How to Build Your Own Cat Condo With a Trash Can
Cats need a place of their own to scratch, stretch, jump and play. The best way to keep them from scratching the furniture or jumping up on things is by giving them a place of their own, equipped with a scratching board, a few places to hide, and some jumping areas. Pet accessory manufacturers call these cat condos, but ready made ones can be expensive. Building a cat condo from an old plastic trash can, some carpet remnants and a few boards is a much less expensive cat condo option. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Remnant carpeting pieces
- Staple gun
- 2 to 3 4 foot by 4 foot plywood boards
- 2 landscape posts cut to the length of the garbage can height
- Medium sized plastic garbage can
- Blow dryer
- Hammer
- Nails
- Round plastic trash can
- Sand paper
- Box Cutting knife
- Sharp Knife
- Rope
- Glue
- L brackets
- Screws
Instructions
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1
Cut the carpet remnants to fit the 4 by 4 foot boards. Staple the pieces of carpet to the boards. Staple along all the edges at 1 inch intervals so the cat cannot pull up the carpeting. Pull the carpeting tight as you are stapling and use a hammer to drive the staples into the plywood when needed.
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2
Cut a landscape post in half, or ask a customer service agent at the hardware store or home improvements store to cut the post in half.
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3
Wrap both posts tightly with the rope and glue with every wrap using wood glue. Place glue over the rope ends to keep them from fraying. Secure the rope in places around the post with nails to ensure a tight wrap.
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4
Turn the medium plastic trash can over on any work table. You want the open side to sit on the table. Draw holes on one side of the trash can. These will be the areas your cat goes in and out of the cat condo house you are making. Make the hole drawings larger than your cat so that he doesn't cut himself or get stuck in the hole. Use a compass or trace around a circular object to get the circle.
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5
Cut the drawn holes large enough for your cat to get in the trash can without scratching himself. Heat the area you plan on cutting with a hair dryer, if you are having a hard time cutting the plastic. This will soften the plastic and make it easy to cut. Use a sharp knife or box cutter to cut the holes. Sand the edges down to eliminate any sharp jagged plastic edges that could scratch or cut the cat.
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6
Turn the garbage can over and fit carpet remnant to the inside of the can. Mark the area where the holes are located with a marker.
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7
Remove the carpet and cut the holes you marked from the carpet. Align the holes in the carpeting with those of the trash can. Glue the carpet to the interior of the garbage can using carpeting glue.
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8
Cut carpeting to cover the outside of the garbage can as well. Mark and cut the holes you made as you did in Step 8 and 9. Glue and staple the carpeting in place. Use a screw driver to push the carpeting into any grooves, corners or crevices. Place the garbage can over the 4 x 4 base and secure in place using L brackets.
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9
Attach the landscape post to the base board on the other side of the trashcan using L brackets and screws. Attach the second piece of 4 by 4 foot board to the top of the trashcan and post. Nail the board to the post and screw the other side to the upside down bottom end of the trashcan. Use a nut on the underside of the trashcan and screw to secure the board in place.
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10
Secure the other scratching post you made from the landscape post and rope to the second 4 x 4 foot board, making the second level to your cat condo.
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11
Cut another medium sized plastic garbage can in half along its width. Cover in carpeting remnant on both the inside and out. Staple the carpeting in place. Attach this garbage can to the second level face down as if it were a tunnel. Secure in place using more L brackets and screws.
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References
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