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Get Creative for Your Cat: A Step-by-step Guide to DIY Cat Tree Customization

Get Creative for Your Cat: A Step-by-step Guide to DIY Cat Tree Customization

Posted by Armarkat on 31st Jan 2025

 

Get Creative for Your Cat: A Step-by-step Guide to DIY Cat Tree Customization

Did you know you can customize Armarkat’s wooden cat trees? It’s easier than you might think! Each Armarkat cat tree comes with all the necessary parts for assembly, so the only extras you’ll need are non-toxic paint and a pet-friendly sealant. Whether you prefer a simple touch-up or a bold, creative design, the choice is yours—let your imagination run wild!

Step 1: Select a wooden Armarkat cat tree

When choosing a cat tree, consider its height, width, and style based on where you plan to place it. Think about whether it will go in a corner, by a window, or near other furniture, and select a design that fits seamlessly into your chosen space.

We chose Premium Pinus Sylvestris Wood Cat Tree S6905 for the lovely contours of its different platform shapes, including a creative mix of a hexagon, circle, square, and rectangles.



 

 

Step 2: Plan your custom painting

When you receive your wooden cat tree, start by laying out all the pieces and reviewing the diagram to visualize how everything fits together. You can keep your design simple with solid colors on every section or get innovative by painting pet names, images, or patterns that complement your décor. In our case, we left some areas plain in order to maintain harmony with the surrounding space, while adding personal touches that still blended seamlessly with our style. Since green is the favorite color of both cat parents we were designing for, it was the perfect palette choice for the DIY cat tree.

Step 3: Prime the wooden pieces

To keep your pets safe, make sure they stay away during the rest of the customization process. Choose non-toxic paints, such as kid-friendly acrylics, to ensure the materials are safe for your feline friends. No matter which color you want to make the wood, you need to first paint a white base coat to act as a primer. Doing this will help the following layers adhere better while also making the colors more vibrant. Once the white paint dries, you can apply whatever color you would like to. We chose to paint a layer of light green as the background color for the entire cat tree we customized.

 

 

 

Step 4: Paint fine line details

If you’d like to add patterns or fine detail work, consider sketching your image on paper beforehand so that you have a guide for all of the lines and shapes you want to paint. Some DIY crafters prefer to lightly draw their designs on the wood in pencil first so that any mistakes they make in the outline can be easily painted over.

After we applied the green layer to our custom cat tree, we outlined the paw prints in pencil and then in paint before filling them in.



 

For patterns or illustrations that cover large portions, re-apply white paint to the area before you paint them. This will make the decorative elements stand out more, especially if you will be using light colors.

 

 

 

Step 5: Coat painted parts with a pet-friendly sealant

We chose Outdoor-Indoor Multipurpose Mod Podge as our sealant because it is non-toxic and provides water resistance, making the wooden cat tree suitable for a catio where it may be exposed to occasional moisture or light drizzles. If you are designing a DIY cat tree for catio use, it's important to avoid placing the tree close to the screened area or leaving it in the catio permanently. While the sealant we chose is water-resistant, it is not fully waterproof. If you're considering an indoor-only sealant, keep in mind that most indoor-only sealants lack both water resistance and waterproofing.

Even if your cat tree will remain indoors all the time, sealing the painted areas is essential to prevent paint flakes from rubbing off and potentially being ingested by your cat. While non-toxic paint is a good choice, it’s best to minimize any risk. A pet-friendly sealant not only enhances safety but also helps the paint last longer, extending the life of the cat tree. Additionally, many sealants come in different finishes, from glossy and pearlescent to matte, allowing you to customize the final look with a sheen of your choice.

Avoid using wood finishes, as they may contain harmful chemicals. Instead, opt for transparent, non-toxic sealants, which can be found at craft stores. Water-based sealants are generally the safest choice for pets, so be sure to check the label before purchasing.

Always check the sealant container for the "cure time," which indicates how long the sealant takes to fully adhere and reach maximum durability. Our sealant required a four-week cure time, so as an extra precaution we waited the full duration before allowing the cats to use the tree.

Step 6: Assemble the cat tree

Simply follow the instructions provided with your cat tree for easy assembly. The photos below show common actions for cat tree setup, including inserting vertical connectors, twisting sisal posts, and securing screws with a hex key.

 

An example of the setup process with Wood Cat Tree S6905:

 

 

Conclusion

All the cats absolutely love their custom cat tree, making their time in the catio even more enjoyable. During cold weather or storms, their cat parents bring the tree indoors to keep it safe. This cat tree isn’t just a fun addition—its creative painting holds personal meaning for the family. Since cats can see the color green, we can’t help but wonder if they love green just as much as their owners do!

 

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