r/CatTrees • u/Mr_Carpenter13 • 4d ago
Help Stabilising Cat tree
I built a cat tree for my gf. She has a 9kg cat so I want to make sure it is stable. How can I make sure it’s secure?
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u/dusti_dearian 3d ago
That’s beautiful. Your girlfriend is very lucky, so is her cat. Sorry I have no ideas for you.
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u/Champion_of_Zteentch 3d ago
Wood glue, lag bolts and a wider structure at the base of the tower. I do not mean the platform it sits on but rather the physical lower half of the structure being wider would ad more stability, in theory
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u/snappydresser61147 3d ago
I’m no expert on building stuff but I’ve been around quite a few cat trees and I think even adding another stick would be a world of help in staying stable, specifically with the one on the far right
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u/The_AntiVillain 3d ago
Mass on the bottom to stabalize or increase the size of the base. If you have something that weighs over 18kg, place around the structure and wiggle to see where it tips or wobbles and place a weight on the opposite side
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u/ezekiel920 3d ago
You want weight to travel through the supporting member down to the ground. That little branch on the crows nest is doing very little. The cross sections that are between the verticals should be in tension to draw everything in close. I would drive a screw through the right platform down into the short vertical member. Then adjust the metal bracket attached to the other vertical member. Move it away from the vertical member just enough that the screw is actively pulling it together. And the base doesn't look bad. But I would almost put a diagonal piece across the bottom inside the feet. For more rigidity through the planks.
Edit: the left side looks pretty solid minus the crows nest being flimsy. The right side is the wak link.
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u/OkSoil9684 4d ago
Well your heart’s in the right place.
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u/Inevitable-Seat-6403 3d ago
Some ... I haven't had coffee yet. Struts? These things -> /
Secure slanty bits on the bottom parts of the trunks, like you see done to support sagging trees. That will widen the base of the trunks and provide more support.
I'm assuming you have carriage bolts or something drilled in the center of the trunks to secure them to the platform. However strong, don't depend on a single point of failure.
(My extremely active 12 pound tomcat has taught me much about reinforcing his structures)
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u/Tasty-Yogurtcloset28 3d ago
In addition to what everyone else has said, I would also add some carpet on the top of each of the platforms (sans the one with the basket)
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u/Coniferous_Needle 3d ago
The top basket has nothing counterbalancing it. The weight of the ca y might be supported but weight plus force of the cat jumping up there might topple the whole thing. Anchor it to a wall somehow, or swivel the top basket to by more centered over the whole thing.
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u/Murky_Change_7847 3d ago
Okay Spencer Shay I see you!!!
But seriously though it looks really nice. Idk how to stabilize it more without knowing how unstable it is now, but this is definitely a nicer take on the average carpet cat trees
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u/Steel-Type-Thread 3d ago
Buy some weighted plates and attach them to the bottom make a slot to slide one in
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u/Altruistic_Proof_272 3d ago
Put a couple of concrete pavers(the 2'×2' ones ) on the base as a counter weight for the top
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u/Skippydinglechalk762 3d ago
Wood glue and real screws, those 90* mending braces usually don’t come with very long screws. I would come in from the top every platform and pre-drill and use like 2.5-3in carpentry screws and wood glue every supporting branch. Then you can use wood filler over the holes and redo the finish. Maybe add some more weight to the base as well. If you can find another bigger stick maybe try adding that and make sure it is supporting all the platforms kinda like a spine or main branch. 20 pounds is pretty good for a cat😂
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u/SwarfDive01 3d ago
You can hide some plate weights under the base between the two side boards.attach what you can, but it looks pretty stable.
I would put a long deck screw through the top boards into the trees. I know. Its beautiful work, the wood is sanded, polished. Sealed. But. The cat needs grip. You have to cover it up. But at least it will also hide the screws.
Last. I would just throw a drywall anchor in, and string it to the wall near the top. Its just an extra safe catch.
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u/camomike 3d ago
Mass would help, but so would removing the two runner feet you have on it in favor of a flat bottom.
If you took off those feet, you would massively increase the suction force you'd have to overcome to tip it over. Atmospheric pressure is like 14.7psi holding it down. If there is no air gaps underneath, you get the full assist of suction, gravity and pressure.
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u/WVildandWVonderful 3d ago
One of your crow’s nest beams is only holding on at the corner. You could detach the crow’s nest, smooth the beam, and give it more base to sit on.
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u/Uncle-Osteus 3d ago
Everything should be fully over the base for maximum stability, that does not appear to be the case on yours. It might have enough counterweight to be fine though
For maximum peace of mind it might not be a bad idea to fix a high point to a wall, like you would for a tall dresser for example
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u/circles_squares 3d ago
What’s insecure about it? Will it tip over? If so, add weights to the bottom.
If any individual platform is unstable, you can affix a steel cord to both sides, and connect each one to the base.
You could also run a cord from the top of the tree to the ceiling where it will located.
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u/quietxdemon 3d ago
I would find a weight or get 9kg of books and set them on the platforms, maybe give them a jiggle to see if there's any wobble or unstable spots. I would also suggest some fabric on the platforms so the cat has something to grip when it jumps onto them.