Saturday Project: The $24 Cat Tower

MmeHibou · 11-10-2012, 03:27 PM

Hey, people! I was feeling bored this morning. I can't get enough of that video of the guy making his cat a box castle, so I decided to make my own today! I'm sure you've all seen the video, but if you haven't - here it is. I just moved into my boyfriend's apartment, so I used my leftover banker's boxes. They're $12 for 5 at Target. It's not very pretty now, but I'm planning on covering it with shelf liner or wrapping paper here in a few days. The kitties were skeptical, but didn't take long to warm up to their new castle! Here are some pics:

Emo (left) and Bebe (right) trying it on for size. The top two box lids are perches. I folded up some pillowcases and towels and laid them there.

This is the path you can use to get up. There are also holes in a couple of places on the sides so there's more than one exit if needed.

Bebe (always the timid kitty) peeks out.

Emo is swatting at Bebe because he wants to climb in and give it a try!

He eventually got his turn, and was rewarded at the top with some catnip. He is high both literally and figuratively.

jusjim · 11-10-2012, 05:45 PM

I like!

Ritzpg · 11-10-2012, 05:58 PM

The law firm I work for is moving, roughly 400 people, in stages, I move in three weeks. This is puurfect!

builder · 11-10-2012, 07:46 PM

i was just thinking of this video a couple of days ago, but I couldn't remember the name it.

looks like a great project.

tgw · 11-10-2012, 08:11 PM

Nice results and I am sure the cats are as happy with this as they would be with a $200 tree.

Nell · 11-10-2012, 09:02 PM

Ooo...what a neat idea! I can get free paper boxes from work... I might have to make something like this!

scottd · 11-10-2012, 11:12 PM

I wonder how hard it would be to make something like this but more structurally sound and more long term. I don't want wood or carpet though.

This is really neat. I would have never thought of using cardboard boxes!

Nell · 11-11-2012, 02:21 AM

You could probably achieve a similar result using the snap together wire shelving kits that you can find at a lot of department stores. They're usually about 14"x14" wire squares that fit together into cubes using a weird little plastic piece at the corners to hold it together. You can also fasten them together using zip ties. You'd have to cover it with something to make solid walls and floors though.

MmeHibou · 11-11-2012, 04:32 AM

If they end up really liking it, I'm thinking of adhering a facade to the outside that would make it more sturdy. Not sure what I'd use - maybe hardboard or something. This is going to be duct taped, by the way.... the electrical tape is just so I could make changes if I needed to.

Ozzy1919 · 11-16-2012, 04:32 AM

I just finished making a homemade tree myself i wish i would have seen this before those boxes would be good for making a hideaway at the base of the tree and easy to clean/change out if you need to.

Beautiful cats btw

11-10-2012, 03:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
MmeHibou Kitten Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 27	Saturday Project: The $24 Cat Tower Hey, people! I was feeling bored this morning. I can't get enough of that video of the guy making his cat a box castle, so I decided to make my own today! I'm sure you've all seen the video, but if you haven't - here it is. I just moved into my boyfriend's apartment, so I used my leftover banker's boxes. They're $12 for 5 at Target. It's not very pretty now, but I'm planning on covering it with shelf liner or wrapping paper here in a few days. The kitties were skeptical, but didn't take long to warm up to their new castle! Here are some pics: Emo (left) and Bebe (right) trying it on for size. The top two box lids are perches. I folded up some pillowcases and towels and laid them there. This is the path you can use to get up. There are also holes in a couple of places on the sides so there's more than one exit if needed. Bebe (always the timid kitty) peeks out. Emo is swatting at Bebe because he wants to climb in and give it a try! He eventually got his turn, and was rewarded at the top with some catnip. He is high both literally and figuratively. Last edited by MmeHibou; 11-10-2012 at 03:29 PM.

11-10-2012, 05:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
jusjim Cat Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,601	I like! __________________ JusJim

11-10-2012, 11:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
scottd Cool Cat Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 1,104	I wonder how hard it would be to make something like this but more structurally sound and more long term. I don't want wood or carpet though. This is really neat. I would have never thought of using cardboard boxes! __________________

11-10-2012, 05:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ritzpg Tom Cat Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: near Washington, DC Posts: 562	The law firm I work for is moving, roughly 400 people, in stages, I move in three weeks. This is puurfect!

11-10-2012, 07:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
builder Tom Cat Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Southern CA Posts: 420	i was just thinking of this video a couple of days ago, but I couldn't remember the name it. looks like a great project.

11-10-2012, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
tgw Jr. Cat Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NE Pennsylvania Posts: 69	Nice results and I am sure the cats are as happy with this as they would be with a $200 tree.

11-10-2012, 09:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nell Cat Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,909	Ooo...what a neat idea! I can get free paper boxes from work... I might have to make something like this!

11-11-2012, 02:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Nell Cat Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,909	You could probably achieve a similar result using the snap together wire shelving kits that you can find at a lot of department stores. They're usually about 14"x14" wire squares that fit together into cubes using a weird little plastic piece at the corners to hold it together. You can also fasten them together using zip ties. You'd have to cover it with something to make solid walls and floors though.

11-11-2012, 04:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
MmeHibou Kitten Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 27	If they end up really liking it, I'm thinking of adhering a facade to the outside that would make it more sturdy. Not sure what I'd use - maybe hardboard or something. This is going to be duct taped, by the way.... the electrical tape is just so I could make changes if I needed to.

11-16-2012, 04:32 AM	#10 (permalink)
Ozzy1919 Jr. Cat Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 33	I just finished making a homemade tree myself i wish i would have seen this before those boxes would be good for making a hideaway at the base of the tree and easy to clean/change out if you need to. Beautiful cats btw

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