20 DIY Cat Tree Ideas You Can Build Today (With Pictures)

Cats are known for their love of climbing. Maybe your kitty enjoys dangling from a branch and pretending to be a tiger (like ours!) or likes to watch the world go by from an elevated position.

Cat trees are a great way to provide enrichment for your cat, allowing them to play and relax. Many cats prefer to sleep in an elevated position, which means cat trees provide the perfect place for them to feel safe and secure.

We’ve rounded up 20 of the very best DIY Cat Tree Ideas we can find on the internet today. And the good news is they’re all free!

So, from an adorable small tree based on a cactus to an epic design using a real tree trunk as the central feature, choose your favorite and learn how to build a cat tree of your very own!

For each plan, we’ve included the approximate level of DIY skill required, along with the materials and tools you’ll need to get started. Now let’s get going on the cat tower plans!

The 20 Most Diverse DIY Cat Tree Ideas (With Plans)

1. Cactus DIY Cat Tree from Nifty on BuzzFeed

Skill Level: Medium

There’s no need to worry about your cat picking up prickles from this super-cute Cactus Cat Tree plan from Tracy Raetz and Nifty on BuzzFeed.

Feel free to match the felt flowers to your house décor, and add a little catnip before watching your cat climb this super fun cactus.

2. Dadand.com’s DIY Cat Tower & Kitty Condo

Skill Level: Beginner – Medium

If your cat’s looking for a stylish place to hang out, build them this budget-friendly DIY cat tower from Dadand.com. Featuring 4 platforms, this is a great choice if you have multiple cats.

3. Instructables 21 Step DIY Cat Tree

Skill Level: Medium

Linda Rose on Instructables made this large cat tree using mostly recycled and reclaimed materials – what a winner! With multiple platforms and cozy spots for your cat to hide in, this is an excellent design if you have plenty of room to spare.

4. Instructables 7 Step DIY Cat Tower Plans

Skill Level: Beginner

If you’re looking for a quick and simple DIY Cat Tower, check out this version from Instructables. With just 7 steps, you can have this ready in just a few hours.

5. Real DIY Cat Tree Plans by Brittany Goldwyn

Skill Level: Medium – Advanced

If your indoor cat loves the feel of real branches beneath their paws, then treat them to this real cat tree by Brittany Goldwyn. This impressive cat tree features 3 platforms, faux vines, sisal scratching posts, and a rocky base.

Brittany does note to avoid using the faux vines if you think your cat might have a cheeky nibble!

6. Epic DIY Cat Tree Featuring Multiple Platforms and a Real Tree

Skill Level: Advanced

If you’ve just finished removing some trees from your backyard, you can use this post from Boredom Therapy as inspiration for an epic real cat tree.

7. Cole and Marmalade 5 Step Cat Tower Plan

Skill Level: Beginner

This easy cat tree from Cole and Marmalade uses a range of easy-to-find materials and of course, the plan can easily be adapted to suit what you have to hand.

8. The Experimental Home Large Cat Tree

Skill Level: Advanced

Set aside a day and your cat can be the proud owner of this large cat tree designed by The Experimental Home. This DIY cat tree will provide plenty of space for your cat to eat, sleep, hide, and play.

9. Cat Tower Tree from Imgur

Skill Level: Medium

If your cat loves to climb, then this Cat Tower Tree from Imgur will keep them occupied for hours. Featuring a hollow interior, our cat can climb both inside and outside this tree!

10. Ana White’s Cat Tree With Walkways

Skill Level: Beginner

If your cat loves looking down on life from up high, this cat tree from Ana White features long walkways for them to enjoy. What’s more, Ana suggests even a beginner DIY’er can complete this with her easy step-by-step plan.

11. HGTV DIY Cat Tree With Basket Beds

Skill Level: Beginner

This Cat Tree With Basket Beds from HGTV features a simple plan that uses a PVC pipe to create a tall tree. There are cute baskets for your cat to take a nap at various heights too.

12. WikiHow Ladder Cat Tree

Skill Level: Beginner

If you’ve got an old wooden ladder waiting to be thrown in the trash, WikiHow has an excellent tutorial with full instructions for how to convert it into a stunning multi-level cat tree for your lucky furry friend.

13. WikiHow Wood And Carpet Cat Tree

Skill Level: Medium

If you’d prefer to make your cat tree from scratch, WikiHow also has you covered with their detailed instructions for a DIY cat tree made from a combination of wood and carpet. With a cute little ladder and multiple platforms, there’s plenty for your cat to enjoy here.

14. DIY Network Carpet And Sisal Cat Tree

Skill Level: Medium

Give your cat plenty of room to scratch, sleep, and climb with this Carpet And Sisal Cat Tree from the DIY Network. With 3 platforms, there’s plenty of space for multiple cats. You should be able to build this in an afternoon too.

15. Southern Revivals Cat Tree Play Tower

Skill Level: Medium – Advanced

This beautiful, minimalistic cat tree play tower from Southern Revivals incorporates real branches alongside plenty of space for your cat to play and chill out.

16. Kristen’s DIY Cat Tree

Skill Level: Beginner

This cat tree plan cleverly upcycles an A-frame bookshelf to create a stylish cat tree with multiple platforms as well as cozy spots for your cat to sleep in. Because the majority of the construction is already made for you, you can concentrate on painting and adding cute accessories.

17. Instructables Cheap And Cheerful Cat Tree

Skill Level: Beginner

If you’re looking to make a cat tree on a budget, this cheap and cheerful version from Instructables uses a range of reclaimed materials including an old kitchen unit. Feel free to substitute any of the materials with something else you have in your garage.

18. Hallmark Channel Wood Ladder Cat Tree

Skill Level: Beginner

By combining two wooden ladders, this clever cat tree plan from Paige Hemsis on the Hallmark Channel means you can easily build this cat tree in an afternoon or less.

19. Instructables Wall-Mounted Cat Tree

Skill Level: Medium

This Wall-Mounted Cat Tree on the Instructables site is an excellent choice if you have an energetic cat and need a tree that is going to stand up to some serious climbing! By fixing the platforms of this tree to the wall, it’s made stronger and sturdier than your average cat tree.

20. Luxury Cat Tree from Show Cats Online

Skill Level: Advanced

Show Cats Online sure know a thing or two about cats. Their plan for a Luxury Cat Tree includes a carpeted tube, an adorable house, and plenty of spots for your cat to climb and scratch.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! A list of inventive DIY cat towers and trees. We hope you enjoyed our round-up of the very best free DIY cat tree plans available for you to try and hopefully you now know how to build a cat tree from scratch!

No matter what your level of DIY skill, there’s a cat tree plan to suit you – from a PVC cat tree plan to one using real branches for a touch of the outdoors.

And the good news is we can almost guarantee that your cat will be happy with whichever you choose!

See more:

• 10 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Trees — Reviews & Top Picks
• 8 DIY PVC Cat Tree Plans You Can Build Today (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock