DIY toy guide
Repurposed Wooden Ladder Climbing Frame
An old wooden step-ladder upcycled into a leaning cat climbing tower
A sturdy old wooden step-ladder, leaned and secured against a wall with a few planks and offcuts of carpet laid across the rungs, becomes a rustic multi-level climbing frame and lookout for a fraction of the price of a shop-bought cat tree.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- 2 hours
- Cost
- £5–£25
🧺 You will need
- A solid wooden step-ladder in sound condition (no cracks or wobble)
- A few offcut planks or shelf boards to sit across the rungs as platforms
- Carpet, sisal offcuts or fleece to cover the platforms for grip
- Wood screws, brackets and a screwdriver or drill
- Wall strap, bracket or furniture anchor to secure it
- Sandpaper for smoothing any rough edges
🔧 How to make it
- Check the ladder is completely sound — no splits, loose joints or wobble — and sand away any splinters or rough edges.
- Open the ladder or lean it firmly against a wall at a comfortable climbing angle.
- Cut planks to sit level across pairs of rungs to form platforms at two or three heights, and screw or bracket them down so they cannot tip.
- Cover each platform with carpet, sisal or fleece, stapled or glued underneath, so paws have grip and a soft landing.
- Anchor the whole frame to the wall with a strap or bracket so it cannot topple, exactly as you would a bookcase.
- Add a familiar-smelling blanket to the top platform and let your cat explore at their own pace.
💡 Tips
Position it by a window so the top platform doubles as a sunny lookout. A sisal-wrapped upright leg turns one side into a scratching post as well. Start treats on the lower steps to coax a hesitant cat upward.
Safety: The frame must be anchored to the wall so it cannot tip, and every platform must be screwed down firmly enough to take your cat's full weight landing from a jump — test each one with a hard press of your hand before trusting it. Retire any ladder that is cracked, worm-eaten or wobbly rather than risking a collapse, and keep the climbing height sensible for an older or less agile cat.
📝 Notes
Upcycling a ladder you already own costs next to nothing, keeps a bulky item out of landfill, and gives an indoor cat the vertical territory they crave — climbing and perching high are core feline needs, not luxuries.