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The design concept of the cats tower is all-in-one-cage which is narrow for human being, but wide for cats. In the all-in-one-cage, cats can eat, can do exercise, can do excretion and can sleep in the cage.
Those are [1]high curiosity to environment, [2]high mobility and [3]high ability of self decision. The high curiosity to environment brings out high ability to move, and the high mobility brings out high ability of self decision. The curiosity is the path to the mobility, the mobility is the path to the self-decision. The three features are genetically pre-installed within cats, I guessed so.
Cats can't stop learning of environment. The curiosity is expressed as [1]freely exploration, [2]freely research or [3]freely strolling. It looks like action gathering information for keeping their own life.
Baby cats hate small cage. Under the situation of lost mobility, genetically pre-installed 'anxiety' come up within cats' mind. I guessed so. Cats want to always keep the high mobility under any situation. Baby cats genetically hate limitation of their own moves.
Freely exploration is necessary for cat's health, but sometimes human being want to confine cats into narrow area for some reason. Notwithstanding confining cats into narrow area, we have to provide environment to freely-explore in order to keep cat under health. The floor of cat cage must be enough narrow for human being, but must be enough wide for cats also. This is the main issue for designing of the cats cage.
As physical exertion for fighting is necessary for men's health, physical effort for hunting is needed for cat's health. It may be possible to keep normal gene without healthy life, but it may be impossible to evaluate normal gene without healthy life. How can we achieve narrow hunting environment in a narrow cage? In the narrow hunting area, cats have to do spiritual concentrating, exploration and running.One of solutions is  a Small Aquarium for hunting exercise.
Many cats owners may put cats under free-range in house, but this cats tower is designed for confining cats in house for some reason. Let us confirm you that the confining is not for punishment for cats, it is for human being's activity.
How long time can we hold cats in a cage? How long time can we put cats in prison? Basically, if there is no uncomfortable problem, cats will never cry. If cats is satisfied, they will never say any mew. When cats sense some uncomfortable matter, cats will throw any sign of "free us now!"
We want to define an idea of "patience limitation time" that is from when cats are imprisoned to when cats start to cry. The "patience limitation time" shows comfortability of the cage.
Generally, the reusability of the cage is important for environmental recycle. High frame reusability is considered at design of this cat tower.
The main frame of the  cat tower have to be reused for any other objectives such as an interior for human being. Basically, this cat tower is a kind of louver architecture, so  then it is useful as a  lighting equipment, an interior or indirect lighting. It can be used as planter for any plant also. In addition to that, it is well-ventilated and well flammable, so then it can be used as crematorium. Any cats cage has lifespan, any cats have lifespan also.
At the middle part of this cat tower, a 300x240x140 sized aquarium is equiped.  It is just an aquarium for human being, but it is useful for cats as training of hunting sense. Any cats tend to stare fish in aquarium with their own genetical hunting sence. I guessed that it is well for their brain.
Cats like hemp string as a toy. Hanging something interesting by hemp string from upper part of the cat tower, cats tend to enjoy climbing the cat tower. I guessed that it is well for their brain also.
The main gate of the cat tower can be used as a trap for capturing cats. By moving vertical bar of the gate, the gate will be closed automatically. If you equip this cat tower in your garden instead of your living room, it can be  a trap for capturing.
 
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Step 1: Prepare timber & lumber

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At first, we had to prepare timber & lumber like below.
I choosed Japanese cedar, but any other wood can be substituted.

Base
(600x40x30)  13
(520x40x30)  24
(100x40x30)  22
(20x40x30)   72(6x12)
(40x40x30)   5

Base-Floor
(520x40x30)  3
(85x40x30)   2
(45x40x30)   2
(270x40x30)  2

Base-Roof
(520x40x30)  4

Base-Stair
(100x40x30)  30(5x6)

Base-Gate
(390x40x30)  3
(490x40x30)  5

Tower
(520x40x30)  60(30x2)
(300x40x30)  6(3x2)
(350x40x30)  10(5x2)
(400x40x30)  10(5x2)
(450x40x30)  10(5x2)
(500x40x30)  10(5x2)
(550x40x30)  10(5x2)
(600x40x30)  4(2x2)
(20x40x30)   120(4x30)

Veneer board for Base
350x350   1
520x10    5 
520x400   1

puahina says: May 13, 2013. 4:45 PM
this will help a lot my cat loves to climb
Penolopy Bulnick says: Jan 16, 2013. 12:05 PM
This is so awesome! You should enter it into the Holiday Gifts Contest!  Also, you have the cutest kitties :D
thattori (author) says: Jan 17, 2013. 3:14 AM
My kitties became young cats, so they can go up stairs faster. They frequently go up to the top of the tower saying mew.
WaltNewman says: Dec 11, 2012. 3:29 PM
This is seriously a beautiful piece. It would be nice if more cat towers had both functional and aesthetic value.
SaveOurPaws says: Dec 10, 2012. 12:33 PM
That is a very nice, well-built tower, but cats should not be confined. Even with all of the excercise and entertainment inolved with exploring the cat tower, cats still need human companionship. NEVER leave your cat unsupervised in such a place for any length of time. They will consider that to be cruel of you. Plus, they may get injured: YES, cats do miss their mark when jumping and can also lose their balance and fall, just like people. * * If I were to make one, I would make the spaces between the boards large enough for the cats to climb through. That would keep them even more entertained. When they had enough fun and exploration, they could make their way to your lap for that long winter's nap all cats enjoy! :)
gecko_girl3 says: Dec 11, 2012. 6:30 AM
I'd first like to start by saying I agree with you, cats should not be caged in their home environment (shelters are obviously different situations). The only disagreement I have is although the maker of this 'ible refers to this structure as a "cage", you'll notice there is no door or gate to actually keep the cats inside of the structure at all times. There is a generous opening at the ground level, allowing the cats to come and go as they please. I believe all this talk of caging cats is merely a result of translation difficulties.

That being said. Thank you for educating people on proper cat care and to the maker of this fine cat tower, way to go! This thing is amazing!
Julianne fights Dragons! says: Dec 8, 2012. 11:38 AM
Ooohhhh working on tatami? My mom would have killed me hahaha

Awesome cat tower! It looks so fancy and so much better than carpet towers!
makemyday says: Dec 8, 2012. 6:47 AM
This is so beautiful and practical! I am impressed with the amount of thought for cats well being that went into this. Excellent Ible that I (and my cats) can't wait to get started on.
OutlawKtulu says: Dec 6, 2012. 11:48 AM
Excelent Idea, but what are these measurements in? It looks to be centimeters?
clazman says: Dec 7, 2012. 6:41 PM
1500 mm is equivalent to the height of the average person.
clazman says: Dec 7, 2012. 6:35 PM
I love to read the comments on a project. Some very good ones here.

Oh! Very nice project!
Green Silver says: Dec 6, 2012. 10:11 AM
Trouble is, with my fat cat and E=MC2.. It's lightly to topple over when she jumps from the top of it! :}
clazman says: Dec 7, 2012. 6:33 PM
I think that is "equal and opposite reaction". :-)
rolltidehank says: Dec 7, 2012. 10:34 AM
It might be better or more convenient to move or add a higher level for the litter box. That way the smell rises away from the food and it would be more easily accessible if you added some kind of hinged or sliding panel for removal. Awesome cat structure!
theal8r says: Dec 6, 2012. 8:14 PM
WOW! I want to be reincarnated as one of your cats. My cats give you 5 stars.
mstroudm says: Dec 6, 2012. 11:05 AM
I can't wait to get my husband started. However, i would like to point out that cats don't like their cat boxes to be near their water and food. We might have to add a tunnel and this will be exciting for two DIY challenged humans.Thank-you from our siamese and burmese, for a beautiful structure that has purpose and is so pleasing to the eye.
jovino says: Dec 6, 2012. 7:08 PM
mstroudm is right. Food and excrement belong in separate rooms.
lesizz says: Dec 6, 2012. 5:56 PM
I see this as a nice cat accessory even if the cats don't need to be confined. Just make a door so they can enter and exit as they please. I think many cats would like to hang out inside this structure.

One could add carpet to one section to add a function a scratching post function.

I'm adding this to my project list!
suayres says: Dec 6, 2012. 5:48 PM
I agree with the other poster as regards whether cedar might be contraindicated. We have a vet appointment; I'll run it by her to see what wood(s) would be most cat-safe. In any case, the design is beautiful, and looks to be wonderfully enjoyable for cats of any age, particularly cats of the "tree-dwelling" persuasion.
AnnaLove says: Dec 4, 2012. 3:45 AM
I hope it's used as an exciting cat toy instead of an imprisoning cage until they reach their "patience limitation time". Yikes. Very cool as a toy cats can climb and explore though.
lamerc says: Dec 6, 2012. 3:20 PM
I'm pretty sure that's a translation/language problem. The emphasis in the text is on how best to keep them from feeling bored, anxious, or trapped when they need to be kept to a confined area. :)
saintneko says: Dec 6, 2012. 11:44 AM
I'm guessing this would be useful for those who have to foster kittens and have a reason to not let them out into the general population - beats the heck out of a nasty old cage!
Dowaine says: Dec 6, 2012. 12:42 PM
i need to make a extra large one for me :p
realife11 says: Dec 6, 2012. 10:56 AM
Even if you don't have a pet, this would be great just as a giant lamp structure. It's beautiful on it's own.
bkennelly says: Dec 6, 2012. 12:26 PM
I agree. And made from cedar it would smell lovely, as well
CatDoc says: Dec 6, 2012. 11:45 AM
Cedar can be irritating to respiratory tracts. This is usually a problem for animals kept in spaces much more closed than this (eg: hamster on cedar chips in an aquarium), but I've seen a few breathing problem over the years with cedar bedding or cedar-lined closets.
misko13 says: Dec 4, 2012. 6:15 AM
I'm sure my kitten will LOVE THIS!!!!
M.C. Langer says: Dec 3, 2012. 5:55 PM
Awesome!
gosphero says: Dec 3, 2012. 10:36 AM
Looks like the perfect kitteh jungle gym.
kmkennedy88 says: Dec 3, 2012. 9:55 AM
this is incredible
PadiDiver33 says: Dec 3, 2012. 8:46 AM
What!? I love it!
jessyratfink says: Dec 3, 2012. 8:21 AM
This is amazing. :D I need one!
dreiseratops says: Dec 3, 2012. 6:03 AM
I want to put stars on this.
What has happened to the stars rating system?
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