If you’re even a little bit handy with tools, you can build a DIY cat tree. You can build a cat tree using wood, branches, rope, PVC pipe, carpeting, and many more materials. It’s a ​straightforward building project that you should be able to put together with ease for a reasonable cost. These 8 free cat tree plans include photos, diagrams, and step-by-step building instructions so you can build a cat tree that’s perfect for your cat and the space you have to put it in.

Below, you’ll find plans for the traditional cat tree but also for a cat condo, house, and simple stand.

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  • DIY Cat Tree With Real Branches
  • By Brittany Goldwyn
  • Brittany Goldwyn has designed this DIY cat tree that’s more than just fun for your cat, it also looks like a piece of natural art you can place anywhere in your home.
  • Using real tree branches, plywood, stones, rope, and faux greenery, your indoor kitty will love their new cat tower.
  • There’s a supplies list, building instructions, and color photos to help you build this beginning woodworking project.
  • DIY Cat Tree With Real Branches from By Brittany Goldwyn
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  • How to Build a Cat Tree
  • The Experimental Home
  • The Experimental Home has a more elaborate cat tree plan that includes multiple perches, a hiding spot, a hammock, and all sorts of places to scratch and play with toys.
  • Included in this free plan are a list of materials, written instructions, and color photos.
  • How to Build a Cat Tree from The Experimental Home
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  • of 08
  • Cat Tower Plan
  • Imgur
  • This free cat tower plan at Imgur stands 6 feet tall with 2 platforms—one at the top and one a few feet from the base, as well as an empty, carpeted inside for the cat to move up and down through.
  • There are several images in this plan as well as specific instructions on what to do to build the whole thing.
  • Cat Tower Plan from Imgur
  • 04
  • of 08
  • How to Make a Cat Tree
  • WikiHow
  • This is another cat tree that should be very simple to build. It’s made up of five platforms with four supporting beams.
  • The second half of this guide at wikiHow shows how to make a different cat tree by using an old wooden ladder.
  • How to Make a Cat Tree from WikiHow
  • Continue to 5 of 8 below.
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  • Kitty Tree
  • Ana White
  • This free cat tree plan explains how to build three platforms with ramps to access them. The estimated cost to build this is $20 to $50, and it should be easy enough to put together even for beginners.
  • There are a total of 10 steps in this guide, plus a tools and shopping list and several real pictures you can refer to as you move through them.
  • A PDF version of this plan is also available.
  • Kitty Tree from Ana White
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  • Kitty Condo Plan
  • Dadand
  • The website Dadand has this one-page PDF file that serves as a guide for building a cat condo as seen in this picture.
  • Including the bottom piece, this cat condo is comprised of four platforms and three support beams.
  • The whole project is estimated to cost around $25 and take two hours to finish.
  • Kitty Condo Plan from Dadand
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  • of 08
  • How to Make a Cat Condo from HGTV
  • HGTV
  • HGTV has a free cat condo plan that uses PVC pipe covered with rope for the stand and three baskets that are attached with brackets that are just waiting for your cat to hop in.
  • There’s a materials list, color photos, and written instructions to help you complete this project in an afternoon.
  • How to Make a Cat Condo from HGTV
  • 08
  • of 08
  • Building a Cat Tree
  • Ryo Shinyashiki / EyeEm / Getty Images
  • ShowCatsOnline.com’s free cat tree plan seems to have it all. It includes a top platform, small home, bed, and a tube, all of which are fully carpeted.
  • The plan shows you everything you need for putting this together, including the list of materials, all the basic tools required, and 15 steps.
  • Building a Cat Tree from Show Cats Online
  • The 7 Best Cat Trees of 2023 for Large Cats and Kittens

DIY Cat Tree With Real Branches

Brittany Goldwyn has designed this DIY cat tree that’s more than just fun for your cat, it also looks like a piece of natural art you can place anywhere in your home.

By Brittany Goldwyn

Using real tree branches, plywood, stones, rope, and faux greenery, your indoor kitty will love their new cat tower.

There’s a supplies list, building instructions, and color photos to help you build this beginning woodworking project.

DIY Cat Tree With Real Branches from By Brittany Goldwyn

How to Build a Cat Tree

The Experimental Home has a more elaborate cat tree plan that includes multiple perches, a hiding spot, a hammock, and all sorts of places to scratch and play with toys.

The Experimental Home

Included in this free plan are a list of materials, written instructions, and color photos.

How to Build a Cat Tree from The Experimental Home

Cat Tower Plan

This free cat tower plan at Imgur stands 6 feet tall with 2 platforms—one at the top and one a few feet from the base, as well as an empty, carpeted inside for the cat to move up and down through.

Imgur

There are several images in this plan as well as specific instructions on what to do to build the whole thing.

Cat Tower Plan from Imgur

How to Make a Cat Tree

This is another cat tree that should be very simple to build. It’s made up of five platforms with four supporting beams.

WikiHow

The second half of this guide at wikiHow shows how to make a different cat tree by using an old wooden ladder.

How to Make a Cat Tree from WikiHow

Kitty Tree

This free cat tree plan explains how to build three platforms with ramps to access them. The estimated cost to build this is $20 to $50, and it should be easy enough to put together even for beginners.

Ana White

There are a total of 10 steps in this guide, plus a tools and shopping list and several real pictures you can refer to as you move through them.

A PDF version of this plan is also available.

Kitty Tree from Ana White

Kitty Condo Plan

The website Dadand has this one-page PDF file that serves as a guide for building a cat condo as seen in this picture.

Dadand

Including the bottom piece, this cat condo is comprised of four platforms and three support beams.

The whole project is estimated to cost around $25 and take two hours to finish.

Kitty Condo Plan from Dadand

How to Make a Cat Condo from HGTV

HGTV has a free cat condo plan that uses PVC pipe covered with rope for the stand and three baskets that are attached with brackets that are just waiting for your cat to hop in.

HGTV

There’s a materials list, color photos, and written instructions to help you complete this project in an afternoon.

How to Make a Cat Condo from HGTV

Building a Cat Tree

ShowCatsOnline.com’s free cat tree plan seems to have it all. It includes a top platform, small home, bed, and a tube, all of which are fully carpeted.

The plan shows you everything you need for putting this together, including the list of materials, all the basic tools required, and 15 steps.

Building a Cat Tree from Show Cats Online

  • What can I use instead of a cat tree?
  • There are wall shelves for cats, hammocks, cat staircases, even window-perches.
  • What is the best material for a cat tree?
  • Sisal rope! Either woven and carpet-like, or wrapped around a tube.
  • Is it cheaper to buy or make a cat tree?
  • It is much cheaper to make a cat tree than to buy one!

There are wall shelves for cats, hammocks, cat staircases, even window-perches.

Sisal rope! Either woven and carpet-like, or wrapped around a tube.

It is much cheaper to make a cat tree than to buy one!

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