Homemade Cat Houses

Give your naughty kitty a room of its own with a home-built cat house.

Cats love to climb, play and knead their claws on anything that will keep them sharp. Kitty condos, or custom-made cat houses, are simple, durable solutions that will provide most cats with a dedicated space to play, sleep and perch. Although you can purchase cat houses from pet-supply stores, these toys are straightforward to make at home and the materials are inexpensive.

Things You'll Need

• 2x4 planking boards
• Saw
• Screws and screwdriver or power drill
• Plywood
• Carpet
• Carpet tacks

Instructions

1. Determine the design of the cat house. There is no standard design--build what works given your space and the number of cats in your home. One solution is to build a 5-foot-tall tree with two arms, one of which has a platform and the other an enclosed room.

2. Build the vertical pole using 2x4 planking. This pole may be a 5-foot length of 2x4 planking.

3. Ensure that the base has enough leverage to remain upright if the cats get rambunctious--consider an X-frame support with legs that extend 2 feet from the center of the pole. Secure the base supports to the vertical pole using wood screws.

4. Attach two arms at different heights, perpendicular to the vertical post. The arms should be 2- to 4-feet long, at different heights, and on opposite sides of the main post.

5. Attach a small platform to the upper arm. Use a piece of plywood measuring 18 inches square.

6. To the lower arm, attach a plywood box with an 18-inch square base, measuring 12 inches high. Cut a circular hole with your saw that is 6 inches around in the side facing the support beam leading back to the vertical post. It may be easiest to do this before you secure the box to the platform.

7. Attach carpet to the wood using the carpet tacks. Every piece of the cat house, including the center pole, should be covered in carpet.

Tips & Warnings

• Clean the carpet thoroughly before use to get rid of scents that may repel your cat. Consider adding strings, balls and other toys to keep your cat entertained--for example, a plastic ball with a bell inside suspended by a string from a horizontal support beam will keep many cats entertained for hours.

• Make sure that the cat house has enough structural support to remain upright if your kitty jumps on or around the house. Make sure nails and sharp objects are recessed so your cat avoids injury.

References

• Cat Tree Plans: Cat Tree Plan 1
• YouTube: Homemade Cat Tower Tower Cat Tree