Whenever possible, attach platforms that extend over two or more posts to make your cat tree even more stable and secure. Yes, as long as the metal ladder is safe for the cat to climb on. As our cats old scratching post and platform was to be the central piece, building the cubbyhole around it I started by placing the scratching post upside down on top of the top panel of cubbyhole.
Use your imagination when it comes time to paint. It is recommended to get a firm platform and screw it down tightly to your house. ", "The order of instructions helped a lot.". For safety the cat tree must be bolted, using coach bolts, and not just screwed down. How to Make a Cat Tree Stable. If you want to share some pointers or tips or find this post helpful, please comment below.
Although this step has nothing to do with your cat tree’s stability, it is still a vital part of keeping the cat tree safe for your pets. This new breed of cat initially, initially feral in the state of Maine, due to their size and strength are excellent hunters who naturally played a big role in keeping vermin under control on farmsteads so not surprisingly close bonding between farmers and cat and eventual domestication was a forgone certainty. Make sure that the rope will not come loose from the cat tree. After you buy your materials, cut them to the appropriate size according to your design by using a handsaw for dimensional lumber, or a circular saw for plywood. Advertisement. The cat tree should be able to handle your cat’s weight.
A piece of canvas, denim, or other sturdy fabric you can use to create a hammock between the two bottom rungs, A toy that hangs from a piece of rope or string, Sisal rope to wrap around the legs of the ladder. Anyone who has a Maine Coon cat as a pet for the first time will soon come to realize what a challenge their weight and size can be in finding suitable cat toys and activity centres that are big enough and strong enough to support their weight and size. Flip over the base and hold it on top of the post. ", "Unique design, and can build with little knowledge of wood work! Use at least two in order to support the first platform of the cat tree—you can add as many posts as you want to build multiple levels. All rights reserved. For this I decided to add a piece of timber between the base and the bottom platform as an extra support and as I had already used the base from their original scratching post I decided I would use the scratching post itself as the outer cover to the additional support. A much simpler solution was to use the base of the original scratching post as the replacement platform. Otherwise, you can move on and start building the top of your cat tree. You will need to install two to three brackets at the post’s top and bottom. If you want to, you can cover the legs entirely with rope, from top to bottom, using a new piece of rope between each rung of the ladder. ", and I have the tools and these directions are wonderfully clear! Also, as he grew he quickly became far too big and heavy for the platform so it wasn't' long before it broke under his weight. Many thanks! Unique Cat Trees - You'll Simply Love The Designs! Wrap the twine very tightly around and around the post until you get to the top. We may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service. If it has a ledge at the bottom, weight it down with several large rocks. Some crafty builders use actual tree limbs to give kitty a place to climb, but you can stick to 2x4s to attach posts. The cat trees with large base are great for stability purposes. Instead of painting the platforms, you can make them more comfortable for you cat by covering them in carpet, attaching it to to the platforms after nailing them into place. Make sure that the cat tree you have is more stable. Shape the plywood similar to its base, then attach them to the cat tree base. DoItYourself.com®, founded in 1995, is the leading independent Before purchasing materials or starting to build, you need a design plan, which you can sketch out on a piece of paper to determine your materials shopping list. These heavy-duty cardboard tubes make great perches and tunnels for cats. Finally, attach your personalized vertical supports and horizontal perches to the base using screws or glue, and cover them with carpet to finish the tree. Design your cat tree. For more information on managing or withdrawing consents and how we handle data, visit our Privacy Policy at: https://maven.io/company/pages/privacy, Using timber inside a tube from an old scratching post for additional support to a cat tree, Pushing the timber through the middle of an old scratching post to push out the old top fitting, Cut to the right size the old scratching post can be screwed by the timber in the middle into place on the cat tree as additional support, Heavy weight of Maine Coon cat pulled bolt fitting through MDF platform, Bolt fitting pulled through MDF platform by weight of Maine Coon cat, Platform for cat tree fixed and strengthened with metal plating, Cat cubbyhole and activity centre made from scrap wood and old cat scratching posts, Old cat scratching post utilised as activity centre in new cubbyhole, turned upside down to screw to top of cubbyhole, DeWalt tools used to cut back and side panels to size and cut slot for dangly cat toy to fit through back of cubbyhole, Slot cut in back of cubbyhole to accommodate dangly cat toy, Sub-base fixed to base of cats cubby hole to tie old scratching post into sides and back of cubbyhole, Cat activity centre cubbyhole complete and ready for bolting to base of cat tree. We bought the cat tree on the strength of that review and sure enough it is a strong construction (for the most part), and although well suited for ordinary domestic housecats does wobble a little (like a tree) when Greebo is on the top platform; but sturdy enough so as not to topple.
She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. References A very tall ladder my be less stable or too tall for your cat. This platform does not have to be square or rectangular in shape, though this is common. When we first had Greebo and Dippy (brother and sister) as kittens we were told they were half Maine Coon but didn't fully appreciate the significance of this until Greebo (who takes after his father) grew too big to fit through the cat flap. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom! Make a Scratching Post for the Cat Perso... Make a Scratching Post for the Cat Person (or the Cat) in Your Life. Only $9.95. Check the cat tree by wiggling it a bit and observe it if it wobbles.