet of 3/4" high density particle board (heavy and strong) for the base and platforms.

Some 2x4s to make the mast and backing uprights for the platforms.

Some indoor/outdoor carpet...stapled on.

And some rope wrapped around the bottom 18" or so for some scratching fun.

A combination of 2.5" and 3" decking screws.

All bought at Lowes.

 

Yeah I was also thinking of doing it myself because most places seem to sell ones that have staples in them, and our cats tend to scratch the carpet down to where the staples are exposed, which can be dangerous

 

You can find them on sale time to time. We have a 5ft tall 2 tier tree that we got for $68 a few years ago. I’d make one myself but I don’t have time, and at $68 fully assembled for a fairly large tree whose materials would roughly cost me the same plus my time, it was acceptable. Sometimes stores like HomeGoods if you have one of those will have them for good deals, or even Costco/Sams.

 

“You can’t see me!”

 

True. But I only stapled it in places they don't really make contact with it.

Few more pix.




The top shelf's left corner is cut off to allow them to jump up on to it from the 3rd platform.

 

thats cheap actually...The ones Ive seen are over $110
https://north40.com/classy-kitty-mini-penthouse-with-swinging-tunnel-73-5

 

I think I paid about $20 for a 4'x8' sheet of the 3/4" particle board.

Four 6' 2x4s....$10-$12 or so.

I believe the carpet was $20.

Already had the screws. So figure $50 or so and 5-6 hours build time...half of that attaching the carpet.

Plus it's very heavy, solid and rugged...especially compared to some of the rickety ones we looked at the store.

 

Lol I just realized you have pretty much the same couches as me and also have cat tape on the arm sections. I can relate. Are they microfiber also lol?

 

My cats laughed at the tape... and the scent spray their not supposed to like.

 

This is the reason I can’t have a Christmas tree. My Sophie doesn’t give a crap about scent spray, citrus/orange peels, physical blockades, etc.

Though she does abide by the tape.

 

Not really sure what they. They have a textured finish that is kind of microfiber like

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-your-cats.449008/page-207#post-19234228

 

That’s amazing. I will need to try this next year! Both of mine aren’t deathly afraid of the vacuum but I’d bet cranking up all the sudden would surely scare them.

 

They set it off a total of 3 times the 1st evening. That was the Friday after Thanksgiving. Not a peep since then.

No damage to some of the wife's ornaments. No cord chewing. No yelling. Everyone is at peace.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lets-see-your-cats.449008/page-208#post-19236765

 

The one I built is pretty beefy too, but no photos right now and it has to be recarpeted in a few weeks.

 

Just a little update on our kittens, Annabelle and Lexi. They love adventuring outside together, and they've learned how to climb trees (they go up a more easily than they come down).
It's also funny because our older cat usually makes sure to watch them when they go out and keep them in her sight. On that note, Kitty Boo (the older cat ~9 years old) has definitely come out of her shell just like she did when we had Bella, but she's still a little anxious and nervous like she's always been. She's also started to sleep at the foot of my bed every night, which she hasn't done in a while.