How to hack together a modular Cat Ladder from Ikea bits
 

My cats are bored. If you're honest with yourself, yours probably are, too--let's face it, the average urban dwelling doesn't offer much in the way of excitement for felines genetically predispositioned to hunting in the jungle. So, in order to give them some exploration options (and because I thought it would be adorable), I decided to give them access to the top of my entertainment center from the back of one of my couches via a series of shelves spaced on the wall at with cat-navigatable spacing, aka a Cat Ladder.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...es/cattree.gif
(couch on the left, entertainment center on the right)

My requirements for this cat ladder were:

1. Sturdy and safe
2. Nonslip, kitty-friendly surface to protect overexcited kitties from sliding death
3. Attractive enough to blend in with the living room decor
4. Easy to fabricate in a single evening with minimal tools
5. Cost effective. I set myself a budget of a halfway decent retail cat playground-$80.


Some internetting turned up some interesting homebrew results using Ikea components, so I decided to go to Ikea and see what I could see that matched up with my requirements. Due to some compromises on size, and some sales, I was actually able to keep it down to $60. You might have to spend more if you don't think your kitties are nimble enough to use 7" deep shelves (they're also available in 11" or 15"), or if you want more shelves, or longer shelves, but the idea is generally the same. On to the hack...

Ikea Materials list:

ROSKILDE Rug x 1 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80100487 (I think, it was similar to this and on sale for $1.99)
BJÄRNUM 7 1/2" x 4 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10032411
JÄRPEN x 2 http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00110466
FIXA wall anchors and screws

Other supplies, in order of appearance:
Wood Saw
Scissors
Sewing Machine (or needle and thread + more freetime/patience than I had)
Hammer
Flexible Metal Puddy knife
Hot Glue Gun and Glue

Optional mounting supplies:
Stud Finder/Level/Drill with screw attachement

Directions:

1. Using your wood saw, cut your JÄRPEN to the desired lengths. I made the logical (and cost-efficient) decision to just make four shelves of equal size, so I just cut each of my 31" boards in half.
2. Cut a rectangle of your ROSKILDE rug the same shape and size as the top of each of your shelves.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8283.jpg
3. Hem this on all four edges by the method of your choice.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8284.jpg
4. Sandwich one end of the cover and the JÄRPEN into your BJÄRNUM bracket. Don't worry if you aren't perfect.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8287.jpg
5. Use the hammer to force the wood all the way into the metal bracket, and use your putty knife and hammer to straighten the fabric.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8296.jpg
5. Install the other side of the BJÄRNUM. Don't worry about getting the fabric sandwiched at this phase, it is way too frustrating and unneccessary.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8299.jpg
7. Using your puddy knife, drive the rug fabric into the crack between the JÄRPEN and the BJÄRNUM. This should take most of the slop out of the rug.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8301.jpg

8. Once the fabric is fully installed, lift the edges one at a time and apply hot glue to keep it from sliding sideways.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8308.jpg
9. And, you're done!

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...s/IMG_8311.jpg

Install in the location of your choice by whatever method you want. I recommend picking a stud for at least one side, and using the very-capable FIXA drywall anchors for the other side. It took my cats a couple says to realize that they had a new toy (I didn't want to force them onto it, the curious exploration was half the fun!) but now they use it quite frequently. They like being able to get to the highest point in the house, and I like being able to watch my cats be cute and the TV at the same time.

I will shoot some pictures this evening, if I think of it. Enjoy!

cool I look forward to seeing it.

ikea hacker has other cat creations from Ikea furniture.

stairway to cat heaven
compact kitty box
cat bed
stolmen cat gym
the cat pod
no pooper cat litter

Yep, I originally went out in search of Lack shelves to make Stairway to Cat Heaven, but I'm actually really pleased with how these turned out. Way more design-y. After I made it, I actually found another site that had used BJARNUM shelves for cats, but they didn't top them with nonslip rugs, so I'd be afraid of, as I said, sliding kitty death.

Edit: Here's another site that inspired me, http://katwallks.com/ They sell their version for between $30 and $50 a shelf, and they don't look nearly as nice (IMHO)...not something I'd want in my living room.

Ohhh I can't wait to see the finished product, you are quite clever!

What a great idea! My feline sniper will love it.

that looks awesome! exen better, it definitely can pass as a 'retail' item since it looks very clean. looking forward to the complete setup and some adventure-kitty pics.

Sorry for the crappy image quality, I couldn't find the DSLR, so here's some point-and-shoots.

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...catladder1.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...catladder3.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...catladder2.jpg

If you are paying attention, you'll note my plan called for four shelves (which I indeed constructed) and yet I have only installed 3. I underestimated the jumping abilities of my furry friends. I have one more premade, and am probably going to buy supplies to make two more, plus the stuff to make a nice padded corner balcony, and branch a second path off from the second step up leading up into the other corner of the room.

Edit: Also, no making fun of my dead sticks in jars. They rule.

Edit #2: A Few more closeups

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ladder-001.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ladder-002.jpg

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...ladder-005.jpg

Kitty thinks these three make him look fat, therefore the grumpy face. He also wishes daddy could have found the digital rebel, since it doesn't make his eyes look like satan.

our cats got a pole covered in the material used in office dividers that runs from floor to ceiling and is next to the bookcase so they lay on top of the bookcase and lord over us poor pleps on the ground! I very much like your idea of making another branch for them to play on. Do they lay on them and stop the other kitty using them as steps? I know my cats would.

That's pretty awesome. I wouldn't want to do it in my apartment, but I can definitely see doing it once I buy a house. Of course, with my fatass cats I'll need to make the steps large enough to attach to two studs or they'll rip out of the wall.

This is quite awesome! If I were a cat I would totally appreciate it if my human went through all this trouble. Or maybe not, cause I'd be a cat.

Very impressive though

Well, we got rid of our entertainment center, and our cats have grown. Our bigger orange cat can barely sleep on one of the 7.5 x 15" shelves anymore, and will scamper up the three steps and look longingly at where the armoire used to be. So, I decided to expand.

Current room:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...or/oldroom.jpg

New room plan:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...or/newroom.jpg

I have one 7.5x 15 shelf I never installed, so I'm putting that up, and I've already bought all the supplies I need to make two more delux shelves...this time I'm going with 11" shelves. I'm making one 11x18 bed, and one 11x18 bed with an auxillery scratching matt made from sissal rope wrapped around the shelf. My wife found a pet bed sewing pattern to make the beds, and I bought a fleece blanket and some scratch and dent pillows (don't ask me, I have no idea) to use for stuffing.

Big shelf detail, showing the bed and sissal rope portion (I didn't model the rope individually wrapped around, but rather as a chunk, since I'm not a glutton for punishment, but you can see where I'm going to clearance the shelf, and the holes I'm going to poke the rope through and tie a knot)
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c5...r/bigshelf.jpg

I'll document it as it happens :thumbsup:

I actually have 3 BJÄRNUM shelves in my office (above the desk). I think they are 12" wide (30cm or so) - the cats have been known to get up there (even though the shelves have heaps of other stuff on them - we also have a LACK shelf in our lounge room :

http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/60103632

This uses dry wall wall mounts (bought at the local hardware) rather than going into the studs - the cats climb on this all the time (knocking stuff everywhere) - the weight is certainly not al issue - our boy cat is pretty sizeable too!

Yes, they can jump a long way and you'd be surprised how well they can stop - I'm not sure you'd need the non-stick 'flooring', especially given how close together the steps are...

I'm impressed you can use a sewing machine :D

That was my exact thought!