Anything for the Boys

**mc-becca** · 2nd February 2013, 04:36 AM

Ok Kim -- Are you willing to share ideas with us? I really like this. I agree - we just can't part with $1,200 to get the cat tree of our dreams! . . . . and a toy drawer too! Love it - you did an awesome job!

**KimAZ** · 2nd February 2013, 07:18 PM

I hope this will help you make your own tree. We actually first tried to enlist a man who makes artificial trees but it wasn't going to give us enough control of the details.
1. Measure the area you have available for the tree. If you don't add the drawer, it can be much smaller than ours.
2. Order the tree trunks - we used 4 (3 whole and the 4th for support stumps). I wasn't comfortable using dead tree branches for fear of bugs. You can order on line. We got ours from the artificial tree maker here in town.
3. Decide on your foliage.

My husband made the base and added the drawer. Then we started to figure out where each trunk would be placed. At that point he built a grid inside so the trees could be securely fastened.

After the grid was made, he added the top of the base. The sides were still open so the trunks could slide through the holes in the top and be fastened to the wood below. We then took the tree into the house. It was getting heavy. We considered wheels but decided the tree wouldn't be moved very often. Then he started making the platforms - they have sides about .5 inches high so the carpet could be installed inside. We didn't want to see the carpet from below. We pre-planned where we thought they would go before installing the trunks. Once, the boys had tested the platforms

he added the sides of the box, the molding and I painted the wood. Then we trimmed the trunks of all small branches and anything that looked dangerous, I began adding the foliage and my husband added the carpet.

Next was the wait for the drawer front to arrive, install and paint. We were almost done and Buzz and Baxter were exhausted!!!

We love watching them in the tree. It is very sturdy which is good as they chase each other up and down at the speed of light and they are only 8 months and 13 plus lbs. It does shake, as any tree should, but there is no chance of breaking or coming loose. We are thinking we might add another platform and attach it to the wall and tree. A work in progress.....

**Dot Gordon** · 3rd February 2013, 06:22 AM

What a great idea, it looks totally amazing

**mc-becca** · 3rd February 2013, 10:10 PM

Kim - you and hubby are amazing! Thx so much for the step-by-step info on this fabulous tree! My hubby has been talking about doing this for a couple of months, hopefully this will inspire him to actually do it!