Making A Cat Playground

I have started a cat climbing wall playground on the French cleat system in our craft room. The first part of this climbing wall is five hexagons that our two cats can climb through. The hexagons fit together so that the cats can climb through the sides that touch the adjacent hexagons. I made the project from the wood I got at an auction last fall that has been sitting in the middle of the shop and needs to be used. The cats seem to like it. I think they are warming up to it.
Making A Cat Playground - Part 2: • Making A Cat Playgroun...
Making a Craft Room: • Making a Craft Room
Tools used in this project can be found at
www.frankmakes.com/​
CNC: www.cncrouterparts.com​
Woodturning tools: carterandsontoolworks.com/
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[@legendarygary2744]

The most impressive part of the video is cats actually using something their owner put time and effort into. Usually the more you put into it the more likely they’ll ignore it entirely.

[@orijimi]

The tragedy of making something for cats is that I think they lack the sense to recognize you've done something for their sake. Sometimes, dogs seem to understand such a thing.

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

Nothing beats a cardboard box or a crumpled piece of paper.

[@bertbertmann5823]

@@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394 That‘s why he made it himself, no shipping cardboard box. Just goes to show Frank‘s true genius

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

@@bertbertmann5823 If he was a genius he would have invented the crumpled piece of paper :)

[@frankmakes]

that's what I was afraid of.

[@indie825]

I don't know which is more impressive...the cat playground or the cat's actually using it. Great idea!

[@jeremyspecce]

If this had come in a box, then yeah, they never would have touched it 🤣

[@Mean_Ol_HD]

My wife and I get unreasonably excited whenever we see that you've released a new video. Please don't stop doing what you do.

[@davidbrenneman9447]

I enjoyed the Closeup Pics of the cats boredom, while waiting for completion of the project.

[@chrisestill8825]

My wife likes your Harry Potter LEGO set. I liked the hexagons.

[@drysicle]

I've been watching Frank for whats getting close to 10 years and in this new era of hyper speed instagram reels / tiktoks I think his work stands out more than ever. The camera work is thoughtful and shows the process, the voice over is friendly and half the reason I keep coming back to his videos. There is always an explanation behind every move and the long format is so much less stressful. Keep it up Frank!

[@nicolek4076]

Frank AND cats in one film. Now the Internet is complete.

[@nicomonkeyboy]

Beautifully engineered solution to a nonexistent problem. Lovely stuff!

[@frankmakes]

ha ha A perfect definition of what I do.

[@beckytobey2984]

Lol

[@lurchie]

You, my friend, are a most excellent cat daddy. Jackson Galaxy would be pleased.

[@raheslop]

Watching this with my cat sat on my lap, she got quite excited about Cinnamon & Waffles

[@ALAPINO]

I miss most aspects of having cats, dogs, and other mammals. Perhaps I can use some of these techniques to make a solitary bee habitat for the garden. Cheers!

[@af601glock7]

The cats have you well trained!

[@maynardforpresident]

Frank is the patron saint of French cleats

[@OriginalRaveParty]

Happy Sunday Frank

[@annavasilchenko2359]

👍🤗

[@areyoumad]

Hexagone is the perfect shape for a FRENCH cleat system :D Cheers from France!

[@VeretenoVids]

Whappy paws! I think they're pleased with it.

[@TheDivasoprano]

Perfect slow blink. Happy kitty.

[@highnoon9333]

oh my gosh i could watch them play all day

[@funkypunkypine]

I am seriously impressed to your dedication to the cause! Love it.

[@Mike__B]

Definitely going to want to move that lego shelf somewhere else. I can see the cat just sitting there, tail flicking, then WHAP! knocks it on the floor.

[@Flatulisti]

Really nice "b-roll" footage of the cats, like at 10:24, they make great mannequins

[@markhusbands2037]

Alternating half hexagon "tubes" would mate nicely as connectors.

[@ClAddict]

Hexagons are the bestagons

[@ryanlangan1060]

I can't imagine the activity in your inbox right now.

[@lauraw3117]

I’d buy a system like this where I can move and change the configuration utilizing French cleats. Brilliant!

[@pinebeetlewoodworking3404]

The only channel I have my notifications set for. Always enjoy watching your content.

[@rgarlinyc]

Your cats looked decidedly pleased with their new stomping ground (wall?) there at the end - congratulations!

[@klschofield71]

For some reason, that jump cut at the mitre saw, after the dado cuts on the table saw, scared the Bejesus out of me.

[@warrenwilson7836]

Hard to say if I most enjoy your narrative style, your woodworking or your videography. Thank you for all you give.

[@nancywhite2014]

Beautifully designed and functional.🐈🐈‍⬛

[@thinklikeadog007]

That "dry overnight" cat expression makes me smile big

[@alrikscyriel6208]

Hexagons are bestagons.

[@shenaniganursus3681]

Damn it Frank. You have now turned me into one of the people who watch cat videos on the internet.

[@MarshallLoveday]

This is a patentable idea, Frank.

[@HHH-sz9nu]

Really like this, it could be cool if you wrapped thin rope around some of the platforms creating layers for the cats to scratch on.

[@macforme]

See...this is what happens when you have a workspace full of every conceivable tool a guy could want. My cats got planks of wood mounted, with brackets, covered with carpet I picked from the scrap bin of a carpet store. I needed a saw, a straight-edge and a level. It looked fine but yours system is a mansion compared to say ....my lean to 🤣

[@kaywarren6788]

My 2 boys are 13 & 14 lbs. I like the wall set up, but anything I would expect them to sleep in would probably need a 1/3 wall on the bottom 2 angles of the hexagon, screwed into the exterior of the ring, or it's floor.

[@MultiMissDemeanor]

We love the cat content 🤌🏻🤌🏻

[@bobd.]

Our cat used to get up on the roof of the house and garage a lot. Then he would stay up there and howl for someone (usually me) to come help him down. This got old in the middle of the Winter so I build him some spiral steps. I used an 8 foot cedar 4x4 and put a base on it about 30 inches in diameter to stabilize it when standing on end. Then I cut some steps from scraps of 5/4 x 6 cedar decking I found in my scrap bin. The steps were about 12 inches in rise from one to the next and they rotated around the post 90 degrees at each step. So they had to corkscrew their way up or down. It worked very well and lasted for many years. Unfortunately our cat did not. He got hit bay a car one night 10 years ago last week. Miss you buddy.

[@geraldinegresham8997]

Search awesome work I would love to have that to put on my porch and put flowers in it for the patio porch thanks for such wonderful creativity

[@SAOS451316]

that's very good cat enrichment!

[@JuliaKadauke]

Ooohh a new video from Frank! Makes my day

[@dorkavenger42]

Those are nuts! Great job

[@marialiyubman]

Your cats must love living with you. Everything smells like wood… 😍 Also, I have appointed myself as queen of the internet and I demand more cat videos on behalf of all internet. Thank you. The internet is for cats. 🎵

[@DreitTheDarkDragon]

Found that song few months ago, it's really catchy! :D

[@idontthinkso666]

I think I love you!

[@samTollefson]

That is just wonderful! One of my favorite kitten castles that is easy, cheap, and quick to make is take several taped closed empty cardboard boxes and hot glue them together, beside, on top, any way you want, then chuck your 5" hole saw and cut connecting holes between the boxes, sides, top, bottom all around. Let your imagination run wild! The kittens will love it!

[@michaelhohlt5813]

those are rally nice and a great way for your cats to play and get exercise.

[@Cellottia]

Your specialist cat photography shows an understanding of and affinity with Cinnamon and Ruffles! Excellent cat playground: they'll have hours of fun and be very content watching what goes on from their new cosy nooks!

[@Splits-man]

And don’t think that I didn’t see that Frank! You played the footage of you placing the throat plate in forward…and then reverse! As John Cleese would say, I’m very observant with things like that. 😂😂

[@TigerCarpenter]

boy is that beautiful since you have a router table, cutting dados might be faster, without setting up the table dado set + making the sacrificial fence etc

[@tedapke6519]

Looks like you have a light switch without a cover plate. I can see a cat being a little too curious about that and something bad happening. I think fixing that should be the next project. Great work and video!

[@frankmakes]

I need to fix that.

[@chrishb7074]

If you made a suspension bridge across the gap over the doorway for your felines, would it form a cat-enary or a purr-abola?

[@chefdianenomore]

Great. Now my two divas want their own wall playground.

[@rickcimino743]

piece of art as usual Frank.....the video that is!

[@fluffycritter]

Frank's videos always end up being the most informative naps I end up taking. Your voice is too heckin' soothing, Frank. Maybe you need to add in clickbait and explosions and rock music. But please don't, I love your videos the way they are, even if I do have to rewatch them a few times to get all the information.

[@johntbbouwers5428]

I have PTSD and have been listening to Frank for 10 years, it is Franks voice that calms me down. I listen every night! nightmares are real for people Thank God for people like Frank

[@fluffycritter]

@@johntbbouwers5428 Yeah he helps me a lot through my panic attacks.

[@cmdraftbrn]

15 min of watching someone make a thing for their supurrvisor

[@taterkaze9428]

Frank + cats = new YT paradigm.

[@Maxid1]

Cinnamon to Waffles: Hex! Yurgone!!

[@wnebergall]

Thanks a lot Frank I've already made cat trees cat bunk beds and a cat closet

[@mattelias721]

Love the shots of the bored-looking cats enduring the wait for their climbing palace as their staff (i.e., you, Frank) build it. Cat having person here. Know the look from experience.

[@jcortese3300]

Prepare for this to be your most viewed video ever, Frank.

[@beckytobey2984]

Awesome video, design snd choreography

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice work Frank! Thanks for sharing the video with us!💖👍😎JP

[@deathsyth27]

my cats would murder that Lego set. but it looks awesome!

[@beckytobey2984]

I find him brilliant

[@williamellis8993]

Really neat, Frank. It's amazing the things we do for our fur babies. Bill

[@steelshade]

I was worried about any finish offending the little beasts' sense of smell to the point they ignore it but am glad that was not a problem. Mental note for lacquer.

[@DanKoning777]

An indifferent cat; you jest? As a life long cat owner [I'm 63]; I've found that when introducing a new location(s), cats will frequent spots that cause them to feel secure, "semi-hidden" once inside. Closing off 40% to 60% of one or more of the five hexagons with wood, cloth, etc may peak their interest a bit more: hmm 🐾 *Well done Frank.* [edit]: put a couple "string mounted hanging mice" in one or more units; they'll lay on their backs and play just like a baby in a crib :)

[@CloudyWishes]

Your soothing voice and great use of language made this good to watch I usually only watch sewing or cooking . This is a brilliantly kind way to keep your 🐾 happy

[@slaveNo-4028]

lol, cinnamon is enthusiastic alright, he/she keeps bullying waffles off their new hexagon throne

[@rix0r222]

so cool! you could make plain white circles to go in the back of the hexagons and let your kids paint them fun colours

[@masjabrikdiy8422]

hello friends greetings healthy and successful always. thank you for sharing knowledge and always faithfully watching your latest things @❤❤

[@Spodokamono]

When I saw the thumbnail to this video. I thought "they look like French cleats" that was me hooked. You have a calming style of delivery and mixed with your editing made this for me a wonderful video. French cleats and cats in the same video is a winner for me. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@checkoutTinyHouseTravelers]

I am moving into a tiny house with my cats in about a month and I was trying to think of how to make it so that they could get up high where I could built them more room to play. This is perfect to look nice and to also allow them to get up high. Great work.

[@louietoltolvlog9699]

Beautiful masterpiece ❤

[@lauramarshall6376]

Very cool. And your kitties are beautiful.

[@SamuraiPipotchi]

Video preview: Following a cat, trying to use a tap measure on it. Instant click.

[@matthewwright57]

Neat project! Seems like a rabbet bit in a router would cut those dados a lot easier though.

[@garykantner9332]

Lovely cats

[@sainteins]

Cats just make me happy, new video from you with cats makes me extra happy. You have two very pretty cats. And I love the climbing structure. Very inspiring! I've been thinking about what kind of a gym I can build for our three tiggers.

[@arnhemseptember2009]

Happy cats!!

[@She_Wont_Focus]

How cool- I haven’t seen anyone make a modular one! Making it modular would likely extend my cat’s interest in a playground, I love this!

[@Maj7]

That was a fun video, thanks Frank!

[@brockroberts4258]

Nice, Frank!

[@Paladonius]

Love this, if you cut a slot or holes in the 2 horizontal mid pieces you could suspend some material to make a cat bed hammock. Also you need a cat bridge platform above the door.

[@kaywarren6788]

I buit a pretty massive tower for my boys. All the plywood is 3/4" furniture grade. It's 6 ft tall, has 3 boxes (22" x 24" x 6") set at staggered heights. Bottom of the tower is 2 pieces of 3/4" ply 24" x 36". The upright are 2x4s. Carpeted the boxes, but not the interior bottom. For that, got 1" foam from the fabric store. That width is a really good fit for a pillowcase, making it easy to wash or replace as needed. Put some sisal around the uprights. They love it, and it's mass makes it a tick solid playground.

[@mari-atonjalkanen9920]

ABSOLUTE SUCCESS!

[@gooddaytodyi]

That's an incredible idea!

[@jags1018]

This is so cute!

[@Rubiastraify]

That's very cool! Great job! Maybe you could also add a enclosed space or two where they could take a nap. Elegant and functional design.

[@WoodUCreate]

Need to put some other play things in the openings, maybe some padding, hang a few feathers, integrate a scratching post maybe?

[@ellef2468]

You need to sell these! I would buy a few!!

[@brantlers]

Excellent! More of this!

[@hegmonster]

Can't wait to see the cat bridges!

[@---l---]

Great build!

[@amarkovmpls]

I would avoid permanently attaching those carpet samples. Too hard to keep clean, and sooner or later someone is going to throw up on them. In my view, most cat furniture is really ugly, and dominates any space in which it's placed, but I think you may have cracked the code. These pieces are beautiful in their own right, and would probably appeal to most cats. The only thing I think you might consider would be to add some facing pieces here and there for the cats to hide behind for napping, ambush, etc., since they do like privacy and feeling as though they're invisible when they just feel like supervising the goings-on in the room.

[@TJF8]

Velcro would be a good way to attach the carpet samples.

[@AmyGilesWarren]

Beautiful!

[@sillysallyceli]

Your giggle is so joyful!!! Love it!

[@mitche11steven]

As always, incredible! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and process!

[@GoodlyEarth]

This is absolutely amazing. Love every single bit of it. Your cats just loved the final project.

[@glennstasse5698]

Those are some lucky cats to have a custom designed and built playground! Spectacular!