Cat Tree for Your Climber Cat

Intro: Cat Tree for Your Climber Cat

Last summer we got ourselves what we now know as a "climber" cat. We find our much beloved feline in almost every high area around our home--often looking at us eye to eye! When the holidays came around we could guess what this little guy would do if we put up a classic tree... thus the inspiration for this PVC drain pipe cat tree for our (or your) climber cat! The added gem to this project (besides lack of household-item-destruction) is that you can add whatever cat toy you have and watch your kitty happily climb up and smack them down--again and again and again! Enjoy! Oh and you can keep this cat tree up year round--just change out the cat toys as needed.

STEP 1: Get a Large Christmas Tree Base

This seriously may be the hardest part of this project:

I went to an indoor holiday sale/bazaar where I was able to get a really good deal on a tree stand. I liked this one because it had 4 double brackets that you could adjust. I also liked that the outside of the base was smooth-- making it less likely for the cat to get caught on things sticking out.

Other option besides buying a new tree stand:

• Weather permitting you could try to get one at a garage sale.
• You could also try one of those online neighborhood sales. Put out an ISO (in search of) for a large, stable tree stand.

STEP 2: Hardware Store Run

We had this PVC perforated PVC pipe in our basement from the prior owners.

If you don't happen to have a pipe (ha!), you can go to a large hardware store and buy a perforated drain pipe. Not sure if they still do it but you may be able to get your one cut to the height you want at the store (ask an employee if you need that option). Ours is about 6 feet tall. If not, these pipes cut fairly easily by hand saw or by power saw.

Get all your other materials together. We only had to use one package of the rope but you may need to have two depending on the length of the rope.

Make sure you have a LOT of glue sticks or the long 5 foot one really comes in handy.

STEP 3: Insert Your Pipe Into the Tree Base

• Insert your pipe into the tree base.
• Tighten all sides very well.
• Make sure everything is balanced.

STEP 4: Drill Extra Holes Into the Tree

Carefully drill a series of holes up and down the tree pipe. The pre-existing drainage holes won't be enough if you want to insert some fishing pole type toys into the finished tree.

All these holes will be used to insert dangling toys for your cat to play with.

STEP 5: Gluing the Rope Onto the Tree Pipe.

Set up your work area so you can safely glue on the rope onto the pipe. I used a stool to place the base and tree pipe on to make it easier to reach.

This is the longest process of this project. You may need some feline company!

Warm up your glue gun.

Starting at the base with the pipe in, apply a section of glue followed by adhering a section of rope.

You are going to follow and repeat this process all the way around and up the whole pipe.

Make sure that you glue the rope AROUND the holes. This really helps you add the cat toys to the tree later on. Note: It may not look as polished as you had hoped but your cat won't notice.

STEP 6: Add Weight to the Base

You'll need to add some type of weight to help steady the tree when your cat climbs it.

We added some marble chips inside the pipe up to where the pipe and tree stand meet. (If you go too far up and add too many marble chips you'll get some coming out of the holes.)

Add some more marble chips to fill in the area between the pipe and the stand (what is visible) so that you have some weight inside and outside of the pipe.

You can add whatever weighted item you want. We liked the marble chips because they are denser per size than other options. Small stones could work well too. Try to refrain from using kitty litter- your cat might think of using that as their "box" instead of their "tree".

STEP 7: Decorate the Tree

• Place your tree in its desired location.
• Add extra toys that you have around the house. The "fishing pole" toys that have the ends of their handles broken off work really well. Line up the stick end of the toys through a hole ion one side and have it come out a hole on the other side.
• Bend a right angle at the end of a pipe cleaner and twist a lightweight toys at the other end. Insert the end of the bent pipe cleaner into one of the holes in the pipe.
• Your cat will actually enjoy being able to knock some of those toy accessories onto the floor. It appeals to some part of their hunting instinct. Every now and then put all the toys back onto the tree.

STEP 8: Watch Your Cat Climb the Finished Cat Tree!

Stand back and watch your cat enjoy climbing their cat tree!

If you make this, please add a photo of your build and cat enjoying it in the comments. I'd love to see how this project turns out for others!!

Comments

[MuzicMaker]

Nicely done! We too have a ‘climber cat’, a 9 month old Burmese, whose latest hobby is climbing televisions lol. He invariably finds the highest point in any room and perches there. He has a cat condo, but this guy needs more climbing diversions! I am definitely going to make one of your trees, so thank you for posting and inspiring. Awesome project.

[MsB2020]

I've had cats before but once you get a "climber" it changes your outlook or rather who is looking at you. These cats seem to like finding places where they can look at you eye to eye. Yes! On top of the tv, on the stairs looking through the rails, sitting on top of the banister, on book shelves...My guy miaows as if he is daring himself before he climbs or jumps up high so at least we have a warning. Great fun! The tree stand base makes a big difference in stability. I had made another one a while back and had a real hard time getting the tube to the attach to the base.

[MuzicMaker]

Lol, so true. I was thinking there must be a flange for these pipes, which could be screwed down to a plywood/mdf base? Just in case I can’t find a good tree stand, I was brainstorming options.

[MsB2020]

Hi. You can certainly bolt in some brackets to the tube first then to a large base. I liked this tree base because 6" to 7" of the bottom of the pipe is held in place (and even tighter with the marble chips poured into the tube and into the stand). Our 10 month old "kitten" is already about 12 to 13 lbs. This tree can hold him without toppling even when he is in prime zoomie mode. Just really try to get something that won't topple over- even if it means tying some of the pipe (via those holes) onto something secure. Have fun with this project and your cat!

[Alan Storey]

Awesome idea and well done! Making one of these is now on my list as I’d rather find my cat on this than the top of open doors (yes, doors). Sometimes I think I adopted a mountain goat instead of a cat.

[MsB2020]

The door thing is the one place he hasn't "visited" yet but yikes!!! You could almost take the rope covered PVC pipe and straddle it between two high, stable items and see if your cat can walk the plank. For my first version, I used wire through the holes and tied the rope pipe to a set of shelves. You could take a roped pipe and make it a bridge of sorts for your cat-goat. Hang the pipe from both ends. The holes in the pipe can give you a good variety of options to work with.

[JoeyyBoyy]

Very neat idea. Possible to add a resting pad maybe at the top or off to the sides for the car to perch?

[MsB2020]

Good idea! We've basically rearranged our home so the cat can sleep on any upper area. The top of the tv cabinet is another favorite of his. We did think of putting a cushion on the cabinet but thought it might slip off when the cat jumped off. Your resting pad on top of the pvc tube would help! Thanks!!

[zombateen]

Well done. I made something similar a while back, the difference being is that EmilyJane's bowl is on a platform about 4' off the floor which gives her a reason to climb and keeps the dogs from stealing her kibble! I used that old-fashioned hairy rope (sisal?). Soak it in water for a day or so and then bind it tightly around the upright (I used a length of 4" x 4" that was left over from another project) When it dries, the rope shrinks and gets even tighter. Em has
not scratched anything else since I made her perch and only now, 8 yrs later, is the rope showing signs of daily scratching and climbing and stretching.

[MsB2020]

Thanks for the sisal tip. I wouldn't have thought to wet it first but makes total sense! I'll try that tip on my next project. :)

[NirL]

That's great! And your cat seem to love it! :) well done and thanks for sharing:)

[MsB2020]

Thank you!