C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Animal Cribs: Stylish and Simple Cat Wall DIY
Our cat wall is what our Maine Coon cats call "heaven". The cat wall gives them a break from our dogs, a place to stretch out their claws and scratch and more. Installing a cat wall is quite simple and can be completed in a weekend. Read on to learn how to make a stylish and simple DIY Cat Wall.
An EASY and QUICK weeknight DIY project!
With our recent move to a new house in a new state, our cats have been through a lot of transitioning. Luckily we have traveled with them (and our dogs too) numerous times since they were babies, so they were a bit used to our process.
FEBRUARY 2022 UPDATE: SEE OUR 2022 CAT WALL UPDATE AT THE END OF THIS POST!
Simple Cat Wall DIY
While we made the transition to our new state, they traveled with us to numerous hotels, drove in a car with us for hours at a time, and more. And they did it all with grace; having only a minor grumble here and there.
Animal Cribs: Stylish and Simple Cat Wall DIY
Once we landed in our new home, I decided to reward them for all their patience with giving them their own space: A CAT WALL. They deserved it!
How to Install a Cat Wall
While unpacking our new house, I happened to catch an episode of Animal Cribs, and the designer Antonio Ballatore was working on a cat wall. Seeing how much the cats seemed to enjoy what he designed, I knew I had to recreate something like it for my own lovely felines.
Animal Cribs: Stylish Cat Wall
We’ve been quite overwhelmed with so much to do (unpacking and organizational fun plus working on top of it all) and I knew my husband didn’t have the time to create his own cat shelving like they did on the show. So, I turned to Amazon and once again, it didn’t disappoint. I found several choices for cat wall accessories and settled on a set of stairs, two shelves and a scratching post.
Animal Cribs: Stylish and Simple Cat Wall DIY
Design and execution by Carolyn and Tommy Braden
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Products we purchased via Amazon (click the links to view the products on Amazon)
Two Sets of Cat Stairs (we originally purchased the ones pictured in this post but replaced them with a different, smaller set due to the first set having a flaw, then not being available anymore on Amazon)
One Activity Tree
Cat Wall for Large Cats
How We Installed Everything:
I measured our space and compared it to the sizes of the items before I purchased them.
Though you could paint the items, I left them in their beautiful unpainted natural wood finish.
I visualized the space and how I would want to hang the items. Usually I sketch things out, but this time I just winged it.
My husband followed the hanging directions that came with each item. We used the included drywall anchors AND secured some of our own extra screws in wall studs (as we have large Maine Coon cats and they needed the extra anchors!)
Though the items came with a screwdriver, my husband ended up using his own drill and hammer to make the whole hanging process a tiny bit easier
I purchased the mountain wall art from Etsy about a year ago. We moved to the beach and a mountain scene didn’t seem to make sense in any space in our home until I designed the cat wall.
I still have some open space on the wall where I can add another accessory if wanted later on
Our total project time: approximately 2 hours (assembling the products and hanging)
See all the before and after photos PLUS A 2022 PROJECT UPDATE below!
Ross, Our Large Maine Coon Cat
More of our DIY’s can be found on our YouTube channel, “Carolyn Braden”.
If you have any questions for us, visit our Contact Us page and send us a note! We love helping other DIYer’s out there!
Tommy and Our Maine Coon Cat, Monica
Cat Wall with Scratching Post
Stylish and Simple Cat Wall DIY
We also ordered a cat litter box storage cabinet from Amazon (see below). I love how it looks like a piece of furniture!
2022 CAT WALL UPDATE
Complete Cat Wall With Cat House
Our cats weren’t using the cat wall as much as they thought they would. Being located in our hallway, it seemed to cause too many issues with our dogs thinking the cats were doing something wrong by climbing on the wall which lead to them barking their heads off. Their barking seemed to deter the cats from using it.
How to Build a Cat Wall
So, we moved our “cat wall” into our office. There was a window that Ross, our largest Maine Coon, always was trying to look out of but he could not reach it. We placed the cat shelves underneath the windows and he now uses them all the time!
Cat Wall and Cat House
It’s also much quieter as the dogs can’t access the office. We have it being a “dog free” zone to give our cats a break when they need it.
Cat House for Large Cat
We changed our cat stairs to some jute covered ones as they seem to help give our cats some grip. We also added a cat house, which both our cats love. It’s large enough for Ross, at around 22 pounds, which is perfect. It’s also reversible, making it a great buy for various styles of home decor.
Best Large Cat House
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.