Cats love their beauty sleep and will lounge on anything soft and cozy. If you do not want your cat lying on your own bed or couch all day long, though, you can give them their own bed to enjoy. It is easy enough to head to the store for a commercially made cat bed. However, you may have everything that you need at home to make a custom bed for your kitty. Here are a few DIY cat bed ideas and material suggestions to consider when making your cat their very own bed.
DIY Cat Bed Ideas
Something as simple as a throw rug on the floor can become a comfortable bed for your cat. However, your kitty would probably appreciate something a little more luxurious. if you really want to impress your beloved feline family member, try making one or more of these homemade beds for them.
1. A Box Bed
All you need for this option is a cardboard box that is slightly bigger than your cat, a box cutter, duct tape, and a thick piece of material. Cut the flaps off one end of the box to create an opening, then tape the other three sides closed. Finally, place the box on the ground so the opening is on the side and put your material of choice inside. Your cat can hop inside and snuggle up in the material while enjoying the security of the box walls.
2. A Pillow Bed
If you have an old pillow and a sweatshirt lying around the house, you can create a super soft bed for your cat that can be put anywhere. All you have to do is stuff the pillow into a sweatshirt and then tie the sweatshirt sleeves together or stuff the sleeves into the neck of the sweatshirt. Your cat should love the extra cushioning while they sleep. Use a sweatshirt that smells like you to attract your cat to their new bed. They will feel like they are laying in your lap.
3. A Cubby Bed
Any piece of furniture with a cubby hole in it can be turned into a private bed space for your cat. Of course, the cubby that you choose to use should be completely clear of objects before you turn it into a kitty bed. Just throw a pillow, a towel, a few old t-shirts, or another type of material inside the cubby hole and let your cat take the space over as their own.
These are all easy bed options that your cat is sure to like, but even if they don’t like them, you haven’t lost out on anything but a little time.
DIY Cat Bed Materials to Consider
There are many kinds of materials that you can use to create a bed for your cat, whether it is one of the beds suggested here or a fancy bed made of lumber or metal. Here are five kinds of materials to consider incorporating into your cat bed design.
- Suede
Suede is an awesome option because it is soft and stays cool during the soft summer months. Also, cats can’t claw their way through suede and ruin it. Suede is typically easy to work with and holds up well to wear and tear. This type of material comes in a variety of different colors, but darker is best for cat beds because the lighter colors tend to show stains more readily.
- Leather
Leather may not seem like a good material to use for a cat bed, but there are a few reasons to do so. First and foremost, it is tough and can handle sharp claws and kneading. Cats do not get sweaty on leather as humans tend to, so the leather will keep them cool during the summer months. It will also reflect your cat’s body heat and help keep them warm during the winter months.
- Linen
Linen is light, easy to work with, and inexpensive. It also comes in many different colors and designs. Linen does not hold up as well to a cat’s claws as suede or leather, but it is machine washable for added convenience and can be triple-layered for added longevity. Linen can be used as a bed stuffing, as the finish, or both.
- Velvet
If your cat likes luxury, they are sure to enjoy a nice velvet bed to sleep on. Velvet is a good choice for cat beds because it is super soft, durable, and soothing. You may need to use a lint roller to remove hair from this material occasionally, but otherwise, it should hold up fine to daily use unless your cat uses their bed as a toy and likes to bite and scratch it all the time.
- Wool
If wintertime is extra cold where you live, consider using wool to make your cat a bed. The wool will hug your cat and keep them warm when they cannot cuddle up with you on your bed. Wool is thick and will not rip or tear, even if your cat scratches their bed. However, wool must be kept dry, so it cannot be easily cleaned. Therefore, your cat’s wool bed could get quite dirty as time goes on.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the information here will help you come up with a fun and comfortable cat bed design that your kitty absolutely loves. Mix and match our ideas to create a one-of-a-kind bed that cannot be found in any other household. Remember, the material is one of the most important aspects of a cat bed because it’s what creates comfort. Do you have any DIY cat bed ideas to share with our community? If so, feel free to share them with us in the comments section.
Related read:
- How Much Sleep Does My Kitten Need? What You Need To Know!
- 10 Best Budget Cat Beds in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks
- 10 Best Cat Beds in the UK
- 15 Common Types of Cat Beds (with Pictures)
- How Often Should I Wash My Cat’s Bed? Vet-Approved Advice & FAQ
Featured Image Credit: abe1717, Pixabay
