5 DIY Cat Ramp Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

Cats are typically known for being extremely agile. However, as cats age, they can lose a lot of their mobility. Places they were once able to reach with ease can suddenly become difficult, which can hinder their life quality.

For instance, some older felines may stop using a litterbox simply because it is difficult for them to climb over the sides.

Luckily, there are quite a few DIY ramps that can provide your feline access to places that were once impossible for them to reach. Use these ramps leading to your cat’s litterbox or to provide access to raised resting spots.

The 5 DIY Cat Ramp Plans

1. DIY Ramp for Bed by Hometalk

While this plan is specifically designed for dogs, it can work perfectly fine for many cats as well. It is designed to provide access to a bed, which older cats and small dogs often have trouble reaching by themselves.

Basically, these plans involve building a ramp out of wood that is tall enough to reach your bed. As you could probably guess, these plans are extremely customizable. You can change the length and angle of the ramp by the piece of wood you choose. Based on the longer piece of wood, you can then adjust the length of the legs and other pieces.

This plan not only makes a very practical ramp, but the ramp is also quite aesthetically pleasing. There are some extra steps that can make the ramp look much more inviting and fit your home décor a bit better.

2. DIY Stair Cover by Camels & Chocolate

Some cats lose their ability to go up and down steps as they get older. They just aren’t as nimble as they once were. Thankfully, this DIY stair cover is extremely easy to use and put together. You can simply lay it on any small stairway to make it easier for your cat to go up and down.

The project cost is quite low, especially since most of the surface is plywood. However, this project will only work in certain areas. You can’t use it for a whole stairway, for instance. It only works for one or two steps.

This plan assumes that you have most common DIY tools like a saw and pliers. You’ll also need some sort of carpet to lay on top of the wood to provide traction and make the ramp a bit more inviting.

If your cat is having trouble tackling a short set of stairs inside, this ramp may be exactly what you need.

3. DIY Ramp Ladder by Instructables

In some cases, you may want to consider utilizing this ramp ladder instead of one of the more traditional ramps we’ve discussed above. This ramp ladder is easier for many cats to use at a higher angle, as it includes small steps for extra grip.

This plan is actually extremely easy to put together, especially if you have some DIY experience under your belt.

Furthermore, these plans are designed to work outside. Therefore, this option is great if your cat has trouble accessing parts of their catio or similar outdoor space.

However, you can theoretically place this ramp ladder anywhere. It takes up less room because it can be used at a higher angle thanks to the built-in steps.

Overall, this ramp is simply easy to put together and versatile. If one of the other ramps on this list doesn’t suit your needs, this one probably will.

4. DIY Carpeted Ramp by Instructables

This ramp is much smaller than most of the other options on this list. For this reason, it is a good option for indoor use when your cat needs to access things like the couch or litter box. It’s pretty easy to make, requiring only some basic DIY knowledge.

While this ramp is designed for pets of all kinds, it absolutely works for cats. The use of carpet on the top of the ramp provides traction and makes the ramp more inviting for your feline. Surprisingly, it is one of the few models on this list that includes carpet. You’ll want to use the shaggiest carpet possible when crafting this ramp, as thicker carpet provides more grip.

You only need a few pieces of wood to craft this ramp. Therefore, it should be pretty inexpensive.

It also doesn’t require very much skill or prior knowledge. If you’re new to DIYing, this plan may be the best option for you.

5. DIY Easy, Indoor Pet Ramp by My Repurposed Life

This ramp is specifically designed to be extremely easy to put together. It utilizes a cabinet door for the walking surface of the ramp, which is then covered in carpet for extra traction. If you don’t have an extra cabinet door laying around, you could likely save some money by utilizing regular wood as well. Just be sure that it’s thick enough to hold up the weight of your pet.

For the most part, you’re simply hinging two pieces of wood together. One works as the actual ramp, and the other one sits on the top surface to help the ramp stay in place.

There are also a lot of optional steps and materials for this ramp. For instance, the person who wrote the plan used a paint stick to cover up the nails. However, this is not absolutely necessary.

Final Thoughts

There are many different ramp plans out there that are suitable for both older cats and kittens. Many ramps can be used by both cats and dogs. In fact, many on this list were designed for dachshunds, as their backs need to be protected so they shouldn’t be jumping off furniture.

We’ve included six of the best plans we could find on this list. Some of these ramps are extremely versatile and designed to be used for furniture and similar high spaces. Others are built for very specific situations that are often difficult for older cats to navigate, such as stairs and accessing window sills.

Overall, ramps are a pretty easy DIY project to make. Therefore, even those with little experience should be able to tackle many of these projects.

Featured Image Credit: SariMe, Shutterstock