Well, I recovered a sort of kitty condo thing from the trash about a
year and a half ago.  We put it in the basement (just for a few
months, mind you) to make sure there were no nasty germs or whatever
on it.  It needed two poles recovered in carpet, and was missing the
top shelf, but was otherwise in good shape.  And with new carpeting
put in next door, I asked the carpet guy if I could have a remnant,
and he gave me a very nice sized remnant of brand-new carpet.

Yesterday, I was tired of waiting, and lugged the thing upstairs
(okay, *partway* upstairs -- had to yell for DH to help me get the
thing the rest of the way).  I spent several hours cutting, measuring,
hammering nails and otherwise playing carpenter, as DH nervously held
his hands where I told him, hoping he wouldn't get smacked with the
scary wife's hammer.

Arthur, of course, was already playing on it before I even got to
start work on it!

I finally got it done, cleaned up, put back my tools, and then did the
final piece de resistance:  rubbed it over with catnip.

Now, Arthur is about 7-8 months old, and I haven't had any catnip out
for awhile.  Most cats won't respond to catnip before they are six
months old (sort of a built-in "We Card" program).  Not all cats
respond to catnip, either.  I had no idea whether or not Arthur was a
responder.

Shortly after I poured the "drugs" all over the playground, Arthur
jumped up and took a big snort.  And then another snort.  He looked
around briefly to make sure the narcs weren't about.  And then
proceeded to roll and flop around in the tasty herb with wild abandon.

I think Arthur likes catnip.  And the new kitty playground.

Ginger-lyn