Mid-Century Modern Cat Tree

Directions

• Cutting Pieces for Cat Tower

  -Cut 1/2” plywood into 4 pieces that are 15” by 25” and 2 pieces that are 14 7/8” by 15”
  -Take 2x4s and cut 12 pieces at 13 1/2”

  Tip: No Table Saw

  If you don't have a table saw you can use a circular saw with a Kreg Rip Cut.

  

• Putting Together 2x4 Post Pieces

  -Take 8 of the 12 2x4 pieces and drill 2 pocket holes on both ends of each board.
  -Take 1 of the 2x4 boards without pocket holes and put it in-between 2 of the boards with pocket holes.
  -Use 2 1/2” screws to screw the three 2x4 pieces together.
  -Repeat until you have 4 post pieces.
  

• Visual Aid

  -I just wanted to add this so you know what post and platform I'm talking about to build the cat tower and also when adding slatted boards.
  

• Putting Together Base and 1st Post Piece

  -Take 2 of the 15” by 25” plywood pieces and attach them using wood glue and 3/4” screws.
  -Measure to the middle of the base (7 1/2” and 12 1/2”)
  -Measure to the middle of one of the 1st post pieces (2 1/4” and 1 3/4”)
  -Line up the middle lines on the base and 1st post pieces and use pocket holes with wood glue and pocket hole screws to attach first post pieces.
  

• Adding 1st Platform and 2nd Post

  -Take 1 of the 25” by 15” pieces (1st platform) and measure to the middle (7 1/2” and 12 1/2”)
  -Line up the middle of 1st platform onto the 1st post and use wood glue and pocket hole screws to attach first platform.
  -Measure to the middle of 1st platform (7 1/2” and 12 1/2”)
  -Take another post piece (2nd post) and measure to the middle (2 1/4” and 1 3/4”)
  -Line up middle lines and use pocket holes with wood glue and pocket hole screws to attach next the 2nd level post.
  

• Adding 2nd and 3rd Platforms

  -Take 1 of the 14 7/8" by 15" pieces. Measure to the middle of the 15” long side (7 1/2” )
  -Place the 2nd platform piece on the 2nd post. Line up the edge of 14 7/8” side with edge of the 2x4 post piece. Line up the middle of 15” side with middle of the post piece.
  -Measure to the middle of platform piece again (7 1/2”)
  -Measure to the middle of the 3rd post piece (1 3/4”)
  -Line up those middle lines placing the 3rd post piece on the edge of the platform. Then use pocket holes with wood glue and pocket hole screws to attach 3rd post piece.
  -Then repeat the step for 3rd platform and 4th post piece. Just make sure to put the 3rd platform on the other side of the cat tower.

  Tip: Middle Platforms

  The middle two platforms stop at the edge of the middle post

  

• Before Attaching Top Platform

  -Cut a hole in the final platform
  -I used a 6 inch hole saw and cut two holes next to each other and then used my jigsaw to clean up the hole. You can also draw a hole and use a jigsaw to cut it out. Drill a small hole to get the jigsaw blade started.
  

• Attaching Top Platform

  -Measure to the middle of the final (4th) platform. (12 1/2" and 7 1/2")
  -Measure the middle of the final (4th) post (2 1/4” and 1 3/4”)
  -Line up those middle lines and this time skip pocket holes and screw through the top of platform into middle post piece using 2 1/2" screws.
  

• Cleaning Up the Look of Cat Tower

  -Use a paint or stain of your choice to finish each of the platforms
  -Use 4 packs of 3/4” by 50’ rope pack and wrap it around the middle post. Use 1 1/4” screws to attach rope. (I used blue hawk twisted sisal rope)

  Tip: Stretching the Rope

  Soak the rope in water before wrapping it around the post. This will help stretch the rope around the post and it will tighten up as it dries.

  

• Cutting Slatted Pieces

  -Take three 1x6s and use a table saw to cut them into 3/4” pieces.
  -Then use a miter saw to cut 7 pieces at 44”, 11 pieces at 15” and 14 pieces at 29”.

  Tip: No Table Saw

  If you don’t have a table saw you can get 1x2s and use those for slatted pieces

  

• Front Slatted Boards

  -Take all seven 44" slatted pieces and attach them to the front of the cat tower. They will run from the 1st platform to the 4th platform. Use an extra slatted board to help with spacing between each board.
  -Take 4 of the 15" slatted pieces and continue the slatted board across the front running from 1st platform to 2nd platform.

  Tip: Pneumatic Nail Gun

  If you have a pneumatic nail gun I recommend using that. To keep this project beginner friendly I used a nail and hammer.

  

• Side Slatted Board

  -Take the rest of the 15" pieces and attach them to the side of the cat tower. These slatted board will run from 1st platform to 2nd platform. Use a scrap of slatted board to space out the boards.
  

• Back Slatted Boards

  -Take 7 of 29" pieces and attach them to the back of the cat tower. Attach them to the 1st platform and 3rd platform.

  Tip: Opening to Bottom Platform

  There will be an opening in the slatted board for access to the 1st platform

  

• Final Side Slatted Boards

  Take the final 7 boards and attach them to the side of the cat tower. They will run from the 1st platform to the 3rd platform.
  

• Adding Fabric

  Optional- Cut some fabric for the 2nd and 3rd platform. Use carpet tape to attach fabric.
  

• Complete Cat Tower

  -That completes your MCM inspired cat tower. Now it's time to sit back and watch your cats enjoy your handiwork!