Gyms, scratching trees and cat "playgrounds" are quite expensive. Many people who want to provide their pet with a structure to play with cannot afford them; for this reason you can build one yourself with inexpensive materials and some simple craft work. An artisanal gym allows the cat to have fun just like the commercial ones; moreover, you too can spend your time pleasantly while making it.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Build a Cardboard Playground
Step 1. Pile some boxes and tubes
You must use as many boxes as you can find, which are sturdy and of different sizes. You can get them for free at supermarkets, furniture, liquor, home, office, toy, or grocery stores. As for the tubes, you can keep those of toilet paper, kitchen paper, wrapping paper or those of pieces of cloth.
Step 2. Gather the materials needed to connect the boxes together
It is important to make sure they are appropriate for the cat; for example, if your cat likes to chew on cardboard, don't use glue or tape. Choose the products based on whether you want to disassemble some or all of the boxes at the end of the work or keep the structure always intact.
Step 3. Design the construction
Think about the shape that best suits the house and that can give comfort and fun to the cat. Decide whether to build several "rooms", each with different purposes; for example, you could set up an observation deck, build a sleeping room and a food room.
- Consider where you want to put the gym. If you opt for a window seat, the structure should have several openings and you should build it so that it does not block the light entering the room.
- You can consider putting it near a wall, so that it has more support or you can consider a self-supporting scratching tree; in this second case, you have to think about reinforcing the structure.
- Experiment with the arrangement of the boxes. Put some inside the others, connect two or more groups using cardboard monobloc tunnels or bridges made with long boxes; create steps with a series of small boxes.
- Experiment with windows, doors and hatches of various sizes; draw these openings before cutting the cardboard.
- Don't build a gym higher than four floors; remember that the taller the structure, the wider its base should be.
- Plan a way out. As you design the gym, consider building an "emergency opening" that allows you to reach the cat without having to tear or destroy it; this is important when you need to give your pet medicine or take it to the vet. If you have more than one cat, you need to be able to take them out of the gym in case they start arguing while inside; if they have recently been adopted or need attention, they may decide to get trapped in the scratching post and in that case you have to remove them.
- Design more than one exit for each box so the cats don't corner each other with their backs.
Step 4. Unleash your creativity with cardboard tubes
Use them as support poles in vertical structures, or you can use them to make swings; fold one or two in half and place them inside another for greater stability; finally, use duct tape to attach them to the base of a long narrow box you have drilled holes in. Puppies, in particular, have a lot of fun with the unexpected wobble that occurs when they move from one end of the tube to the other.
Step 5. Connect the boxes
It is easier to do this in the room where you plan to leave the gym. Once assembled, it's not easy to move and handle around corners, up and down stairs or through doors. Join the boxes by building tunnels with smaller ones and securing everything with glue and tape.
- Make the structure sturdy. If you have made a scratching tree that is two floors taller, you need to reinforce the first two levels with pieces of cardboard or something similar. Cut out the material to cover the edges of each box and to fit it in the corners; it also reinforces the "floors" and "ceilings" with flat cardboard rectangles.
- Make sure the gym is safe before allowing your cat to use it; shake it and tap it to check its resistance.
- Place items that weigh as much as the cat - or all cats together - on each section to make sure it can handle the pressure without difficulty.
Step 6. Make the property welcoming
Add soft surfaces to make the toy more comfortable for the cat; use materials that you can remove and wash. You can make a cat-sized pillow using old socks, pot holders, pillow cases, towels, T-shirts, or curtains. Sew all sides of the fabric except one and stuff the "bag" thus obtained with cotton or other washable material; at the end, also sew the last side.
Step 7. Decorate the scratching post tree with toys
Fill some socks with catnip or tie a rope so that it hangs from the frame. however, avoid objects that can cause suffocation or toxic materials. Add a fluttering "curtain" to the window or door, so the cat can hit it with its paw; if your little friend loves mirrors, stick one on the inside wall of a box.
Step 8. Show the toy to the cat
He may not immediately show interest in the gym, but by putting some catnip in it, you can help the animal break the ice. Place familiar toys or blankets inside the access box so that he is encouraged to explore it. you can also try to temporarily put the food bowl inside the gym. If the problem is where you put the structure, try moving it closer to the window or in direct sunlight.
Cats may also ignore the tree for days or even weeks before approaching; give them the time they need
Step 9. Watch the cat play
Watch him while enjoying the gym to understand which elements of the construction are most useful; over time, some pieces begin to wear out and sag. Use your observations to design the new gym.
Method 2 of 2: Turn a Furniture into a Cat Playground
Step 1. Build a scratching post tree with a step ladder
Buy a new one or use the one you already own; measure it and note the size of the spot where you want to place the tree. If you have opted for an old staircase, clean it thoroughly before bringing it into the house; you can also paint it in bright colors.
- Add boxes; tie or glue a box or two to a few steps.
- Add a pillow. You can tie a kind of hammock between the two sides of the ladder and put a pillow on which to sit the cat; if the animal does not like to swing, attach a piece of wood or a shelf between the rungs.
- Check that the scale is in balance; if the cat - or cats - sit on one side of the structure, it must not fall or collapse on the animals.
Step 2. Transform a library
Choose one you don't use or buy it. If it's sturdy enough to stand upright on its own, you don't have to make too many changes; if not, use furniture straps to secure it to the wall. Drill holes on each shelf large enough for the cat to pass through; cut squares of carpet to cover each shelf and secure them with glue, nails or staples.
Purchase a low pile carpet to discourage cats from chewing it; cut it into squares or rectangles of the same size as the shelves
Step 3. Purchase cat wall shelves
The sturdy shelves can be attached to the walls to form a sort of "ladder" or zigzag path that the animal can climb on. Measure the length of the cat and space the various shelves accordingly, so that it can jump from one to the other; then line them with fabric or scraps of carpet to provide greater adherence. Add a pillow or two to improve the comfort of the shelves.
Glue, nail or staple anything you put on the shelves, otherwise the cat can bump into them and cause them to fall
Advice
- Try building the structure with the children. If your child has a pet cat, he is certainly interested in making something to put in his room.
- If your cat's "gym" is small, occasionally change where you leave it so your cat doesn't get bored.
- Place mice or toy birds on all structures to attract the cat.
Warnings
- Be very careful when cutting materials near cats, as they may stick a paw between the blades of the scissors.
- Do not place a cardboard structure near a heat source such as a television, a portable radiator, a stove or a lamp: you run the risk of starting a fire.
- Do not use strings or ropes where the cat can become entangled or trapped.
- Do not put the cardboard frame in a wet place; leaving it in a damp room weakens the connections between the boxes or the entire building.
- Ask the clerk's permission before taking the boxes out of the store for the first time.
