How to Make a Carpeted Cat Tower
The most complex part of building a carpeted cat tower is ensuring that the unit is balanced correctly. Note the sizes of the materials used in the project if you intend to make any adjustments or add more pieces to the unit.
A cat tower can be very useful as well as fun for a cat, providing an acceptable place to scratch or sharpen the claws and a safe, enjoyable toy.
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Things You'll Need
- 18" x 24" piece of 3/4" plywood
- 18" x 22" piece of 3/4" plywood
- 24" length of 4" x 4" fence post
- 2 units: 24" length of 1" x 3" pine
- 10 units: 3" x #8 wood screws
- 10 units: 1 1/4" x #6 wood screws
- 3 square yards carpet
- Measuring tape
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Staple gun
- Utility knife
- Pencil
Instructions
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Creating the Base
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1
Take the 18 inch by 24 inch length of plywood. On the long sides, place the 24 inch strips of pine 1/4 inch from the edge of the plywood. Using five of the 1 1/4 inch x #6 wood screws on each strip of pine, secure the pine to the bottom of the plywood. Ensure that the screws are evenly spaced on each side.
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2
Measuring from the short end of the plywood, mark 3.5 inches in from the edge. This mark represents the distance from the edge for the vertical piece of the structure. Measure 9 inches from the long edge of the plywood to determine the middle point. Drill one of the 3 inch x #8 wood screws through this point, which will go into the center of the 2-foot-long fence post. When the middle screw is secured in the post, use four additional 3 inch x #8 wood screws to anchor each corner of the post to the bottom of the structure.
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3
Using the 18 inch x 22 inch piece of plywood, measure the middle point of the short end. Measure 3.5 inches in from the short edge. This will be your anchor point for the top piece of the structure. Once anchored in the middle of the post, take the remaining four 3 inch x #8 wood screws and anchor each corner of the post to the upper piece of the structure.
This completes the physical structure for the cat tower.
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4
Measure the following lengths of carpet from the 3 square yards of carpeting:
Top: 28 inches wide x 36 inches long
Post: 24 inches wide x 18 inches long
Base: 36 inches wide x 36 inches long
Once measured and marked on the carpet, take the utility knife to cut out the carpet pieces. For each piece, secure with staples at each underside corner. Once all pieces are secured, add additional staples to firmly anchor the carpet to the structure.
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1
Tips & Warnings
The carpet pieces can be taken from multiple carpet types or sources, based on color and texture preferences.
When using a utility knife, be sure to make cuts away from the body to avoid accidents.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
