Tips for making a homemade cat play set

Do you need a play complex for a cat so that it does not climb on a bookcase?

You are in good company! No one knows better than cat owners how much furry friends like to explore their surroundings, especially from the highest point. If you have just such a cat, it may be time for you to make a play complex for it yourself.

Why do cats love heights so much?

Why are cats so attracted to high places? Vetstreet explains: “The ability to hide at height, especially for small cats, most likely provided them with a higher likelihood of survival.” House cats no longer need to worry about threats like coyote or hawk, but they still enjoy the sense of security that a tall play set provides.

As a budget-friendly way to create a new play area, you can fence in and refurbish an existing one, just for your cat. You can buy a cat tree, but it will require a significant investment, and the structure will take up a lot of space on the floor. A playset is a great option as it is flat and if you have a small apartment you can make good use of the vertical space. You can make a wall-mounted playset by hanging sturdy wooden boxes (like wine crates, but never thin cardboard boxes) or bracing it to the wall, and if you’re brave enough, even install the playset almost at ceiling height and stairs around the room. While you’re brainstorming, keep your pet’s safety in mind. Despite popular myth, cats don’t always land on their feet.

When animals are alone at home, they can be very playful and want to climb on pieces of furniture and sniff everything thoroughly, so creating a separate space will help your cat not get bored. “It’s very important to set up a dedicated space for when your cat wants to play,” explains PetMD. “Even if you don’t have an extra room to make a safe area for the cat, a corner of the room or a window will be enough.” Alternatively, you can use your pet’s favorite hiding place and hang shelves on the wall there. If she really likes a certain closet (which is available), remove all things from it and lay a blanket there. Cats like to hide in small spaces, so you will kill two birds with one stone: you will provide both height and safety.

Why don’t you make your own play set? Even if you can buy it ready-made, it’s much more fun and enjoyable to do it yourself! This homemade play set is very simple to make, but much more durable and stable than the store bought one. It is attached to the wall, and there is a leg on the floor for additional support, so the complex will not tip over, like a separate shelf or a shelf without support. More importantly, the sturdy construction of the playground allows you to install it either permanently or temporarily, which means you don’t have to drill the walls.

It will take about 30 minutes to make a homemade play complex for a cat from improvised materials that you can breathe new life into.

What you need:

• Two pieces of scrap wood plank (pressed wood works too).
• Roulette.
• Pencil or pen for marking on the board.
• 4-6 wood screws.
• Hand saw (or cutter if you have one and are comfortable using it).
• Drill.
• Furniture staples or furniture stapler.
• A hammer.
• Camouflage tape.
• A towel (a bedspread or leftover carpet will also work, depending on the type of material your cat prefers).
• Removable mounting plate.

How to do it:

1. One solid piece of wood will be the platform where the cat will sit. You also need to cut out a piece for the leg and one smaller piece for attaching to the wall.

2. Measure the height of the wall from the floor to the window sill or wherever you will place the platform.

3. Make a mark on the piece of wood where you want to cut it (tip: apply masking tape along the cut line to draw a straight line and make visible pencil marks).

4. Cut a leg/wall mount from a piece of wood long enough to position the platform at the correct height. The foot should be the same width as the platform so that the cat has a secluded place where it can hide.

5. Drill pilot holes in one end of the leg and wall mount and corresponding holes in the platform. The holes in the platform are needed to attach the mount to the wall so that the mount and the back of the platform are at the same level. This will ensure that the platform is firmly attached to the wall.

6. Attach the leg and fixing with wood screws.

7. Place the towel in the center and stretch it across the top of the platform. Make sure that the material does not go to the back side (then the complex will fit snugly against the wall). Tuck in the raised edges and secure with furniture staples or wood glue.

8. Attach removable mounting brackets to the back of the set or to the sides, attach the set to the wall (yes, this design will hold a big cat!). If you want to fix the complex for a long time, attach it with screws or wall anchors to the wall. 

9. And finally, put the complex in place and press it firmly against the wall to secure the adhesive elements.

It will be great if you place the design near the window! In this case, you will provide the cat not only with a secluded place, but also with an endless source of entertainment – from bird watching to spying on the neighbors.

Regardless of the location, your pet will enjoy the protection of the playground, especially if you wrap the platform with a very soft material. Of course, your cat may try to jump on the fridge, but this is unlikely because she will be too busy relaxing in her new place. This is a great solution for your pet to avoid dining and kitchen tables, especially if you can place the complex in a room where you and your cat spend a lot of time. If you’re cooking, chances are your cat will want to know what’s going on and will follow you around. The game complex in the kitchen will allow the cat to observe the situation and not interfere with you while you are doing your own thing.