r/cats • u/johneldenringg • 29d ago

Advice Don’t build a cat tree

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It seemed simple and I was like + $100? For a big one ??? Nah I could build it… well I’m prob about $200 deep and need to get another 4x4 plywood from home depot and prob more carpet and cushioning for the top nest, as well as some sisal. If you think it’s a good idea and cheap? It’s not 🫩 especially if you have to buy a new circular saw cuz yours broke 😭😭
And yeah tbh it is a me problem but I also had to make sure the wood was cat safe to and not pressure treated.

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705

u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

I'd suggest that you can keep the material cost well under $150 with a little patience and effective planning. I bought scrap carpet from a carpet store, reused a couple elements from the previous cat post that were in decent shape and bonus already had their scent. The only thing I paid full price for was the carpet adhesive, twine, and screws

991

u/falci_von_eggnog 29d ago

Weird looking cat you got there.

366

u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

Lol i don't own a cat but my sister owns two and this was a birthday gift. My dog has always had model ready looks and charisma making any picture simply better.

79

u/Mjolnir404 29d ago

Hes really selling the cat tower to me!!!

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

It was so nice even he thought it was worth brand representing lol. Besides he's terrible at fetching and entirely too good at sunbathing like a cat to not have common ground with his feline cousins.

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u/Mjolnir404 29d ago

hes a good businessman and knows his customers interests well!

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u/sweetpatata 29d ago

What kind of dog breed is s/he? It's so cute!

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

A rescue so not sure, pomeranian cross of some kind

5

u/wethepeople1977 29d ago

This dog could sell ice to an Eskimo.

3

u/Vintage-Grievance 29d ago

What a cutie!

"Hey, I need you to model with this cat tree real quick." "It's for your cousins...so try to look happy".

27

u/Then-Grass-9830 29d ago

that is a lorax obviously

2

u/really_nice_guy_ 29d ago

I think its one of those famous "Maincoons". Heard they are pretty big

127

u/56Safari 29d ago

that’s clearly a dog tree

2

u/Stunning_Box8782 29d ago

Bountiful harvest this year

1

u/Vintage-Grievance 29d ago

Can't be, it doesn't have any piss on it. 🙃

59

u/captain_ohagen 29d ago

yeah, I'm not letting my cat see this

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

Oh, why not I'm sure he'd love it

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u/xiaoalexy 29d ago

my cat asked me if we're poor

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

I mean I'll admit some smaller details required tools not everyone has, I turned post mounts on my lathe for the heavy cardboard tubes I wrapped in twine. But aside from my miter saw and table saw, both of which hand tools can replace with practice and patience, the project is doable for a relative noob to wood working.

Guess a staple gun is probably necessary too but even the sanding can and was largely done by hand. Tools just generally make it much quicker and easier.

15

u/dooby991 29d ago

That looks so nice, where did you source the natural posts from? This was exactly what my family wanted to do

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

I've made 3 now, one for my sister and two for friends who asked nicely or offered to pay something for it.

For the first one I had enough big branches from the fire wood pile that were dry enough it was just a matter of stripping the bark and making sure there were no bug infestations. For the next two I had to find a few but the answer is simple, arborists are almost always busy doing something in a city the size of mine you just have to shamelessly walk up to them when they are cutting down trees or doing heavy pruning and ask if you can have some. They almost inevitably will say yes because it's less they have to haul off.

As I said it might take a little time and planning but if one commits to looking for materials on the cheap first and building second it's entirely feasible if you have some basic tools.

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u/dooby991 29d ago

Great idea! We made one for our first cat and then our second cat kinda tore it up and started eating the carpet pieces so we had to get rid of it and buy a store bought one lol. But he loves to climb so I wanted to make something tall in the basement using natural posts like this just cause it looks so cool.

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

I have more pictures of it from different angles if you like, in addition to the second one I made. I learned by doing for sure but if your looking for inspiration I don't mind

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u/dooby991 29d ago

Yes I’d love to see more pics of the post connections to the platforms if you don’t mind!

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago edited 29d ago

A close up of the post connections unfortunately I don't have. I "dry" fit the platforms without carpet that way I could trace the connection branches footprint then I drilled pilot holes though the platforms. The smaller branches are cut to the angle I needed then I carved a curve into the mounting that attached to the post and gave each a pilot hole.

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u/Telemakiss 29d ago

effective planning

Yeah, see, that's gonna be a problem for OP

1

u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

He just has to want it bad enough

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u/Hidge_Pidge 26d ago

Yea I built a cat tree out of mostly reclaimed materials, it was so cute and my cat loved it :)

1

u/Without-a-tracy 29d ago

Sir, that is a dog.

1

u/Heimerdahl 29d ago

I totally get what what you mean and agree with it, but...

keep the material cost well under $150 with a little patience and effective planning. [...] reused a couple elements from the previous cat post

reads a bit like:

Keep costs low with just a little patience and effective planning... and already having the stuff you need! 

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u/IceHawk1212 29d ago

I scavenged the building wood from pallets those are my time to disassemble. Branches from arborists and I already told you how I obtained the rest. I have power tools but if you had a hammer, drill, hand saw and staple gun you theoretically have all you need(that and practice). If you wanted one bad enough that is your minimum list.