Constructing a Cat Tree for Your Pet

It is almost always a must to have a cat tree if you own a cat. But there are times when it just wont work out into the budget to buy a cat tree. Do not worry yourself. You do not need to buy the cat tree, just make one. The required materials might already be in your own backyard (or might be in your neighbors, that is). Making your own cat tree will surely save you lots of bucks. 

Consider the design of your cat tree first. Would you want to have two or three-layer cat tree? One of the good things about creating your own is that you can decide on its particulars. You can make the design of the cat tree suit the distinctive qualities of your cat. Be creative when selecting the design. For the color, you can select one that suits your cat. The personal connection between you and your cat will grow stronger. You should also make sure that the size will fit the location you want to put the cat tree. The design of the cat tree is important for it demonstrates how much you love your cat. Remember, it is not just anybody else's cat tree; it is your cats we are designing here. That is why you have to put more heart into creating the design. 

Analyzing the structure of the design is the next step. Consider what kind of workout your cat needs and whether your cat tree can provide this. Make sure that your cat tree can serve a lot of functions; otherwise, your cat wont get the health benefits that a cat tree ought to provide. The layers of the cat tree should have an elevation that will make the cat jump high enough for exercise but not too vertical that it will endanger the cat. The scratching post is necessary in a cat tree because this is where your cat will be scratching. Without a scratch post, you may find your cat scratching on your valued furniture. The cat tree is as much as a relaxation place for your cat as it is a gym. There should be areas for it to perch on. In any case, your main objective in building a cat tree is to provide your cat a healthy place for it to have fun and to relax. 

After analyzing the design, know the materials that you are going to use. These are the most basic things but you can add some more depending on your design. 

Fake fur 
Carpet rolls or tubes or other cylindrical boxes 
Screws for wood 
Box nails 
Scrap of lumber 
Pieces of plywood 
Sisal rope (used to make scratching post) 
Sonotube for the perches 
Catnip (aka catmint or catswort) 
Toys for cats 

If you know the right place to get these materials, you can have them just for a few bucks. You can even have them free of charge because some of them might already be in your stock room. If there is a carpet warehouse near you, you can ask to buy some carpet tubes. Sometimes, they even give these for free because most of them consider these as trash. 

Next, arrange your tools. You will use hammer, tape measure, saw, drill, screw driver, pencil, wood glue and glue gun. You can now start building your cat tree. 

The base of the tree is the first on the list of things to build. Create the posts next. Attach the posts to the base of the cat tree. Then, arrange the perches and make them secure. Get the sisal rope and coil it around one post to make a scratching post. Decorate the cat tree with cats toys. 

When you are done constructing the cat tree, it is time to inspect if it is safe enough for your cat to use. Slivers of wood, pieces of nail, or any pointed objects have to be removed for they can do harm to your cat. Finally, put some catnip in the cat tree so your cat will come near it. 

It may take around 5-7 days to build one cat tree. You carpentry skills as well as your schedule are the real factors to look at when it comes to time. If you use your creativity, you will be able to build the perfect cat tree for your beloved pet.