Our furry pets need warmth and comfort no less than we do. Cats love to walk on their land, exploring the vast areas around the house. Therefore, it is so important for owners of private plots and summer cottages (and sometimes just kind people who decide to take care of homeless animals) to have an idea of what exactly housing should be like for a furry pet on the street.
In addition, such beautiful apartments will serve as an excellent decorative element of the garden. To do this, it is important to choose the right design and style of the project in which you would like to make your dream come true.
Types of houses for cats
Having a home for cats is considered an important condition for their comfortable living in an apartment. This is their corner where they can retire, sleep peacefully or play. For this reason, it is worth considering the design in advance and choosing the appropriate dimensions and shape. If you wish, you can even create houses for cats with your own hands.
For mustachioed friends, there are different homes - from beds with sides to large play areas. Their use is also different - for relaxation or for games. Depending on the size of your house or apartment, you can choose any model. For pets, a cardboard or wooden house would be an ideal option: it is considered safe and environmentally friendly and will not have a negative impact on the pet’s health.
Types and photos of several original ideas
Options for cat houses can be divided into the following types:
- Wigwam. This is a hut consisting of a frame of 4 or 6 sticks on which cardboard walls are “mounted”;
- 1–2-story square houses made of cardboard. They should have windows and a door so the pet can jump inside;
- Lock. Such a dwelling is a house of 3–6 boxes, arranged in such a way as to form a complex system of multi-level passages. It is important that in each “room” the cat can get comfortable. To do this, boxes need to be selected in suitable sizes. sizes;
- Cardboard tower. Such a structure consists of dozens of cardboard rings of different diameters, glued to each other;
- Hut. This is a cute cardboard house covered with upholstery fabric. This option will take up very little space in the apartment. At the same time, such a home for a cat is very easy to make.
To make a house, for any option you will need:
- one or more cardboard boxes;
- stationery knife and scissors;
- ruler, tape measure;
- glue brushes;
- pencil;
- glue.
The choice of glue should be given special attention. Do not use adhesives with a strong odor, the fumes of which may harm a sensitive pet. If there is no choice, then it is better to use regular PVA glue.
Loungers and hammocks
A hammock or bed will become a cat’s favorite corner: the pet can sleep in it with maximum comfort. The design follows the shape of the animal's body - this allows you to sit comfortably on the lounger.
A DIY cat bed can be made from the following materials:
- felt fabric;
- Velcro;
- strong threads;
- tape that will be used for sheathing.
A small hammock will be fixed on a chair - for this reason, the size of the material should be selected in accordance with the width between the legs of the furniture. It is not recommended to use smooth tapes for production, because they quickly deteriorate.
The process is carried out step by step:
- We strengthen the base of the hammock by sewing tape along the edges.
- It is possible not to use Velcro to fix the suspended structure: you can use tape and make loops out of it.
- At the end, the finished house should be secured on a chair.
To make your homemade bed comfortable and soft, you can fill it with foam rubber. It is worth considering the compatibility of materials: the product must be harmoniously combined with the interior of the room.
Measurements and patterns
Sketch and write down all the measurements you will need: height, width and diameter of the house. Please note that all my measurements are in centimeters. I draw a work plan on paper to make this process easier to understand.
When the drawing is successfully drawn, transfer the obtained measurements to a piece of fabric and mark the lines:
- Three triangles 52x47x6 cm;
- 4 parts 52x7 cm, these will be parts for the pillars;
- 3 parts to create the front side;
- 2 strips of fabric 1x30 cm for fastening;
- 2 squares 45x45 cm for sewing a soft pillow.
Plywood booths
If you want to make a tall house in which your cat will be protected, then you should pay attention to plywood options. They are made simply, and the end result is a spacious and comfortable home for a beloved friend who can relax in it. If necessary, it can be taken outside or installed on a balcony or window sill.
To begin, you should prepare:
- sheets of plywood material (willow or oak are suitable);
- profile with an angular shape;
- screws;
- carpet
Step-by-step instructions for making a cat cottage:
- We fasten the main parts of the cat’s future home using a profile. We drill holes.
- We cover all sides of the finished product with carpet on the outside. But for the inside you can use foam rubber.
- If the walls are placed in a continuous row, then you need to make a hole for the entrance.
Manufacturing options for various models can be found on the Internet.
What does the design look like?
An enclosure for a cat is the same as the corresponding structure for a dog. With its help, your pet will have the opportunity to explore the world around him while being in a safe environment. It should be understood that the design must meet the needs of the four-legged furry.
A structure for a cat can take a variety of forms. This could be a walking path, a multi-storey recreation area, a playground and personal cabins in which it is convenient to sunbathe.
When building an enclosure with your own hands, keep in mind that it must protect the cat from snow and rain. Choose materials that will not rust. In addition, the design should be such that it is comfortable for the pet to walk, regardless of the weather.
The structure must be installed in a quiet place, protected from the wind. There should be no direct sunlight. To ensure your pet’s comfort, it is recommended to place all the necessary toys in the enclosure. The environment should be favorable for your pet to enjoy walks.
The video will show you what a structure for a cat might look like.
Built into furniture
If your cat does not like noise and increased attention, then his house should be protected. A dwelling disguised as an interior will fully meet this goal. It will please both the pet and the owner.
A good option would be to arrange a house in the bottom drawer of a closet or chest of drawers. It is freed up for the pet, bedding and several of the cat's favorite toys are placed in it. A hole is made on the front surface for the door.
If you wish, you can make a cozy corner for the animal in a flower stand, in a coffee table or in an armchair with a drawer for linen. It is important that your pet can get in and out freely. A soft pouf is also perfect for creating a house.
How to accustom a cat to a new home
If the house turns out to be warm and cozy, it has a place to hide and several tiers for choosing where to place the animal, then the cat will not have problems getting used to the house. However, to make the process more familiar, it is best to put some of your pet’s favorite toys into the new home.
Advice!
The ideal option would be his old bedding on which he slept. But under no circumstances should you wash it; a cat cares about its smell. Feeling it in a new place, she will adapt faster, considering the new home her own.
It would be a good idea to spend the first time with your pet close to home, but without violating its boundaries. For example, using a fun game. Outdoor games will help her relax in an unfamiliar environment. Giving your pet a treat in its new home is another good way to provide positive motivation.
Cardboard house
A DIY cat house made from a cardboard box will be a practical option that is suitable for your pet. This material is easy to work with: it can be cut, glued, and covered. The main thing is to choose a good and spacious box.
The process of making a box home is quite simple:
- To begin, take the box and cut out a round hole in one part in the center that will serve as the entrance. A regular plate with a round shape is suitable as a template.
- The upper part will serve as a roof. We cut off the cardboard above the entrance and the parallel part to it.
- We connect the sides of the box - we get natural ventilation.
- Next, we cover the home with fabric and decorate it.
You can place a soft pillow and several pet toys inside.
Game complexes
Keeping cats gives owners a lot of trouble and problems. They play, run, sharpen their claws, thereby causing damage to furniture and interior items. To eliminate these troubles, you can build a large two-story play complex in which your pet can play.
To manufacture the complex you will need:
- boards and plywood for the frame part. If these materials are not available, then you can use drywall;
- tubes made of metal or durable plastic;
- multi-layer upholstery material, foam rubber;
- cords, ropes, rope;
- screws;
- You can use a construction stapler for fastening;
- liquid Nails.
To make an exclusive gaming complex, it is worth preparing additional materials:
- wooden houses with an entrance;
- hanging hammocks with several fastenings;
- observation decks;
- play tunnels;
- stair elements;
- ottomans;
- suspended balls;
- scratching posts;
- columns that connect the entire structure.
After preparing the materials, you can begin building the main structure. It is performed in stages:
- The main structure for the cat is built in the form of platforms and shelves. Using a jigsaw, two sheets are cut out of plywood, which will be the top and bottom. The bottom part should be larger than the top.
- Three holes are made in the blanks. The size of their diameters must correspond to the diameter of metal or plastic tubes. They will serve as supports.
- A sun lounger can be installed on the top of the structure.
- Next, all materials are upholstered with fabric.
- Then a post is installed that will serve as a scratching post and a surface for moving the cat around the play complex. To do this, take a tube and cover it with a rope cord. The last edge of the rope can be fixed with liquid nails.
At the end there are additional materials that will be used for the pet's games.
Fixture functions
What reasons lead to the need to purchase a cage for keeping a cat at home? Among them:
- prenatal period, because in the last week of pregnancy the cat is given rest, and the family may have restless babies who bother the animal;
- recent lambing, and a cat with newborn kittens would benefit from a secluded, protected and safe home;
- the postoperative period, when the patient needs to maintain peace, sterility and cleanliness;
- safety, because a separate enclosure at the dacha protects the kitten from communicating with stray animals and getting lost.
Cat tent
A tent for a cat or dog made from an ordinary T-shirt looks interesting. This interior version of the home is simple to make; it does not require much effort or large financial investments. You can take it with you to the country or nature.
To make a tent you will need the following materials:
- medium size T-shirt;
- a small piece of cardboard 40x40 cm;
- two wire hangers;
- scotch;
- pins;
- pliers.
The manufacture of a tent is carried out in several stages:
- Using pliers, bite off part of the hanger with the hook so that the outline opens.
- Two hangers should be bent in the form of semicircles, they should be the same.
- The two pieces of cardboard are held together with tape.
- A through hole is made in each corner of the cardboard; you can use an awl for this. The holes should be 1.5-2 cm away from the edge.
- Semicircles of hangers are crossed, the central part is fastened with tape.
- Next, we insert the structure into the holes in the corners of the cardboard, the parts of the hangers coming out of the holes are bent with pliers and rewound with tape.
- We pull on the T-shirt, the collar will serve as the entrance.
At the end, all sleeves are folded to the bottom and secured with pins.
Need for facilities
Fluffies by nature are predators and hunters. They need a lot of space for a variety of games and training. And enclosures in this case can be considered the optimal solution.
Quite often, such structures have unique play areas. The owners create small towns using ordinary boxes. You can also create a small house by sewing it with your own hands. There are many options, as evidenced by the photo. But why is a cat cage needed?
Many people take their pets with them to the countryside. And if transportation does not cause any difficulties, then upon arrival quite serious problems may arise. They manifest themselves in the form of neighboring cats, who immediately come running to meet your four-legged friend. They may leave behind fleas or unplanned offspring.
Stray dogs and vehicles can pose a danger to cats. According to statistics, pets who go outside live shorter lives. And the above factors contribute to this.
Original furniture for cats
In order for the cat to fully develop, play and relax in the house, it is worth thinking through everything down to the smallest detail. There is a variety of furniture and accessories for animals that can not only diversify the leisure time of mustachioed animals, but also fit into the overall interior in an original way.
Let's look at a few unusual options:
- bookshelves. These products will perfectly complement a library or children's room;
- table with grass. In this design, there is a glass container with soil at the bottom. You can put the seeds of your cat's favorite grass in it;
- functional rocking chair for you and your pet. It will allow you to combine relaxation with your mustachioed friend.
You can also make a sofa with a cat tunnel. This unusual designer piece of furniture can fit perfectly into any interior style.
Dimensions and shapes of the home
Specialized pet stores have a huge range of homes for the feline family. The most comfortable houses are beds and products that are equipped with scratching posts - special places where a cat can sharpen its claws. They are especially useful for animals living in apartments.
For your information! This will allow you to wean your pets off wallpaper and wall hangings, which they tear at with inexpressible pleasure and enviable consistency.
You might be interested in: Patterning and sewing beautiful cosmetic bags with your own hands
A bed equipped with a scratching post
Houses for cats are made to specific sizes, as this is influenced by two factors:
- pet size;
- the area of the room in which the house will be located.
If the owner has several animals that stay in the house 24/7, a large play area will be an ideal place for them. A large house will not only help keep animals occupied, but will give them the opportunity to fully develop.
Playground for pets
For your information! There is a wide variety of modern finishing materials from which you can make not only a house, but even an entire complex. With the right approach, it will fit perfectly with the design of the room.
How to make a cat house from scrap materials
Houses for cats can be different; it is not necessary to use wood, plywood or cardboard to make them. A cat house can be made from the following means and materials:
- made of fabric, thick felt. You should first create patterns, and in order for the product to hold, it can be strengthened;
- housing for the animal can be organized in an old suitcase, which is lined with fabric on top;
- If you have unnecessary plastic containers or basins at home, you can put them to use. If properly designed, they can become a wonderful home for a member of the cat family;
- an old basket can become a cozy nest for a pet. The main thing is to properly design and arrange it.
If you wish, you can build a wonderful home from foam plastic. It can be covered with fabric or painted with acrylic paint, and a soft mattress or foam rubber can be placed inside.
How to quickly and easily make a home for your beloved pet
Manufacturing Instructions
If you want to easily and quickly make a home for your beloved pet, the instructions will help you, which describe all the stages of production.
So what might you need?
- Large cardboard box. The size of the house will depend on the size of your cat, but on average it should be a house of 0.35 * 0.5 meters. What height should it be? The cat should freely enter the house and at the same time it should be comfortable to lie/sit in it.
- Scissors, glue, paper cutter.
- Soft material for upholstery - in this case, foam rubber, or voluminous soft fabric/batting will help you out, and an unnecessary old jacket or blanket will also do.
- Fabric for decoration - it is better to give preference to dense natural fabrics with calm colors; the use of bouclé fabric, faux fur and carpet is allowed.
- If you manage to find a box of the right size, then you should prepare it before starting work, namely, remove the labels and clean it with a stiff brush. If the box is very large or made of regular sheet cardboard, it may be worth cutting it out and assembling it.
- Now draw a hole on the end part, which should be large enough so that the cat can easily enter the house. If you have a kitten, circle a saucer on a piece of cardboard.
- After this, cut out the hole with the prepared cutter. If something turns out uneven, don’t worry, just make the diameter a little larger.
- Be sure to pay attention to gluing all the joints, since the house must be reliable and durable so that your tail can feel comfortable in it. It is better to carry out this process using tape or regular glue - all parts of the box should be glued to each other, and if necessary, the joints should be sealed with strips of paper or fabric.
- Next, you should thoroughly dry the product before the next manufacturing steps.
- Cover the house with soft material. To do this, use the material that you chose in advance and superglue, although it can be replaced with regular adhesive. It is also possible to sew fabric to cardboard, but keep in mind that the option with paper clips is definitely not suitable, as the kitten may accidentally start gnawing on it and get hurt or get caught with a claw, which will also be painful.
- After the house, which has been covered with soft material, has dried, you can move on to the penultimate stage, namely upholstery. First you need to make a pattern with allowances and then carefully glue the inside of the house. Try to keep the seams as small as possible. It is best to cover the seams with a large amount of overlapping fabric.
- And the last thing - all that remains is to sew a small pillow and a blanket from light material (observation - cats adore the terry fabric from which they make dressing gowns for the house, apparently a reminder of their mother). No, the cat, of course, will not cover herself with a blanket, but she will be able to crush it herself as it is convenient for her and create a warm nest.
As you can see, sewing a cat house using a pattern is not that difficult, but this is a standard option. Let's find out what manufacturing tips there are.
General recommendations
First, you will need to decide what materials to use. Most people are inclined to believe that cat houses are made only by those who were greedy for money to buy a ready-made structure. In fact, everything is completely different.
For what reasons is it worth making a house yourself and not buying houses from a pet store?
- Yes, the issue of saving is clearly not the least important issue when it comes to making a cat house. Have you ever found out how much a really good cat house costs? From 12,000 to 20,000 rubles. The amount is impressive, and not every pet owner can afford it. Naturally, there are products on sale at a lower price, but usually they are made in the Middle Kingdom, and responsible owners will not risk the health of their beloved pet.
- Originality of design. Some people want to create a unique piece for the interior, while for others the size of the house is important, while others may have dreamed all their lives of creating a real cat palace that is 100% safe and durable.
- The love of making everything with your own hands is a great reason to make something for your cat. After all, you must admit that we now work so rarely with our hands that some people try to specifically find a reason, and one of them is to benefit their beloved cat, and this is far from the worst thing to do (better than swans made of tires).
House for a cat from a pipe
For a cat, cat or kitten, a home made from an ordinary pipe will be comfortable. To make it, cut off the middle piece of plastic pipe (70-80 cm will be enough). Additionally, at the bottom, so that the dwelling can stand, we attach a base - it can be made from a longitudinal cut of material.
We paint the surface with acrylic paint. Inside we place a soft cloth, carpet or a piece of foam rubber on which the pet can sleep peacefully. Additionally, you can put a small pillow inside.
Hanging cat house and shelves
Suspended housing is an original solution. The pet will feel comfortable in it, and the unusual product will fit perfectly into the overall design of the room.
Manufacturing Features:
- To create the structure, it is worth preparing a cubic plywood base. We make an opening and a small window in it.
- Next we build a bridge. For these purposes, you will need a cable, which is supplemented with cut strips of birch plywood and gaskets.
Finally, we lay rugs on the surface of the house and shelves. They are attached with glue. Below in the photo you can see a version of the finished solution.
Tent for a cat
Many cats love boxes that they constantly climb into. You can build a comfortable tent from them. The principle of making a tent is the same as that of a tent.
For production you will need:
- cardboard box;
- wire hangers;
- t-shirt.
A large box can be trimmed slightly in height.
Bed made from an old sweater
If you have an old knitted or knitted sweater or jacket lying around that you haven’t worn for a long time, you can adapt it for cat housing. Additionally, it is worth preparing the filler, threads, needles, pillow, pins and scissors.
The process of creating a home is as follows:
- You should start with the neck: it needs to be sewn. Then we sew a transverse line between the sleeves.
- The back and sides are filled with polyester.
- We sew the cuffs.
- We place a pillow inside.
- Sew up the bottom hole and attach the sleeves to the base with pins.
- Sew and remove the pins.
The product is ready! You can decorate it according to your own taste.
Basket and house made of newspaper tubes
A home made from newspaper tubes will look unusual and beautiful. It is made easily and from scrap materials that everyone has at home. Prepare the following:
- old newspapers and magazines;
- ruler;
- scissors;
- pencil;
- long knitting needle or hook;
- paper glue;
- PVA glue.
First we make newspaper tubes:
- It is recommended to cut a newspaper sheet into strips of 8-10 cm. A knitting needle is placed on the edge of the newspaper strip at an angle of 45-60 degrees.
- The strip is tightly wound on a knitting needle, and its edge is fixed with glue. Then carefully remove the knitting needle. The thickness may differ from different sides, but this is necessary so that the tubes can be inserted into each other.
Next, let's start making the home:
- We cut out the bottom of the future structure from thick cardboard; it needs to be created in two copies.
- We glue a wicker circle of tubes to the inside of one part of the bottom; they should radiate in different directions.
At the end, we glue the second bottom piece on top - it will cover the ends of the tubes.