Speaking of Cat Trees

[Grace]

Many of you show pictures of your cats in a cat tree. Do you recommend a particular brand - have a favorite supplier?

We're thinking of getting one for our five, but am not sure where to start looking. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[RedHedd]

Cat shows seem to have the best prices, although the selection can be slim. The major pet stores like Petco have a better selection however their prices are a LOT higher. I bought a nice tall scratching post/tree for my two at a local pet store that was having a grand opening 20% off sale., so I guess looking around is the answer.

[mruffruff]

I bought two at different times at different places. One was on sale for 139. The other was closer to 170. I added a runway between them by covering a board with a piece of carpet. There really isn't a "brand" that I've found that I like.

Be sure you have help when you buy one. You could get a hernia trying to lift one by yourself.:D

Mary

[sirrahbed]

Do you know anyone at all handy at building? You can have one built for practically nothing using landscape timbers, shelving scraps, hemp rope and carpet remnants.

[CalliesMom]

I have several for my kitties. I ordered a brand new AeroCat tree off of E-bay for about $50 less than the asking price. I'm not very handy (and neither is the hubby) so wouldn't be able to make one myself.

[catlover4ever]

I bought 2 of my 3 cat trees on Ebay. If you go under the pet section and look for cat condo's or cat furniture you will see quite a few different ones. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Some of the listings on Ebay are auctions and others are on a buy it now basis.

Here are a few pictures of what I have. The first one I bought outright for $100.00 and the second one I won the bid on for $129.00.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid100/p91f082f25e3a0dc8c68b004b445f72de/f9e54da9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid101/p7c10fee5f0a28866df5403a7abc3513f/f9e19ae5.jpg

[kuhio98]

Well, I live in the boonies and we don't have a Petco or any such thing. I've found great ones on the internet but they refuse to ship to Alaska, so what I did was ask my vet if he knew where to get one. Turns out one of his many other patients had a very handy daddy who make them as a side business. I like the home made ones the best.

[CatMama78]

Got mine at Petsmart for around 200 :(. They are all expensive. You can find lots online, but they are pretty expensive too. If you can make one, that would be cool.

[sirrahbed]

http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/f958d5fc.jpg
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/f958d5f7.jpg
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/eliot_alert.jpg
Here are a few pictures of the tree my hubby built. The middle piece is a landscape timber I am pretty sure. The shelves are just scrap wood. Some pieces are wrapped with twine and some are covered with nailed on leftover carpet. The base is a very heavy piece - like a half of a coffee table size and then the braces you can see on the last picture - not the prettiest but the tree is so high it needed lots of support. It was all scraps except the middle he bought at the lumberyard but still only about $10 for that. Of course he always has lots of scrapwood around and we had carpet because we had the house done this spring. He looked online at cat trees and just sorta designed it from some that he saw and liked.
He is also a furniture builder and carpenter but said this project was easy enough for a beginner.

[jazzcat]

This is the cat tree my Dad made for me for Christmas the year before last. I covered it with the carpet. It was a fairly easy one to make. I found the instructions on the internet and just printed them off for him to follow. The cats love it.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/p1ea009248630da9e2a6e0652fcfb3f4e/fb484c68.jpg

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by jazzcat
This is the cat tree my Dad made for me for Christmas the year before last. I covered it with the carpet. It was a fairly easy one to make. I found the instructions on the internet and just printed them off for him to follow. The cats love it.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/p1ea009248630da9e2a6e0652fcfb3f4e/fb484c68.jpg That's a terrific looking cat tree jazzcat! What is in the center of the semi-circles, and the tunnels? I've made a few myself, but finding sisal rope that is an inch thick is not easy. I find the inch thick lasts a lot longer than the half inch. Plus w/inch thick it can be re-fastened when it gets torn to shreds, and I can get more use out of it. I have a beam in the basement that I wrapped with sisal rope (need to redo it soon) and the cats go beserk playing squirrel on it! :D :D :D

[Grace]

WOW – you all are wonderful. Thanks you ever so much.

RedHedd – I think it will be close to a year before the next cat show around here. I did check out one local pet store, but the selection was rather meager.

mruffruff – I will definitely have help with whatever I buy. Thanks! And how many cats do you have using that duplex tree?

sirrahbed, Kuhio, CatMama, jazzcat – constructing our own or finding a local craftsman sounds like the most economical solution. Neither of us is very talented that way, although we could probably put something together that the cats would love.

catlover4ever – would you believe I have never been to the eBay site? I love the tree you have in the corner.

CalliesMom – thanks for the brand name – I’m going to check that out.

sirrahbed – thanks for your pictures. That will really help if we go that route.

jazzcat – wonderful picture – of the tree and the cats. Thanks!

QSL – thanks for the tips regarding the rope.

[jazzcat]

Originally posted by QueenScoopalot
That's a terrific looking cat tree jazzcat! What is in the center of the semi-circles, and the tunnels?
Thanks, I think my Dad did a wonderful job! The perches and the tunnel are Sono Tube which is concrete pouring forms - like for pouring columns. You can buy it a places like Home Depot. The tunnel is a piece we left whole but the the two perches are a piece cut in half long ways. It's just a heavy cardboard usually coated with a waxy substance. IT was easy to staple carpeting to it.

[mruffruff]

Seven cats.

[catmandu]

I would try,at a Cat show,too as yiou tend to get them,from the People,whomake them,and you dont have nearly the mark up!

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by jazzcat
Thanks, I think my Dad did a wonderful job! The perches and the tunnel are Sono Tube which is concrete pouring forms - like for pouring columns. You can buy it a places like Home Depot. The tunnel is a piece we left whole but the the two perches are a piece cut in half long ways. It's just a heavy cardboard usually coated with a waxy substance. IT was easy to staple carpeting to it.

hehehe...hubby is headed out to the hardware store today:D Thanks Lori. I HAVE to have one of these, too! uh..... I mean the KITTIES have to have one:D :D It is beautiful! I will be looking for the directions though sure he can figure it out - do you happen to still have the directions or the site??;)

edit: googled "sono cat tree" and there it is!!:)

[Grace]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
I will be looking for the directions though sure he can figure it out - do you happen to still have the directions or the site??;)

edit: googled "sono cat tree" and there it is!!:)

Where?? I just googled the same thing and come up with nothing.

[sirrahbed]

http://amby.com/cat_site/cattree.html
http://www.furr-angels.com/build_a_cat_tree.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/4077/cattree.html
http://www.minew-kajunkat.com/catcrafts/cattree.htm
:D

[Grace]

Many thanks from me, and my brood.

[jazzcat]

Debbie - my Dad made a few modifications. He made the legs of the perches a little taller and then cut a U shape into the top of them so the sono tube would fit better and sturdier. He also made the shelf removeable. It sits on supports. That makes covering it much easier - I think that is a change, not sure. Also, we made the lowest perch the tunnel instead of a half perch and that is Jazz's favorite spot!

Can't wait to see what Dennis makes - he's such a good craftsman!!!

[QueenScoopalot]

Gee guys...like I have the time to make cat trees! (hear the distinct whining coming over your monitor)? I am tucking this thread aside though for future use! Maybe once and if kittens season ever ends I'll make a few for the nawty kitties here. :D :D

[sirrahbed]

Dennis finished the tree like the one Jazzcat-Lori posted about and I love it! (kitties too but they were outside when I took the pix) This one will be our indoor tree:D It only took a few hours yesterday afternoon and he said it was "very easy" so I hope some of you get your hubbys or boyfriends or even YOU to try it. His table saw broke half way through or it would have been a real snap. The legs are not yet wrapped in the sisal and THAT will take time if I do it at all - my cats are declawed but still use it for exercise. Anyway - here it is!!
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/newtree2.jpg
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/newtree.jpg

[catcrazylady]

OMG! I love it Debbie! Dennis is so talented anyway but if he says it was that easy then maybe hubby could try one! I don't have any place to put another one though. Is it wrapped in carpet? I bet wrapping sisel would be very time consuming. If someone didn't want to do that it would pretty just stained or painted if you didn't want it natural. What kitty wouldn't like that??!!

[sirrahbed]

The carpet is just stapled on and I think I will just leave the natural wood - is already treated and I think it looks nice just like it is - the sisal wrapping would take forever. They were all over it as soon as they saw it. Now, how the heck do they know it is for them???

[catcrazylady]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
They were all over it as soon as they saw it. Now, how the heck do they know it is for them???

Because everything in life is for THEM! :D :D http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/biggrin.gif

[lizzielou742]

Ooo! That looks great.! Hubby did a good job :) Your kitties are probably having so much fun on it!!

I am glad you said that your hubby said it was easy and only took a few hours. My boyfriend has agreed to build one - probably next weekend. I'll be sure to post pics of it!! :D :D :D :D

Let's see some pics of Dylan, Emily & Eliot playing on the new cat tree! When you get a chance, of course. ;)

[rg_girlca]

Believe or not and this is the God's honest truth. I got my cat tree out of the garbage. Yup, you heard right, the garbage. I was walking Buddy and I saw this man putting the cat tree on the sidewalk as it was garbage night. I asked him if it was for the garbage and he said, "Yup. Bought it for the cats, have had it for 6 months now and the damn cats won't even go near it." He said his wife wanted it out of the house as it was taking up room. So I asked him if I could have it and he said, "Sure, go ahead and take it and good luck." That was about 2 years ago and my cats have used it daily every since. In fact, you can't tell by the picture, but we will have to put new carpeting on it soon.
Now that is what I call a "Great buy":D
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid105/p2bbc2cd151826fa58769047e8eede5ce/f9770946.jpg

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by rg_girlca
Now that is what I call a "Great buy":D

Can't beat THAT, Lorraine:D But I tell ya what, every Sunday night, (trash pick-up is Monday am) my hubby takes a little drive around, looking for old furniture that folks are throwing away. This is where he gets the bulk of his building wood! Old furniture, especially - often is made of beautiful solid wood. No cat trees though!!

[sirrahbed]

OK - as requested....cats on the tree!!
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/3ontree.jpg
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/tree_new2.jpg
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/tree_new1.jpg
http://img56.photobucket.com/albums/v170/sirrahbed/Our%20Pets/3ontree2.jpg
It is certainly a hit!! I did NOT get any pictures of anyone on the tube although it is a popular spot! Problem is - they play on it but do not really lounge on it.:rolleyes: It's is more a a game thing. One hides inside and somebody lays on top and swats the other!!

[moosmom]

Try looking in the back of Cat Fancy Magazine. There are alot of dealers who make them and ship them. The very first one I bought was from the back of the magazine. The second one I bought from Petco. It was under $100. I'd like to get a third one but can't afford it and really have no room for it.

[isset]

Originally posted by RedHedd
Cat shows seem to have the best prices, although the selection can be slim. The major pet stores like Petco have a better selection however their prices are a LOT higher. I bought a nice tall scratching post/tree for my two at a local pet store that was having a grand opening 20% off sale., so I guess looking around is the answer. Not a bad idea, I've been looking for one for my cats, and I'll think I'll check out a cat show.

[jazzcat]

Debbie - the tree looks great!!!! The shelf looks really different from mine though, did he make it different? Glad to see the kitties like it and as for the tunnel, Jazz really love to sleep in it but it is also a major game/swatting spot too.

PS - I won't tell my Dad that it only took Dennis a few hours one afternoon. He worked on mine for a long time but of course he is in his 80s and not in the best of health.

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by jazzcat
The shelf looks really different from mine though, did he make it different?
He probably DID something different. He never follows directions. He considers them "suggestions":D

[kimlovescats]

Wow Debbie ... that is a really wonderful cat tree! Tell Dennis I need him to put the pressure on my Jerry to get busy building!!! :eek: I love the pics, and the one of Emily and Eliot using the top level for boxing! hehe
Oh and that second level is a perfect Dylan-sized one!!! Love that big fluffy guy!!!:D

[lizzielou742]

Aww!! They look so cute playing on that tree! Thanks for the pics!

The instructions look sort of intimidating, but I bet my boyfriend can do it. I can't wait to get started on it! If you don't mind my asking, sirrahbed, how much did the project cost you altogether? Thanks!!

[Grace]

Well, I started this whole thread, and want to thank all of you for your input, ideas, suggestions.

I know my limitations, and those of Douglas, so I found one online and ordred it. Here it is - Cat Tree (http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=2959&D=furniture&R=25432&Ntk=All&Nty=1&KEYWORD=Cat+Tree&flash_enabled=1&Ntt=furniture&ref=2050&Dx=mode+matchallany&Ntx=mode+matchallany&Np=1&subref=AB&SOURCE=GOOG&N=2002&ctt=58)

We ordered it in blue, and it should arrive by the end of the week. It says all you need is a wrench to put it together.