Build Your Own Cat Tree

  

Build the pictured four-perch cat tree measuring 2’ wide, 2’ deep, and 4’-6” high. Depending upon your preferences, upholstery, batting, carpet and/or sisal rope are added to complete the tree.

In these plans, upholstery and batting are indicated where carpet might normally be used. This is suggested because cats scratch the carpet to pieces and then eat the pieces. This leaves a ragged, bare patch that is difficult to replace. Therefore, a heavy upholstery material and poly batting are suggested for the perches, shelf and base. However, the use of carpet or upholstery are strictly a preference of the cat and their human companion. Either are accomodated by the wooden structure and plans.

For structural stability and usability, 1×2 supports are used at the tops of the posts, a support shelf is present in the middle of the tree, 2×4’s were used instead of 4×4’s, and two bolts were used per post instead of one. Further, the bolts are recessed so the cat tree doesn’t gouge floors.

MATERIALS

Perches—one 22” length of 12” Sono tube cut lengthwise into three curved sections.

Posts—two 8’x2”x4” pieces of lumber, each piece cut into 4’-6”, 2’-9”, and 9” lengths.

Supports—three 19” lengths of 1”x2” pieces of lumber (to span the posts at the top beneath the perches), and two 13” lengths to attach the Support Perch.

Support Shelf Perch—One 19”x13” piece of plywood, to span between posts (to act as a stabilizer) Base—two 2’x2’ pieces of 3/4” plywood.

Hardware—twelve 1/4” x 3-1/2” lag bolts, twelve flat washers selected to fit the bolts, heavy wire brad staples, staples (for staple gun), and twenty 1-1/2” wood screws.

Fabric and batting—four 26” squares, and one 34” square in the cat’s choice of color.

Misc.—500’ of 3/8” sisal rope (ten 50’ packs), wood glue, and 3” long nails. Tools—drill, screw driver, hammer, staple gun, wood clamps, measuring tape, pencil. Alternative: Eliminate the need for lumber and sisal rope by using clean, solid, bark-covered tree limbs or trunks approx. 4” diameter, cut to specified lengths.

DIRECTIONS

 

First, prepare posts and base:

 

Post Assemblies:

  1. Cut the 2×4’s into 4’-6”, 2’-9”, and 9” pieces (2 of each size).
  2. Drill two holes in the bottoms of each length of wood, using a template (see base instructions).
  3. Attach the 19” long support 1×2’s between the top ends of each pair of posts, spanning the posts like a beam. Attach the 9” pieces together, and the 2’-9” pieces, and then the 4’-6” pieces. Use nails to fasten these pieces. Put them between the posts, not on top of them.

Assemble the Base:

  1. Glue the 2’x2’ pieces of 3/4” plywood together to form one 2’x2’x1-1/2” base.
  2. After the glue dries, drill six holes along two opposing sides of the base about 2” from the edge. An easy way to do this is to draw a template on the underside of the plywood base. Draw a rectangle 1-1/2”x 3-1/2” (the actual size of a 2×4) just 1” from the each edge of the base in the corner, and repeat for each corner. Then draw a rectangle 1” from the edge in the middle of the base, and repeat for each side. You will have three rectangles in a row along each side of the base, 1” from the base edge, as shown below. Place two marks inside each 2×4 for the bolt holes.
  3. Countersink the holes with a 1” drill bit. This will allow the bolt heads and washers to be recessed into the wood, so you don’t scratch any floors.
  4. Cover the top surface of the base with the 34” square of fabric, by centering the base on the overturned square of carpet, wrapping the edges of the carpet around the sides of the base, and securing the fabric with staples tacked through the under side only.

Assemble the posts and base:

  1. Attach posts to base with the 3-1/2” lag bolts. Insert a bolt through a washer first, and attach the 9” post assembly in the front. Then attach the 2’-9” post asssembly in the middle, and finally the 4’-6” post assembly in the rear. This forms a ramp the cats can run up.
  2. Do not completely tighten the bolts yet. Bring them close to tight, then back them off a bit.

Attach the Support shelf Perch:

  1. Stand the tree upright. Clamp a 13” 1×2 between the 2’-9” and the 4’-6” posts, one on each side, on the inside of the posts. Be sure the base bolts are loose, so the posts are free to align themselves properly. Place the top of the 1×2 supports 21” above the base, and level them.
  2. With these shelf supports clamped in place, place the 13”x19” shelf perch on them. It should lay flat, and not wobble. Adjust the clamps and support 1×2’s until the shelf lays flat.
  3. Once the shelf is laying flat, remove it and attach the 1×2’s to the posts more permanently. While still clamped in place, screw them to the posts with the 1-1/2” wood screws (two per post). Then remove the clamps. (A screwdriver clutch drill attachment makes this easy work.)
  4. Now screw the 13”x19” shelf to the 1×2 supports. Use three screws per side.
  5. Now tighten the base lag bolts.

Attach the Perches:

  1. Cut the 12” diameter Sono Tube (available in the Concrete Formwork section of the hardware store) into thirds lengthwise, to form three curved sections 22” long.
  2. Place one section on top of a post assembly. Screw it in place using the wood screws. Put two screws in each 2×4 post. Repeat for each perch.
  3. Cover each curved section of tube with poly batting and a 24” square of fabric, placing seams on the the under sides of the perches, attaching the fabric with staples. Also cover the Shelf Perch with batting and fabric, stapling to the underside of the shelf.

Wrap the Posts with Sisal Rope:

  1. Start at the base of the post, and use heavy wire brads and a hammer. Fasten the rope to the bottom of the post, and begin wrapping. Every 6 or 8 winds, tamp the rope down with a hammer. Fasten the rope in the back of the 2×4’s only, so the fasteners don’t show.
  2. At the shelf perch, we cut small sections of rope and attached them individually around the 1×2 shelf supports. Then we continued winding after we passed the shelf. One 50’ pack of 3/8” sisal rope will wrap about 20” of 2×4.

Cats luuuv these trees!

Adapted from the Furr Angels! and Cats Haven web sites. Originally published in the June/July 1994 issue of PETA’s Animal Times. PETA materials are not copyrighted and may be distributed freely.  

 

 

More Tigers in US As Pets Than in the Wild

Like most people who saw the film, I cracked up when I saw the tiger in The Hangover. It was, like the rest of the film, absolutely absurd—and though I do not support allowing animals to be a part of human entertainment, I pretty much couldn’t help but laugh.

Having tigers as pets, however, is no laughing matter. When I recently read that there are an estimated 5,000 or more tigers being kept as pets in the United States right now—and that there are less than 3,300 in the wild—I just could not believe it. Not only is this a grotesque imbalance, it also symbolizes a strange, macho obsession with wanting to reign supreme over these mighty beasts (whom, without guns, we’d be terrified of in the wild) and use them as some sick status symbol.

The black market for tigers is actually a multi-million dollar industry that certainly isn’t helping with tiger conservation efforts or retaining the species at all. Instead, it is a sure way to help the species deplete just as rapidly—if not more so—than it has from poaching in the first place. Not only that, but the weak regulations that we have in place are causing a huge danger to the health of humans as well—not just of the tigers’ owners but also to neighboring families and their children, a problem that parents should demand attention to.

Most of the tigers in America aren’t in zoos, as some people might guess, but are kept by private citizens who are not regulated and who often treat the tigers inhumanely under unsanitary and unhealthful conditions. Tigers that get barely any room to move around in zoos get even less in private homes where they are often caged. Plus, many people opt to kill their tigers and sell their body parts for a hefty price on the black market in Asia!

In order to combat these issues and grant tigers the protection the endangered species should already be given, we need to stand up and take action for them today by asking Congress to save the tiger species. We need regulations in place to require citizens to report not only the tigers they own but also any tiger births or deaths that occur in their homes. Investigations need to take place in order to properly monitor the tigers, and their deaths need to be taken care of humanely and respectfully through cremation rather than the selling of body parts. Click here for more information and to send a letter to your representative.

HOW DO You CLEANN A JUICY COUTURE VELOUR BABY PINK PURSE?????

I've had my purse for a while I've take it and set it where there's dust now the edges are dirty with the dust and the top I learned my lesson never to set it where there could be dust I heard once this material is ruined by water! And soap it won't ever b the same PLEASE SOMEONE HELP this purse is nice! I have otheress but I just got a juicy velour sweater to match this purse 

My Dear Friend, Mr. Blues

A dear friend of mine named Mr. Blues had just passed away about three months ago. He never got to experience the last beautiful days of summer. I met Mr. Blues about a year ago during the summer of 2009. I remembered summer was beginning soon in early June revealing nice warm, cozy, and breezy summer weather forecasted over the beautiful eastside town of Washington. Mr. Blues was very fond of summer weather. Seattle is known for raining most of the year and having short summers. He especially loved rainy days of the beautiful Northwest as well.

I remembered very precious moments and times of taking care of Mr. Blues, his siblings, and his mama Ruby. Mr. Blues was known as the “pack-leader,” “hunter,” and “warrior” out of the group. Mr. Blues is the oldest sibling out of the bunch. He had lost a twin brother years ago whose name Mr. Red was very similar and identical to him. The lost of his twin brother affected him deeply. He had this amazing, special bond with his brother that was so breathtakingly passionate and loving. Mr. Blues has looked after his other siblings by teaching and mentoring them along their “cat lives” together.

Remember a common myth that “cats have nine lives?” In many cultures, this famous myth is still believed to this day that cats do certainly have “nine lives.” This myth is most important because many people believe that cats have this keen sharpness, body swiftness, and sense of balance that keeps them entirely focused to avoid and escape life-threatening situations. Mr. Blues is most definitely one of those special people that have escaped many life-threatening situations such as battling an illness, cuts, scrapes, fights with other creatures, and miraculously surviving after all those brutality. Not only is Mr. Blues a beautiful feline, but a dear, wonderful friend of mine. He has touched my heart in so many ways. Thinking back of all the special moments and times I have spent with him had deeply affected my life in a personal way. I am very proud to have Mr. Blues as part of my life. He is a very strong individual with a special spiritual bond to people closest to him. Mr. Blues undying, compassionate love for others can be truly seen on his face with a beautiful smile of warmth and kindness. 

My dear friend, Mr. Blues had emotionally touched my heart and changed my life. In words, he had a strong heart of gold, love, energy, compassion, patience, and enjoyed his freedom running out in the wild forests near his house. His childhood hobbies included hunting, scavenging, picking small fights with his siblings, being playful with the neighbors, and most importantly, touching all the lives of people who have met him. He demonstrated passion, charisma, and love for those who have treated him with respect. His warrior-like attitude reminds me of him fighting in many endless battles trying to fight for freedom and world peace. What is so special about him is the fact that he only has one eye and no tail. He was born 12 years ago with no tail and developed a loss of one eye due to a glaucoma condition. Nursing him back to health was an incredible journey for me. I will always remember those memories. Mr. Blues was an incredible dear and loyal friend of mine. I will always truly remember him in my heart and prayers. Mr. Blues will always be a very special part of my life forever. You will always be remembered and missed deeply. R.I.P. my dear friend.

How to Build an Easy Cat Cubby

Cats adore climbing toys—in fact, without toys, they’re likely to climb up on top of your refrigerator, the kitchen cabinets, in windows, or wherever they like! Most cat lovers probably don’t mind these lounging spots, but it’s also nice to provide cats with appropriate, safe places to ascend as well.

My husband built me a quick and cheap cat tower for my office since the cats and I are always fighting over my footrest and they have taken to it so well. In fact, the two are snuggling in the lower shelf (they don’t much care for the top shelf all that much yet) as I type.

I have a corner in my office where two shelves on adjacent walls don’t quite meet—they are about a foot apart, though they’re deep, so they create a nice, large crevice between them. It was pretty much wasted space. So my husband took two pieces of plywood and built small supporting beams beneath them and screwed them in to fit snugly between these two cabinets. Bingo—instant cat tower!

Of course, that’s not all you have to do; you have to make it cozy. He cut out the tip of one triangle to make it wide enough where the cats can easily jump up to the top shelf. Though they’ve both explored it and can fit well, they seem to prefer the bottom one still. (I actually wonder if we put in another shelf as a “roof” they might like it better?) Then you have to put something soft to make it comfortable, like a scrap of carpet or a blanket. We’re using a couple of my old sweaters that the two seem to really enjoy. He also hung a big, sparkly pom pom ball from the center of the bottom of the top shelf for them to play with. Cats would also surely appreciate the addition of some catnip, if you feel so inclined.

If you don’t have a corner like the one I described, you can still easily do this in any corner of your home provided that you build sides to it, too. You could also make it on the floor, such as under a desk or in some unused space.

Finally, if you want to go even more intricate, you could always use one of these elaborate tutorials. I think we may have to make some of these ourselves…

"The Other Cat" According to Kitterman

So... About a few months ago, this new cat comes on my turf one day, and Mom tells me I have a new playmate and will be staying with us from now on. Too bad it's not one of the bunnies from the mansion. Damn. It has been a few months now and apparently she’s not going anywhere soon since her human mom and big sister stays with us too. She’s quite the cougar I’d say, about 5 or 6 years old in human years I think. She’s quite voluptuous, all black with just a small patch of white on her chest, and have the most piercing emerald eyes a cat can have. She is kinda hot. However, occasionally, she swats at Mom and randomly hisses at people as they walk by.
    Since I’m a youngster, I like to play. A lot. She, on the other hand is not quite so into being playful. Therefore, sometimes I get accused of harassing her at times. I chase her around the place, up the stairs, down the stairs, in to the bathroom, and out the door. Gotta find a way to entertain myself, y’know. I eat her food, and use her litter box. Yea… I’m a bad boy, what’s not to love? Occasionally, my human mom would accuse me of being a “peeping tom,” well, I am a tom after all. Wait… Not so much anymore since they had me fixed. I want my balls back dammit!
    Even though it’s been a few months things are getting a little better now though, but still bump heads and chasing each other around a bit.  She only chases me ‘cause I get in her business a lot. We kinda share the same feeding station now, but don’t eat at the same time. It’d be better if we were on the same diet, but we’re not: I’m till on kitten food and she’s on something that’s supposed to keep her from having fur balls. She’s also got quite taken to my litter box recently as well, but unfortunately, that means more work for Mom.
    Seriously though, it sucks sometimes, ‘cause between Mom taking care of her human baby, my “little brother” and dealing with the introduction of this new playmate of mine, I don’t get to be the only attention hog in the house anymore. Bummer. At least I got the chair and some times when Mom’s friends come over to visit, I get to be picked up, petted, doted on, and be told how soft my fur is. Ah, ‘tis the life of feline like me. -

Kitterman - Dealing with Baby's Arrival

   My cat, Kitterman and I have a special bond that any pet owner would know of. He has similar markings that Tom from “Tom and Jerry” has, gray and white, with faint stripes and satellite, pointy ears. I had him since he was a wee little kitten. He slept on my bed, next to me on my pillow. He even traveled with me on the plane, about a six-hour flight, when I had to move back home earlier this year. Then a special little person came along, my son, who is now 5 months old. Boy, did that put a monkey wrench in our feline-human relationship.
    Since my little one stays in my room now, Kitterman was not allowed to be in there with me. He didn’t quite understand why he was suddenly locked out of his spot. My room was supposed to be his sanctuary, but it was taken over by this little thing wrapped up in blankets. Oh did he meowed and scratched at the door, but finally after some time, he got the message, Mama wasn’t gonna let me in there anymore. However, that little rascal manages to sneak in once in awhile if I’m not paying attention.
    Soon he found another spot, my dad’s office chair. He wasn’t allowed on it at first because he used it as a scratching post as well. Then my dad caved, well, he didn’t want the chair anymore so why not let the cat have it. Kitterman has definitely claimed this chair as his because he has, many of times, “kicked” me off of it when I had to use my laptop or walk on my keyboard, or play with anything he can get his paws on to annoy me enough to make me leave so he can have his chair back.
    Having the little one did put a strain on our relationship because I went from being his constant companion to someone that ignored him a lot bound by my motherly duties. I felt really bad for him, so my dad would try to give him as much attention as he could despite having a hectic schedule himself. But I think things are better now that my little one is older. I do let Kitterman in my room if I’m not in there with the baby and is supervised should I happen to be in there with the little tyke.
    Yes, it’s hard to give your pet the necessary attention it needs from you when you got a little one to handle, but even giving a scratch under the chin or some treats does let them know you still love them. Since Kitterman is less than a year old, I know my son and him will have a fabulous bond in the years to come and be my son’s very first family pet.

Ikea: Herding Cats -- the Making of a Viral Video

Ikea UK created a new commercial, featuring 100 house cats, many from employees, that were released into an Ikea store, in Wembley, England, at night after customers had left. These cats are not stunt animals, and the point was to see how, and where, in the Ikea store, loaded with Ikea home furnishings, would make themselves "at home." They had the owners on site, five camera teams (including an infra red camera), vets and professional cat-wranglers, all on hand, and they blocked off parts of the store. The music in the commercial is "Pianni," by Mara Carlyle. It's quite interesting to watch the difference between the cats as individuals, and the extreme difference in behavior between the adults cats, and the kittens. There's a second video embedded below with a behind-the-scenes look at the actual filming.

It's an extraordinary clever advertising campaign; you've got the cute and amusing cats exploring Ikea, showing Ikea products off with the tag line "Happy Inside," and then you've got the "making of video," which has helped make the actual commercial become very popular in short order. I suspect that part of the intention by the very expensive (and newly hired advertising agency) was to have the commercial go viral. It hasn't done that, but I suspect the success of the commercial in terms of popular appeal will encourage other agencies to do similar "dual video" releases.

The "making of video," suitably titled "Herding Cats," notes that at one point a cat managed to get over a barrier and inside a crevice—which meant that they cut a hole in the wall to let the cat out (unharmed). There's something rather natural in the way the cats climb to high spots, with territorial advantage, or find other cats to form a pack, however temporary, or hide, or, as the kittens do, happily explore and play without needing to exert dominance or claim status.

Happy Inside commercial

"Herding Cats: The Making of the Ikea 'Happy Inside' Commercial"

What Color Is Your Cat's Parachute?

I recently listened to an episode of Radiolab which was dedicated to the concept of falling.  One segment covered the topic of falling cats. 

As everyone knows, a cat always lands on its feet.  (Not to mention the buttered cat paradox: if toast always lands butter side down, and cats always land on their feet, what happens if butter the top of a cat?)  But the physics involved in this maneuver are truly impressive.

In order to right itself as quickly as possible, a falling cat relies on a fairly sophisticated use of physics.  It twists its front half around to face the ground, and then its rear half. 

But it doesn't do this the usual way; instead, the cat conserves the angular momentum created by its fall, by sticking out its back feet to create drag (so that the front can swing around more easily), then sticking out its front feet (to bring the rear around).

Obviously, cats paid a lot more attention in physics class than the rest of us.

Cats are tree hunters, ambush predators, which makes them prone to falling.  And so you might expect that they would fall quite well.  Darwinian evolution will quickly weed out the cats who fall poorly.

In fact, veterinarian clinics reported an interesting phenomenon which has been dubbed "High Rise Syndrome."  In one summer in New York City, a vet clinic recorded an average of four cats falling from apartment windows a day.  A veritable "rain of cats," as they pointed out on Stereolab.

Below five floors, cats survive falls.  Above nine floors, cats survive falls.  But there's a "danger zone" between the fifth and ninth floor, where the injuries sustained by the falls are most often fatal. 

The hypothesis is that once the cat hits terminal velocity (the speed at which the cat will fall no faster) it relaxes, and its loose skin forms a sort of parachute to help increase the cat's drag and slow it down.  In fact, a cat's terminal velocity is somewhere around 60MPH, which is often not fast enough to be fatal.

This parachute theory is called the "flying squirrel hypothesis."  But as tempting as it is to imagine cats zooming and swooping around the city, there may be a more prosaic explanation.

When this topic came up among Ask Cecil fans in the late 1990s, they pointed out that these studies may be suffering from a fairly serious selection bias.  Since the studies are conducted by veterinary offices, they reflect only the cats which are brought into the office. And no one brings their dead cat to the vet.

Therefore, the real number of falling cats is probably far greater than four per day.  It's just that the cats who don't survive are mourned, but not taken to the vet.  Unfortunately no more comprehensive survey of all falling cats has been undertaken to date.  (I imagine the logistics of such a study would be difficult at best.)

In the mean time, as Cecil points out, it's not that ALL cats survive ALL high falls.  It's that SOME cats survive SOME high falls.  Please be sure to keep screens on your windows when they are open, and never leave a cat unattended on a balcony.

Photo credit: Flickr/Sean94112

by Nature Pet Food Online Rebate - Try it FREE!

The pet food brand by Nature is offering to buy you your first bag of pet food - well, in the form of a rebate - this stuff is actually pretty decent from what I have heard and I believe most, if not all of the products they sell are organic. All you need to do to take advantage of this offer is click here to fill out the form for the rebate and then it will be mailed to you. Then I assume you just purchase the food, fill out the rebate, send it in and get your money back - just to try something new! You could even purchase the bag of food online - so you don't need to leave the house (except those "potty walks" of course)!

There are two simple things you should give your pets: the gift of pure love and the best food for their health.

Corn, wheat and soy can be tough on your pet's digestive tract. That's why you'll never find it in a bag of By Nature® pet food. Crafted with only the best ingredients, our all-natural and nutritionally complete pet foods ensure long and active lives. So every time you put it in a dish, it says,
“I love you.”

I am actually a fan of rebates - some people hate the idea of going through all the trouble but FREE is FREE - and the checks always come as a sort of surprise! I am so down with this - and I bet my little lady will love the stuff (although she is a little picky so we will see!).

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