The first Leaf Tree Prototype, Mk1 V1.0, was completed on March 24th, 2023. 

The base is 1/2-inch thick, 24×24-inch birch plywood, with a 5/16-inch t-nut securing the vertical pole to the center. The pole is a 48-inch length of 3-inch PVC with two 6-inch pieces of rounded 2×4 pine boards secured inside the PCV (using 12 screws total) with a 1/4-inch inset within either end of the pipe; 200 feet of sisal rope is then hand-wrapped along the length of the pole with each end stapled to the face of each pine block. One end of the pole has a 5/16-inch hanger bolt inserted into the pine block, which is screwed into the t-nut on the base. The pine block at the other end has a 5/16-inch insert nut inserted to attach the top. The top is 1/2-inch thick, 18×18-inch birch plywood with a 5/16-inch t-nut secured to the underside and a 5/16×1½-inch bolt inset through the top.

The pole has 6 “Leafs” (each with a 10-inch wide play area and total length of 20¼ inches) secured along its length using their patent-pending gravity-secured cleat system, which allows for the tool-free assembly of the entire cat tree and the free rearrangement of the Leafs for a dynamic play experience for you and your cat(s). 

The base, top, and Leafs are all upholstered with a 4-layer cover made of 2 layers of Dream 100% cotton batting, and 2 layers of rustic jute burlap. The covers are all stapled to their respective parts using ⅜-inch T-50 fabric staples, and any rough ends are folded under to mitigate fraying.

Leaf Tree Mk1 V1.0 was first introduced to Cosmo (born ~Apr, 2016) and Walter (born ~Apr, 2022) on March 15th, 2023 at Cosmo’s house – The 8-foot extended height assembly initially startled Cosmo when he was thrust on it by his owner, but once it was reduced to 4 feet and he was able to take it at his own pace, he quickly warmed up to the new climbing space.