DIY Hi-cat pole

paddypaws101

http://www.hicat.co.uk/
I looked long and enviously at this web site for a long time...and then went and made my own DIY amd MSE version of the pole.
I got an inner tube from a carpet shop and covered it with an off cut of some wool berber carpet attached with a staple gun. I have just wedged it in place up to the ceiling and so far it seems to be able to withstand the weight of two full grown cats flinging themselves up and down it in tandem.
I have to say I am very pleased with the project and the cats LOVE it.

Mrs_Z

Super! :T

I want one!

SnowyOwl_2

That is a brilliant idea....I am going to have to go to the carpet shop very soon...

One of my new cats climbs onto the sofa like that, literally walks up the side of it. Maybe this will satisfy her craving to climb.

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhh fancy visiting Scotland and making me one!!!!

paddypaws101

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

Ohhhhh fancy visiting Scotland and making me one!!!!

Seriously, I have no DIY or practical skills at all, it was the simplest thing to do. You do need a heavy duty staple gun with the longest staples you can get, to get through the double thickness of carpet at the overlap seam.
I have been mulling it over for ages, and had made a mini version of around 1m high, covered in the cheapest Ikea sisal door mat, it has become the favourite scratching post here with lots of daily use.
I could not figure out a way to properly attach it at the ceiling junction, so just cut the pole about 1cm too long then eased it into position so it is jammed tight, it's held so far and they were up and down it in pairs for most of last evening.:rotfl::rotfl:

rising_from_the_ashes

Ahhhh the queen of DIY I am not! (could suggest several disasters but I'm too shy!!) - however, I may give it a bash ..... (when I pluck up enough courage & can get to a carpet shop!)

scaredy_cat

i think we need a video demonstration of the cats using it!!

oliven

If you are interested in building the bigger hicat poles, check out my pictures from my DIY project

(The link is presented in two parts... Put them together to visit. I couldn't post a link because I am a new user)

pinterest.com/
okonuskan/diy-hicat-system/

paddypaws101

http://www.pinterest.com/okonuskan/diy-hicat-system/
Looks amazing, and if those are your cats then I am in love!
What did you use for the tube structure? How did you afix the covering? Did you line the interior so they can climb up inside??

oliven

Yes these are our babies

I prepared the pole in time for their arrival... they are just over over 14 weeks both of them. One blue female ragdoll and one creme male ragdoll. They also have wonderful personalities to go with their looks

I used a 30 cm concrete forming tube for the base structure. I only put sisal carpet on the exterior due to the increased cost and complexity putting carpet on the inside brings into the project. Each of the three holes have a solid shelf about 5 cm below the bottom edge of the hole. The hole in the bottom is the least used one... I would recommend leaving the bottom untouched for 360 degree scratching possibility instead - also if you can use the bottom of the pole for storage is you make the shelf "liftable"

The smaller piece i made from the leftover pieces of tube and carpet doubles as storage for cat stuff.

I fixed the covering with PL600 "construction glue". I suppose any kind of construction grade glue will be enough. Worst thing that can happen is that the carpet starts to get peeled of later on - in that case just put some superglue along the edge.

I fixed a shelf in the bottom and the top of the tube. I used adjustable "furniture feet" on the bottom, and squeezed in some dishwashing sponges between the top and the roof. Right now it is VERY stable, although it might need better fixing to the roof when the cats grow larger.

paddypaws101

Please provide a specific link for the 'concrete forming tube' as I have never heard of such a thing and would not know where to buy one.