I am planning on building a new Kitty Condo. I have a split level home with lot’s of high ledges and balconies. I am planning on putting carpet around a 4x4x12 beam, with carpet covered ledges every 2 feet to the top…Everyone knows cats love heights, and looking down on things. The beam will go all the way up to one of the ledges in the corner of our study…
My question is how should I affix the carpet to the wood? Should I use glue, or nails, or clasps of some kind? It has to be strong enough to withstand constant scratching…
We used a hot glue/heavy staple combo. We put carpet on the flat parts, but for the majority of the upright parts we used sisal rope, which you can get dirt cheap at the hardware store. Our cats do most of their scratching on that part, and it helps them get a good grip to haul themselves up. Plus, when it gets too shredded up (takes a while!) it’s easier to yank off and rewind than replacing the carpet, which doesn’t hold up as well.
Good luck! It’s quite a shock to price those things in stores, eh?
I was in petsmart yesterday and I was looking at some of the larger kitty condos, and my eyes burst out of my head… $380 for some wood and carpet :eek:
Thank you very much, I’d rather build my own. I’m psyched to get started!
I used to work at a manufacturer of those things. Staples are how we attached the carpet, but then of course the ‘post’ in our floor to ceiling models was a thick-walled, hollow cardboard tube (to reduce weight) with blocks of wood stapled into the ends for mounting springs and threaded studs.
I agree with the sisal rope comment, we used miles of that stuff.
If you do decide to use nails or staples, make sure kitties can’t pull them loose and stab themselves on sharp ends.
The sisal rope is the best deal. Wraps around & around & doesn’t take many staples to hold, and as before stated is easier to replace & lasts longer. Plus, my kitties like scratching on it better than on carpet (and better than on my furniture too, thank goodness).
Mollie has recently ripped out all the staples in her new scratching post. Though, we haven’t trimmed her nails in some time, and she really likes to RIP it. Likely, I’ve gotten them all before she ate them.
I built my own cat tower, and my cat loves it. Maybe your cats are just difficult.
Ow! I’m getting up! I’ll feed you in a minute! Stop biting me! Dammit!
We made a fabulous kitty condo for our Guinness. I used leftover carpet, stuck on to large cardboard tubes with wood glue. If you use a lot of glue and use masking tape wrapped around the tube about every 2 inches apart to keep it tight while it dries, you shouldn’t have any problem. Guinness has had hers almost 3 years and the carpet hasn’t come off (she scratches on it like mad!) Just a caution about sisal rope - I’ve heard that you need to make sure you get the unoiled kind if you’re using it for cats.
For the ultimate in kitty architecture, check out The Cats House. The website has a guided photo tour and the owners have also published a book that has tips on making your own kitty playgrounds. If I ever win the lottery, I’m gonna hire this guy…
I’m psyched to get started!