DIY: Build Your Own Cat Tree

diycattree-copy.jpgStumped by the cost of upscale cat trees? Judy DePasse of DePurrs Persians has some great instructions on building your own. It includes tools and supplies needed, dimensions, and instructions.

It took her less than a day to build using mostly materials you can find at Home Depot or the like. Be sure you use sisal that doesn’t reek of oil, kerosene, etc. You probably won’t find that in most hardware stores. The stuff I’ve seen at Home Depot was too heavily oiled.

Don’t miss these other posts on a DIY cat tree and a DIY scratching post.

Cat-Killing Raccoons

An eye-opening news article on the threat raccoons can pose towards outdoor cats. Sadly it’s not the first time–here’s an article from June about raccoons in California.

Raccoons killed many of the box turtles in my parents’ backyard and left one turtle missing a leg. And I know of two cases where raccoons attacked and/or killed cats–in one instance drowning them off the the side of a house boat.

If you have trouble with raccoons, we found marshmallows to be the best bait for trapping them instead of trapping neighborhood cats. Many baits (tuna, bacon, meat fat) suggested by pest control specialists are just as likely to lure cats.