All active felines deserve a place where they can roam around and explore. Cat ladders allow them to climb and explore, but they can be expensive, depending on the size and material. That’s why you might want to build your own from scratch, and we have a few suggestions.
In this article, we’ll examine six DIY cat ladder plans you can build, with directions, materials, and more!
The 6 DIY Cat Ladders
1. Cat Ramp Ladder by Instructables
| Materials: | 2 wood planks (1”6”x6’), screws, 3 hinges, nails |
| Tools: | Chop saw, square ruler, brad nailer, screwdriver, router |
| Difficulty Level: | Medium |
Although it requires professional tools and a decent number of materials, this cat ramp ladder has a lot going for it. It can be placed outside or inside, depending on your cat. The build consists of wood that features humps or holds that make areas easily accessible for your feline. You can always trim it down if the dimensions don’t fit the space.
2. Cat Tree Steps by Instructables
| Materials: | Carpet, square edge timber, plywood (½ inch thick), double-sided tape, sisal rope, angle brackets, plywood for the base, screws/wall plugs |
| Tools: | Saw, hammer, drill, screwdriver, measuring utensil, knife, staple gun, level |
| Difficulty Level: | Advanced |
You need several materials and tools to make this cat tree, but it can save you a hefty amount of money. The cat tree is sturdy enough for a medium-sized cat and has plenty of cushioning from the carpet to keep the surface comfortable. Each step is square, and some can be leaned against a wall to keep them from falling on their sides.
It’ll take a while to build, but your cat will love it!
3. PVC Ladder by Budget 101
| Materials: | PVC pipes, cloth, PVC primer, glue |
| Tools: | Knife or scissors |
| Difficulty Level: | Moderate |
The PVC cat ladder is a clever way to reuse leftover PVC piping. If you don’t have any, you can buy some at a home improvement store near you. Either way, the construction is relatively straightforward; it features five PVC squares covered with cloth to keep them lightweight but comfortable for your cat. You can also make them in any assortment of colors, and they can be used with multiple cats. Plus, the ladder even doubles as a cat bed!
4. Cat Tree Ladder IKEA Hack by Walkerville Vet
| Materials: | Lack wall shelf unit from IKEA (or something similar), drillable filler, extra screws |
| Tools: | Drill, screwdriver |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
If you want to make a cat ladder from a ready-made structure, this IKEA hack cat ladder is made with a LACK wall shelf unit, but it can work with a similar product, too. The creator removed corners from the offset shelves and attached the structure to the wall with a drill and a screwdriver.
We like the fact that this cat ladder doesn’t require several materials—all you need is filler, screws, a drill, and a screwdriver.
5. Cat Superhighway with Shelves & Stairs by WikiHow
| Materials: | Cat climbing shelves or regular shelves, pre-made cat furniture (optional), some furniture or shelving units already in your home, 10–20-pound weights |
| Tools: | Drill, screwdriver |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
For cats, variety is the spice of life. This fantastic cat superhighway by WikiHow Pet incorporates shelves that you can screw into the wall and arrange however you like and pre-made cat furniture you can reposition to make part of the highway or build your highway around.
These instructions show you how to complete the project, but you have a lot of freedom with this one. You can arrange the shelves and furniture to suit the look you’re going for.
6. Recycled Ladder Cat Tree by Instructables
| Materials: | Old wooden ladder, scrap wood, scrap carpet or carpet mats, staples, screws |
| Tools: | Screw gun, stapler gun |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
Do you have an old ladder lying around? You can repurpose it into this cool ladder cat tree. The creator made this cat tree to avoid expensive pet store prices and build something sturdy enough to withstand scratching.
To add variety, scrap wood pieces were added to lengthen some of the steps and make the structure easy enough for cats to access. Some sections are long enough to snooze on should they get the urge.
FAQ
Is It Safe for Cats to Climb Ladders?
Yes! Climbing is one of the feline’s favorite activities, as they do this to hunt prey and move around quickly in nature. Their agility and mobility are unmatched, so you don’t need to worry about them falling. Even if they have a mishap, they always land on all fours!
How Do I Get My Cat to Climb a Ladder?
Whenever something new is placed in their territory, cats inspect it thoroughly. Eventually, they will try climbing the ladder.
If they don’t seem interested, you can try slowly putting treats on the ladder steps to get them accustomed to the new addition.
Conclusion
Cat ladders allow cats to climb and explore their environment. It’s great that you can make something inexpensive to keep them off your precious furniture and keep them entertained. Some of the projects are more complicated than others, but we’re confident you’ll find one you like.
Featured Image Credit: izmargad, Shutterstock
