CNCatStop - a Cat Tower for PSHS-MC

The CNCatStop is a cat tower designed specifically with PSHS-MC in mind. The school houses many cats, some rowdier than others. This tower was made to provide cats with an enriching place they can use to be by themselves. The cat tower is constructed with a modular design so components can easily be arranged to fit wherever needed.

Note: This Instructable is written with the assumption that the reader has basic knowledge on woodworking, CNC routers, and hand-sewing and sewing patterns.

Materials

-Plywood (see Step 1 on how to choose plywood pieces)

-Sisal rope

-Memory foam pillow

-Canvas fabric

-Sewing thread

Tools and Equipment

-Pencil

-Marker

-Tailor's chalk

-Ruler

-Needle

-Sandpaper

-Rotary tool (e.g., Dremel tool)

-Woodworking saws

-Woodworking clamps

-CNC router for wood

-Glue gun

-Wood glue

Measure the pieces of wood you'll be using. These are the minimum workpiece sizes for different parts of the Cat Stop:

Base (for mounting multiple components together) - 30x60cm, 1.75 cm thickness

Box sides (Long) - 36x30cm, 1cm thickness (at least 2pc)

Box sides (Short) - 30x30cm, 2cm thickness (at least 2pc)

Box top/bottom, 36x30cm 2cm thickness (at least 2pc)

Perch - 35x35cm, 2cm thickness

Scratching post - 4x5cm, 50cm height

Cuts for removing excess material:

• If you're using manual power tools to cut the wood, measure and mark the cuts you'll be making before you cut.
• If you're using a CNC router to cut the wood, set your corresponding toolpaths to "Profile" and the machine vectors to "Outside/Right". Make sure to add tabs evenly distributed around the edge.
• If you're using a CNC router to cut entry hole(s) into the sides of the cat box, set set your corresponding toolpaths to "Profile" and the machine vectors to "Inside/Left".

Cuts for inserting other components:

• The slot for holding a box should be slightly bigger than the bottom of the box (e.g., a 31x31 cm hole for a 30x30 cm box).
• The slot accommodating a scratching pole should be a friction-fit mortise-and-tenon joint (e.g., a 4x5 cm hole for a 4x5 cm pole). This slot should be on your base piece and your perch piece.
• Both types of slots should be at least 1cm deep.
• If you're using manual power tools to cut the wood, measure and mark the holes you'll be making.
• If you're using a CNC router to cut the wood, set your corresponding toolpaths to "Pocket".

Make sure to check your measurements before cutting the wood using your preferred method.

Tightly wind sisal rope around the post, using hot glue to secure it every 2 inches of rope. Make sure the sisal rope will not interfere with the mortise-and-tenon joints the post will eventually go in by marking the ends of the post beforehand.

If needed, trim down the memory foam to a size that will fit on top of the box.

Use a pillowcase pattern of your choice to make the pillowcase. For this project, I used a pattern for an envelope pillow case made with a single piece of fabric.

Glue the sides of the box to each other and clamp for at least 2 hours, but ideally for the entire drying time. Depending on how you position the piece while it dries, you may need to glue only one side at a time.

Use wood glue on the mortise-and-tenon joints to secure the perch to the scratching pole, and the scratching pole to the base. Let dry according to your wood glue's specifications.

Place the box inside its slot on the base piece to complete the cat stop.