DIY Ikea VITTSJÖ Cat Tower Hack

Last year I made a DIY cat tower for Cornelius and Elizabeth to enjoy on the balcony. I made it from a plastic shelving unit I found on the street. The cats adored it and the height and view it gave them from the balcony. After a year and lsurving the winter it started to crack in a couple places (but was still standing). The cats continued to use it. Because both Elizabeth and Cornelius loved it so much I new I needed to upgrade it.

I purchased this VITTSJÖ shelving unit from Ikea. The design is similar to what I already had but this unit is made from metal and more study as I keep it on my balcony. This VITTSJÖ series comes in black and white and can be painted. It also comes in different sizes. I chose this one because of how sturdy the metal is. Because I have it outside on my balcony, black is perfect.

I simply used sisal rope and weaved and tied it on two of the shelves. On the bottom I store a bin for the wood pellet cat liter and placed some wicker baskets the cats love to sleep in. For now on the top shelf, I put some plants. I am so happy with this easy Ikea hack. It looks great, is sturdy, was super easy and most importantly the cats adore it. If you have a balcony or outdoor space I think it is so important to allow your cats access. Especially for cats that stay indoors, allowing them to expereince direct sunlight and fresh air is priceless for their enrichment and stimulation.

I removed the glass shelves and the bottom shelf. I left the top so I could put plants on top. The shelf is made from the typical Ikea plywood which will not hold up with long outdoor exposure. So I covered it with waterproof contact paper and a layer of packing tape. In the future, I may remove this shelf and make another weaved area for the cats to lay on. Don’t worry, I have a netting around my balcony making it secure so the cats can’t jump.

Have you hacked any Ikea pieces for your cat? Please tag me @meowlifestyle on Instagram, I would love to see!