Manfre

Cat Tower

Since I threw out all of the cats’ furniture (and most of my own) during the move, I figured I could at least afford some new stuff for the cats. Everything I saw at Alissa’s pet store was way over priced and no single piece looked like it would be enjoyable for the cats. Each had good qualities, but overall they were not worth the $80+ price tag (after the employee discount). A few hours of web surfing gave me an idea of how to create my own.

Using the abundance of cardboard still in our apartment, we’ll find a recycling place soon (I hope), Alissa and I created prototypes. Here is the one I made, which is also a scale model. I spent way too much time putting that together. For future reference, using toothpicks as the posts and not making this a scale model would have sped up the design process.

This design was discarded because I didn’t think the tube would provide a sturdy support for the top platform. I also lacked the power tools necessary to cut the hole in the center platform. I was gifted corded power tools this thanksgiving (spares that my dad will no longer need) so I can do more elaborate designs in the future.

Hardware Needed

• (1) 2“x4“x8’ Stud Quality
• (1) 2’x4’x1/2” Plywood
• (6) Connecting Screws 7mmx50mm – Pointed tip and hex key
• (1) 12” concrete forming tube (only need about 20”)
• 50’ 3/8 Sisal Rope
• Enough carpet to cover all platforms and the outside of the tube. Make sure you leave enough overlap around the edges.
• Mini hot glue gun with about 10 sticks (sold in packs of 24 sticks). The mini is easier to maneuver inside the tube for the center hole.
• A drill with 1/4” bit.
• Scissors that can cut your selected carpet.
• A saw for making notches for the platforms.
• measuring device
• pencil

Build Steps

Cut the 2×4 in to (2) 3’ and (1) 2’ sections. I had this done for free at home depot. I didn’t have power tools when I purchased and it made it so I could fit it in my car. Ideally, the (2) 3’ pieces should be 4-6” short of 3’, but that requires more cutting that home depot will not do.

Cut the 2’x4’x1/2” in half and then cut one of the 2’x2’ pieces in half again. I purchased (1) 2’x2’x1/4” piece instead and (1) 1’x4’x1/2” from the oops rack. The 1/4” piece has turned out too be a little too flimsy and I recommend using 1/2” to 3/4” for the base. Home Depot has an oops rack in the lumber section near their cutting machine. This has all the leftovers and reject cuts from prior customers, similar to what they have in the paint section. The wood on the oops rack is really cheap and perfect sized for smaller projects.

Using a saw or serrated knife, cut a 22” length of the concrete forming tube. Cut a 6-8” diameter hole in the side of the tube. This is how your cat will enter the tube and should be large enough for your cat to fit through. The hole will represent the front of the tube.

Measure and cut carpet for each platform and the tube. There should be 1-2” of extra carpet for each edge and the overlap around the tube. The extra will be hot glued to the backs of the platforms and inside the tube.

Drill 1/4” screw holes.

• Drill hole in the center of each section of 2“x4”.
• Drill a hole 5” from the center of the 2’x2’ base platform and in one of the 2’x1’ platforms (this is now the top platform). This hole will represent the front of the structure.
• Measure 14.5” towards the back of the base and mark it. Drill a hole 6.25” left and right of the mark. These will line up with the taller back legs.
• Drill (2) holes in the bottom of the tube. Each should be 6.25” from the center (4.75” from the edge). The hole should be angled down slightly.

Notch the legs.

• Cut a 3/4” deep notch in to one of the thin sides of each of the legs starting about 12” from the base. The height of the notch should be about 0.75-1”, depending on the thickness of your carpet. It’s okay to make the notch slightly taller than the platform’s thickness. When the legs are standing, the notches will point towards the center of the structure. These will hold the middle platform.
• Next you will make a 3/4” notch on the inside of the (2) taller legs at 2’ up (height of smaller leg). Place the taller legs next to each other with the existing notches facing up. Mark the base of the next notch at the top of the 2’ leg. Put an “L” on the left piece and an “R” on the right piece. Cut a notch on the right side of the “L” piece and the left side of the “R” piece. The notches will face each other and will be responsible for holding up the back end of the top platform.

Plug in the hot glue gun so it can start to warm up. They normally need up to 5 minutes.

Screw the top platform to the top of the short leg. The top is slightly closer to the notch. The notch should be pointed towards the back of the center of the platform. This step can be done after attaching the carpet, but then the screw will be visible.

Attach the carpet to the platforms:

• For each flat piece, center the wood over the carpet. Slightly lift up a side of the piece and put a few dots of glue about 1” from the edge. Press it down for about 30 seconds so the glue holds. Lift the opposite edge and put more dots about 6” from the already glued edge and press down. Work quickly so the glue doesn’t dry before you press down the wood. Repeat until the carpet is attached to the full underside.
• At the corners, make (2) cuts that are 90 degrees from each other. Each cut will extend along an edge of the piece, but will not remove the corner flap.
• For each edge, fold the flap of carpet over the edge and glue it in place.
• For each corner, fold the corner piece of carpet over and glue in place.
• Cut a small hole in the carpet covering the drill holes, if any.

Note: You can use staples to secure the carpet to the underside of the plywood.

Attach the carpet to the tube:

• Roll carpet around the tube so that the edges of the carpet line up. Line up the overlap so it is towards the bottom and back of the tube.
• Glue the bottom piece of overlapped carpet to the tube.
• Glue the top piece of overlapped carpet to the tube.
• For each end of the tube, wrap the carpet inside the tube and glue in place. Work in small sections at a time and make sure the glue holds in the section before continuing on to another section.
• Cut a the carpet over the hole. Working from the center of the hole, cut 6-8 slices towards the edge of the hole. Fold back each slice and glue it in place.
• Cut a small hole in the carpet covering the drill holes.

Attach the legs to the base with screws. All the legs will have their thin side lined up towards the front and all notches should be towards the inside of the base. The top platform should rest in the inside notch off the back legs.

Slide the center platform in between the legs along the lower notch.

Screw the tube to the top of the back legs.

Push down on each platform to make sure it is resting securely along the bottom of the notches. Apply glue in notches to prevent platforms from shifting.

Attach sisal to front leg. Glue an end of the sisal to the bottom of the front leg. Wrap the sisal tightly up the leg. Every few, lightly tap the sisal down using a hammer (or the handle of a screw driver). Use glue every so often to secure sisal rope to the leg. 50’ of rope will cover about 22”.

Posted 01:45AM | | Hobby