How-to Make a Play Tower for the Family Cat

This is a great weekend project and a way to use an old box that you would otherwise throw away, especially if it's an old mailbox box or similarly shaped box.

Materials needed:

1. One cardboard box
2. Ugly fabric any print or solid
3. Glue sticks
4. Sandpaper any grade
5. Catnip toy (optional)
6. Old sock (fill plastic bag with sand and insert in sock)
7. Extra cardboard
8. Pencil or marker

Tools needed:

1. Duct tape (personal favorite tool of mine)
2. Scissors
3. Glue gun
4. Serrated knife (steak knife works- so I hear)

Instructions:
1. Open cardboard box on one side by separating at seam. This will allow placement of a sandpaper shelf.

2. Cut a flat piece of cardboard to fit box, allowing enough for a 2 inch flap on 2 sides. These flaps will be used to glue shelf inside box. This will be a shelf or middle landing area. Glue sandpaper, rough side up, onto cardboard shelf.

3. Center the shelf inside cardboard box, this doesn't need to be exact, just eyeball it, sand paper side up. Using glue gun attach shelf. Use duct tape and apply multiple layers to shelf and wall area to securely hold it in place.

4. Use duct tape to secure cardboard box back together at seam to hold its original shape.

4. Mark on the box, with pencil, where entry holes should be located. Carefully cut out holes.

5. Cut fabric to cover entire cardboard box.

6. Cover entire box with ugly fabric, even holes, these will be cut out later. Use glue gun to secure fabric to box, it works well.

7. Now find "holes area". Here you will snip the fabric in the center of each hole, then cut in a + sign pattern stopping ¼ inch away from cardboard. Pull these fabric flaps to the inside and secure with glue gun.

8. You've wondered now about the sand filled sock? The Cat box needs weight or kitty will surely knock it over, multiple times. So take the sock and duct tape it to the back of the box near the bottom. Sock can also be used in the bottom inside the box; cover completely with tape or kitty will find the sand.

Optional: Catnip toy can be attached to inside top of box.

This was a fun redneck project! Now that's some ugly fabric!

Conclusion: Need smaller cat, or maybe a bigger box. Ha! Enjoy!