A cat wheel for IsiHi
16 Jul 2025 - tsp, isihi
Last update 28 Jul 2025
9 mins
This article offers a brief review of a wooden cat wheel available on Amazon (note: this is an affilliate link, this pages author profits from qualified purchases), which we recently assembled for isihi. The overall design is surprisingly well thought out - solid, stable, and aesthetically pleasing. Despite its size and weight of approximately 22 kg, the wheel can be assembled by two people within roughly three hours when using proper tools, longer when using the ones supplied by the manufacturer.
The construction uses solid wood throughout, and the wheel itself consists of multiple flat wooden segments, securely held in place by four wooden dowels (two on each side) and fastened with screws. While most of the necessary tools are included in the package (with the exception of a PH2 Phillips screwdriver), using a ratchet or an electric screwdriver (note: both links are Amazon affiliate links, this pages author profits from qualified purcahses) is strongly recommended - especially for the TH15 screws - as the included manual tools can be quite tiring to use.
Assembly
Step 1: Feline package inspection
As with any important delivery, the first inspection duty naturally falls to the cat. Before we even opened the box, our curious supervisor made sure everything was up to standard - rubbing, sniffing, and thoroughly evaluating the package from all angles. After all, no project involving a cat wheel can begin without official feline approval.
Step 2: Unpacking
The next step is unpacking the components. The manufacturer has done a commendable job here - each part is carefully wrapped in soft plastic film and secured within molded styrofoam. Despite the box clearly having experienced some bumps during transport, all parts arrived in perfect condition.
The protective wrapping not only cushions the contents but also prevents scratches to the laminated wood surfaces. Each component is individually labeled with stickers, and parts are separated to avoid any surface damage during transit.
Before jumping into assembly, it’s a good idea to sort all the parts by type. Most of the components will be used to build the wheel itself, so having everything grouped and organized early on will save time and effort later.
Step 3: Assembling the wheel
The wheel itself is composed of three large 120 degree segments, which together form the full circular running surface. Each segment is assembled from two curved outer plates and a set of tangential support slats that form the inner tread where the cat will later run.
To begin, insert the provided wooden dowels into the tangential plates - each plate requires four dowels. These dowels act as guides and anchors, aligning the plates with the curved outer shell. Once all tangential plates have their dowels in place, they can be slotted into one of the curved outer segments. This part is relatively straightforward and already gives a satisfying sense of structure.
Next, place the second curved segment on top to close the partial arc - but be sure to leave out the outermost holes on both ends, as these are reserved for the connectors that will later join the three segments. After aligning everything carefully, secure each tangential plate with a screw from one side, then gently flip the whole segment and repeat the process on the reverse side.
Once all three 120-degree segments are assembled in this way, they can be joined into a complete circle. This is the only part of the wheel build that requires a bit of finesse: the connections are not perfectly self-aligning, and getting a smooth circular shape can take a little patience. Using a third hand - or even just your knee or a box to brace the parts—can make this process much easier. Still, with some care and minor adjustments, the pieces come together nicely and the finished wheel is both sturdy and impressively round.
To stabilize the structure and prevent any rotational movement at the connection points, small alignment plates are added on the inside of the outer shell at each joint. These are placed over the connecting tangential plates and act as braces to lock them in place. The solution feels a bit improvised at first glance—but it’s effective and gives the final wheel solid mechanical integrity.
Step 4: Assembling the base
The base of the wheel is surprisingly straightforward to assemble, yet the design reveals a clever engineering mindset - reminiscent, in fact, of a miniature rollercoaster track.
The main components are two horizontal support plates that hold the guide wheels. Each plate carries two pairs of wheels: one pair supports the wheel’s weight from below (handling the radial load), while the second pair is mounted on the inside, gently pressing against the inner edges of the wheel to keep it centered (handling the axial alignment). This setup ensures that the wheel runs smoothly and stays precisely in place during use, even at high feline speeds.
Once both support plates are fully assembled with their wheels, they are mounted between two large outer shell plates to form a sturdy and stable base. These shell plates not only hold everything together but also give the whole structure its characteristic silhouette.
And that’s it - the base is done. Simple, elegant, and surprisingly robust.
Step 4.1: Vibration isolation
To ensure the wheel setup is gentle on your flooring - and doesn’t wander off mid-sprint - the product offers two options for surface isolation, depending on the type of floor you’re working with.
For hard surfaces like wooden floors, a large adhesive foam pad is provided. It’s applied to the entire underside of the base, distributing weight evenly while also serving as a vibration damper. This not only prevents scratches but also reduces any low-frequency rumbling sounds that could be transmitted through the floor during use.
For softer surfaces like carpets, an alternative set of four gliding pins can be installed instead. These slightly elevate the base and allow the entire structure to rest with minimal resistance while still maintaining enough grip to prevent unwanted shifting. This option is completely optional - but a thoughtful addition nonetheless.
In both cases, the design shows attention to detail - tailored for real-world living rooms, not just showrooms.
Step 5: Inserting the wheel
Now the fully assembled wheel is carefully lifted and set into place on the base. Despite its considerable weight, it slots perfectly between the guide wheels with a tolerance of about one millimeter-tight enough for stability, yet loose enough to allow smooth, quiet rotation.
Once positioned, the wheel is fully secured by gravity alone; there’s no risk of it jumping out of the guide wheels, no matter how energetically your cat decides to sprint.
Important note: As sturdy as the wheel may look, it’s not designed to support human weight - so resist the temptation to test it yourself (yes, we know it’s tempting).
Step 6: The carpet
With the wheel structure complete, the final touch is adding the inner running surface - a fitted carpet that lines the inside of the wheel. At this stage, the whole setup begins to resemble something out of a medieval castle: a massive, handcrafted wooden mechanism you’d expect to see hoisting gates or turning drawbridges - if only it were scaled up for humans to run inside.
The carpet comes in two curved segments and is secured using adhesive Velcro strips, which are attached along the inner edge of the outer shell. The fit is precise and seamless, with the carpet sitting snugly between the two wooden rims.
Thanks to the Velcro fastening, the carpet is easy to remove whenever it needs cleaning or replacement. It’s a clever solution that balances stability with maintainability - both cat-friendly and human-practical.
Step 7: Motivating the feline master
With the wheel assembled and ready, it’s time for the true test: convincing the cat that this majestic contraption is more than just a new piece of furniture.
As with most feline introductions, patience is key. At first, your cat may approach cautiously - sniffing, tapping the wheel with a paw, or simply sitting beside it with an expression that says, _“You built this for me? … Interesting? … Disturbing? … Insane? … Dubious?”
To spark curiosity, you can use toys or treats as motivation. Conveniently, the package includes a small pompom-on-a-stick, which works surprisingly well to draw your cat’s attention to the wheel and get them moving. Laser pointers or teaser wands can also help - but be sure to guide them slowly and gently. The goal is to associate the wheel with fun, not confusion or stress.
It might take a few days (or weeks), but once they discover how the wheel moves under their own power, something clicks - and suddenly you’ve got a furry, four-legged sprinter circling through your living room like it’s a tiny feline gym.
And when that moment comes? Totally worth it.
Related links and products
Note: All product links are Amazon affiliate links. This pages author profits from qualified purchases
- The cat wheel
- A bit set containing both TH15 and PH2 bits
- A good cordless screwdriver or ratchet
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