How to Build a Cat Tree at Home

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Details

How to build a cat tree at home starts with a stable base, several climbing perches at different heights, and a scratching surface the cat can use. The Cornell Feline Health Center describes a home-built version made from pieces of wood covered in carpet, fabric or sisal and fixed together to create climbing perches. The Humane World guidance says a cat tree can be bought ready-made or made at home, and that vertical space gives cats climbing and rest areas. This guide explains the design points the sources describe, and larger cat towers show how the same ideas scale up, what they leave open, and general guidance on building safely.

Quick answer

A home-built cat tree should give the cat several perches at different heights, not one high platform.
Cover wood with carpet, fabric or sisal, which the Cornell guidance names as suitable materials.
Place the tree near a window if you can, because the Ohio State and Humane World sources both describe a view of activity as valuable.
Make sure the tree is stable before a cat climbs it, and check the fixings regularly.
Pair the climbing area with a scratching surface, since the Cornell guidance asks owners to notice the surface and orientation a cat prefers. For scratching options, see best cat scratchers.

Why height and multiple perches matter

The Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative describes a perch as a safe and private place where a cat can watch the room from above. It notes that cats like to climb, and that a perch can be anything that lets a cat lie, sit, sleep or look outside from above. The same guidance says more than one perch lets a cat look out at different angles, which is why a tree with several levels usually works better than a single shelf.

The Humane World guidance on indoor enrichment says a cat tree provides climbing opportunities and, in homes with more than one cat, creates extra play and rest areas by using vertical space. That is a practical reason to design the tree with a few levels, so more than one cat can use it without crowding.

Step 1: Plan the footprint and height

General guidance: decide where the tree will stand before you cut anything. A tree near a sunny window gives the cat a view, and a corner or wall can add support. The Ohio State page describes perches that attach to a windowsill or a custom-built perch, so a tree can be planned around a window frame as well.

Plan the height in steps. A low platform, a middle perch and a top perch give the cat a route up. Keep each step close enough that a cat can jump between them without a big leap, especially for kittens and older cats. The Texas A&M feline enrichment article notes that older cats with joint trouble may avoid hard-to-reach perches, so a lower route matters.

Step 2: Build a stable base and frame

The Cornell guidance describes a home build made by covering pieces of wood with carpet, fabric or sisal and then nailing them together to form a cat tree with climbing perches. For a sturdy build, a wide base and solid joints matter more than a tall, thin frame. General guidance: use wood thick enough not to flex under a cat’s weight, fix each joint firmly, and test each perch by pressing down on it before the cat uses it.

Use a base wide enough that the tree cannot tip when a cat jumps onto the top.
Fix each perch to the frame with screws or strong joints rather than relying on friction alone.
Check that no nail, screw or staple head sticks out where a cat could scratch or catch a paw.
Sand the edges of any wood you cut so the cat does not get splinters.

Step 3: Add scratching surfaces

The Cornell guidance on destructive behavior says a cat that climbs and scratches often prefers a post tall enough for a long stretch. It also asks owners to notice whether a cat scratches vertically, with its paws stretched above its head, or prefers horizontal surfaces. Those observations help decide where the scratching surfaces go on the tree.

General guidance: wrap at least one upright section in sisal or a similar rough material, and place it where the cat stretches before or after a climb. Keep the sisal tight so the cat cannot pull loose threads, and check it for wear. A scratching section is also a good place to rub catnip if the cat responds to it.

Step 4: Add cozy nooks

The Humane World guidance describes cat trees as spaces for play and rest. General guidance: a small enclosed box or a padded platform near the top gives a cat a hiding place for naps. Make sure the entrance is open enough that the cat cannot get trapped inside. Cornell’s guidance on cat trees also mentions crawl spaces and perches as part of a “kitty condo” design, so a small enclosed area can be a practical addition.

Step 5: Check safety before the cat uses it

General guidance: before the first climb, shake the tree firmly and check that each platform stays put. Look for loose staples, sharp edges and anything that could catch a claw. Keep the tree away from heaters, fireplaces and cords that a cat might chew.

Any cat tree can tip if it is heavy at the top and light at the base. Anchoring the top to a wall with a strap is a common step in home builds, and it is especially useful in homes with active kittens. The sources reviewed here do not describe anchoring in detail, so this step is general guidance.

Step 6: Watch how the cat uses it

Once the tree is in place, watch which perches the cat uses. The Texas A&M article says some cats prefer perches that face the outdoors while others prefer ones that overlook household activity, and advises mixing both kinds. If the cat ignores the top level, lower it or add a step in between. If the cat scratches a section that is not on the tree, move the scratching surface closer to where the cat already goes.

General guidance: rotate the tree’s cushions or padding if they wear thin, and keep the tree clean by brushing it regularly. A dirty or worn perch can put a cat off.

How we chose

We limited this guide to the Cornell, Ohio State, Humane World and Texas A&M pages we opened on 2026-10-27. We kept what those pages state directly and marked the rest as general guidance.

What we could not verify

The sources do not give measurements for the height of each perch, the width of the base or the size of an enclosed nook.
The sources do not give a specific fixing method or screw size for home builds.
The sources do not say how many perches are right for a particular number of cats.
The Cornell page describes the home build only in general terms, so the step-by-step cutting and fixing above is general guidance.
Product choice and ready-made comparisons are outside the scope of these sources and are not covered here.

FAQ

Can I build a cat tree without special tools?

The Cornell guidance describes a build with wood, covering material and nails. General guidance: a basic saw, drill and screws are usually enough for a simple design. Adjust the plan to the tools you have and to your skill level.

What covering works best on a home-built tree?

The Cornell guidance names carpet, fabric and sisal as options. Sisal suits scratching sections, and carpet or fabric suits platforms where the cat rests.

How high should the top perch be?

The sources do not give a height. General guidance: plan the top perch so the cat can reach it in a few steps and can see out of a window, without leaping from a high point onto a narrow shelf.

Is a cat tree the same as a scratching post?

No. A tree combines climbing, perching and scratching in one structure, while a post is a single scratching surface. The Cornell guidance treats both as ways to meet a cat’s need to climb and scratch.

Can a cat tree help a multi-cat home?

The Humane World guidance says extra vertical space can create more play and rest areas in homes with more than one cat. General guidance: more than one high perch helps cats avoid crowding each other.

When should I get a vet’s advice?

If a cat that was climbing easily stops jumping, limps, or avoids the tree entirely, ask a vet. A change in climbing can come from joint pain, and the Texas A&M article notes that older cats may avoid hard-to-reach perches.

Bottom line

A home-built cat tree works best when it is stable, gives the cat several perches at different heights, includes a sisal or similar scratching surface, and has at least one cozy nook. The Cornell, Ohio State, Humane World and Texas A&M sources agree on the value of vertical space and climbing options, but they do not give exact measurements, so the build details above are general guidance. Test every piece before use, watch which levels the cat prefers, and ask a vet if the cat’s climbing changes suddenly.

Sources

Cornell Feline Health Center, Feline Behavior Problems: Destructive Behavior: https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-destructive-behavior (opened 2026-10-27)
Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative, Perches: https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats/basic-indoor-cat-needs/perches (opened 2026-10-27)
Humane World for Animals, 10 Tips to Keep Your Cat Happy and Entertained Indoors: https://www.humaneworld.org/en/resources/10-tips-keep-your-cat-happy-indoors (opened 2026-10-27)
Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine, Feline enrichment (Pet Talk): https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/feline-enrichment/ (opened 2026-10-27)