10 DIY Cat Ramp Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
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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 10 DIY Cat Ramps
1. DIY Ramp for Bed by Hometalk
| Materials: | Various cuts of wood |
| Difficulty: | Low |
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
| Materials: | Plywood, oak strips, brass carpet trim, brass screws, sandpaper, adhesive, rubber bushings |
| Difficulty: | Low |
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
| Materials: | Fence planks, nails, hinges, screws |
| Difficulty: | Low |
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
| Materials: | Various cuts of wood, a thick carpet |
| Difficulty: | Low |
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
| Materials: | Cabinet door, plywood, piano hinge, staple gun, utility knife, scissors |
| Difficulty: | Low |
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 lying 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.
6. DIY Cat Ramp From 100 Things 2 Do
| Materials: | 2×2 boards, platform board |
| Difficulty: | Low |
The DIY Cat Ramp from 100 Things 2 Do is a great project for a beginner woodworker. It isn’t too hard to do, and learning how to make angled cuts will help improve your skills. The finished product won’t take long to complete, and it will provide your cat with a nice ramp leading to a perch that they can use to scout their territory. Finish it with stain or paint to match the surrounding environment.
7. Joe’s Homemade Cat Ramp by Life With CH Cats
| Materials: | Screws, staples, door hinge, wood |
| Difficulty: | Low |
Joe’s Homemade Cat Ramp is fun to build, and the author claims that you can complete it in under an hour. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and you won’t need many materials or special tools to do the project. The ramp works well at the bottom of a bed or up against the wall, so it’s quite versatile, and you can add a piece of recycled carpet to help make climbing easier.
8. Simple DIY Cat Ramp From Lisa Love
| Materials: | 2×6 boards, screws, remnant carpet |
| Difficulty: | Low |
The Simple Cat Ramp from Lisa Love is an incredibly easy project to build and only requires a few materials, like 2×6 boards and old carpet. The finished product is extremely durable and will last many years. You can customize it easily so the ramp leads to a suitable location that your cat can enjoy, no matter the height. The instructions are in video format so they are easy to follow, and you can complete the project in just a few hours.
9. Cardboard DIY Cat Ramp From the Cat Toy Lady
| Materials: | Cardboard box, tape, glue |
| Difficulty: | Low |
The Cardboard Cat ramp from the Cat Toy Lady is one of the easiest projects on this list to build, and it’s also one of the least expensive, requiring only an old cardboard box, glue, and tape. The finished product is surprisingly durable and can support even adult cats. What we like best about it is that since it’s so inexpensive, you could build several to keep around the house. The video instructions are easy to follow, and you can complete the project in an hour or two.
10. My Book Boost DIY Cat Ramp
| Materials: | 2×4 boards, screws |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
The My Book Boost Ramp is an amazing project that produces a multi-tiered ramp. While the author created it for a small dog, it will work perfectly for any cat, and they will enjoy using it. It’s a great way to help your cats reach the window where they can look out at the birds and other wildlife. It’s considered a moderately difficult project because the instructions aren’t as clear as they could be, but plenty of images will help you determine if you’re building it right.
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Conclusion
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. 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 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
