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Alexander Korovaev 03/17/2020
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A cat is a rather capricious animal, and it is not so easy to please it. She hates drafts, cannot stand sharp extraneous sounds, smells, and is wary of any changes in the house. Therefore, if you decide to make a house for a cat with your own hands, be sure to take into account all its whims. Otherwise, she will simply ignore the new home.
Types of animal houses
House for a cat made of boards
There are many ideas for making cat houses. It all depends on the amount of free space in the room and your taste.
You can build:
- cardboard house
- soft foam construction covered with fabric
- cat housing made of plywood, fiberboard, chipboard or hardboard
- a product made from old furniture boards, boards and wooden blocks
Housing for two cats
You will also need to choose the shape of the home.
A cat's house may look like:
- a simple house in the form of a booth with several windows
- house with an attached shelf-ladder, scratching post and hanging toys
- multi-storey gaming complex
- a house with a climbing tree attached to it
- a product built into furniture with a separate opening
- wall-mounted dwelling
- street house
- home for two cats at once
- maternity hospital for an animal awaiting replenishment
- a bed with a wire frame covered with an old T-shirt
- sofa
- bed
- hammock, etc.
When making a home for your pet, do not forget about the overall interior of the room. If you choose the right fabric for decoration and the shape of the house, it will become a true decoration of the room and fit perfectly into the interior.
For the fish
Some people prefer fish to furry pets. Nothing is more relaxing and calming than contemplating fish, snails and turtles that are unlike us. An aquarium can also be very interesting and stylishly fit into the interior.
The aquarium increases air humidity: excellent prevention of respiratory diseases.
Bar counter with seabed: looks very original.
Did you know that fish can relieve stress in their owners?
What kind of houses do your animals have? Share photos!
Required materials
Plywood house
An original house can even be made from improvised means or materials left over after renovating an apartment.
If you allocate some money for the “construction” of the house and purchase several wooden slats or plywood, as well as soft and durable fabric for covering, you will be able to make an original design structure that you will not be ashamed to show to guests.
So, you may need:
- cardboard : if you think that the structure made from it will be too flimsy, then you are deeply mistaken; to obtain a durable structure, it is enough to glue it in several layers
- plywood, fibreboard, chipboard or hardboard : with the help of these durable materials you can even build a multi-storey house or palace house
- wooden slats : they can be used as spacers when creating a structure covered with fabric or upholstered in plywood
- PVC pipes and fittings for connecting them : they can easily replace wooden slats, and the structure from them will be no less durable
- carpet, felt or foam rubber : they can be useful not only for arranging a bed, but also for covering the side walls
- durable fabric or fur for making a bed
- any kind of cat toys for hanging
- wooden block for scratching post
- hemp or jute twine for covering it
Do not use highly electrified fabrics for upholstery. They will scare the animal.
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.
Cardboard house
Of course, you don’t have to worry too much about it and you can make a house out of a cardboard box, cutting out holes in it for doors and windows and throwing bedding at the bottom. By gluing several boxes together, you can get a home with several rooms and even a multi-story house.
But such a structure will quickly become unusable - after all, it can be quickly torn and even “eaten” during the game.
Simple house made of cardboard
Still, it is better to make a more durable structure with walls made of sheets of cardboard glued together in several layers. Moreover, with high-quality finishing, it will look no worse than a store-bought product.
Craftsmen from Japan were the first to come up with the idea of making homes for cats in the form of beehives from corrugated cardboard. Today such structures are available for sale. But we will do them ourselves, listening to the wishes of our pet.
First, let's decide what shape and size the cat's home will be. If a domestic cat is still young and full of energy, it would be more logical to create a multi-story structure for them with shelves for climbing or attach a real tree with many strong branches next to the house.
For a lazy cat who loves to doze almost around the clock, a soft and comfortable one-story structure with a scratching post attached to it is more suitable. The principle of assembling the house will be the same in any case.
House in the form of a yurt
We will describe how to make a simple house for our pet’s cat in the form of a round yurt or a rectangle made of corrugated cardboard glued together in layers.
1Cut the cardboard into rings or strips and connect them in a stack with PVA glue.
2To ensure the stability of the structure, cut out the bottom from plywood, fiberboard or chipboard and glue it to the finished house.
3Using corrugated cardboard you can make not only a house, but also a couch, sofa or bed for your cat to rest. Some cat owners even manage to construct scratching posts from corrugated cardboard. But their lifespan is short. Plus, debris will always form around it - even thick paper will tear too quickly under the pressure of a cat's claws.
4An animal will definitely like a dwelling made of multilayer cardboard. After all, a solid base will be quite warm, and the walls will be ideally protected from drafts.
If you decide to paint your pet's home, use permanent dyes for these purposes. After all, gouache or watercolor are unsafe - after licking the toxic composition from the animal’s fur, it can become seriously ill.
Examples of territory arrangement for cats
Armed with our tips, you can not only arrange a housewarming party for your furry family member, but also decorate the interior with an original and touching element. Created by caring hands, it will keep the warmth of your soul and proudly demonstrate its uniqueness.
Multi-story plywood structure
If you can keep your pet occupied by arranging for him a play complex with ladder shelves, labyrinths, several hanging toys and a scratching post, perhaps he will leave your things alone and will not take them to the corners even in your absence.
Multi-storey plywood house
To make it, in addition to plywood, you will need furniture corners, sandpaper for cleaning cut areas, glue, screws and furniture corners. It is better to first upholster the house with foam rubber, and then with a dense, not too easily soiled fabric.
A piece of carpet will also come in handy - this material is quite durable and will last longer.
Production of a gaming complex in stages
Manufacturing diagram with dimensions
A durable house will be made from plywood, fiberboard, chipboard. You can donate several boards for it - the structure will only benefit from this.
So, step-by-step instructions for making it:
1First, draw a detailed diagram indicating the size of each part. Even if it is quite simple, you should not ignore this stage. It will be a shame if, when joining individual parts, they do not fit in size.
2Plywood, if desired, can be bent and products of complex shapes can be made from it. To do this, frequent blind cuts are made in it. A similar method is used when bending chipboard and MDF. In the future, to strengthen the structure, the resulting grooves can be filled with glue. Curvilinear parts from this material are cut out with a jigsaw.
3You can replace wooden blocks with PVC water pipes. To connect them, fittings are used (corners, tees, etc.), which are attached with glue. The pipes must first be degreased with solvent or alcohol, joined to the fittings and marked with a pencil where the glue will be applied. Fixing the elements motionless is required for 5-6 minutes.
4To “build” a plywood house with 4 walls, a floor and a roof in which a cat will rest, you will need 6 square or rectangular parts. Such a dwelling is located at the very top of the structure so that the cat can have a greater viewing angle. And the temperature closer to the ceiling is always higher, and there are much fewer drafts.
5Cats don’t really like closed boxes, so provide not one, but a couple of openings in the house. Be sure to sand the cut areas so that the animal does not get hurt.
6The remaining details of the gaming complex are selected at your discretion, depending on the inclinations of the animal. To fasten pipes or bars in rectangular or round wooden pieces, you will need to drill holes of a suitable diameter.
7 Cover not only the sides of the structure with carpet or foam rubber, but also the inside surface of the house so that the animal feels comfortable in it.
8To make the structure strong, use metal corners to connect the parts.
9Apply a layer of glue to the wooden blocks or PVC pipes and wrap them tightly with hemp or jute twine, tapping it well against the surface of the block with a hammer. It will be more convenient for the cat to climb them to any floor.
10 You can attach a miniature springboard to the house, along which the cat will climb up. Don’t forget to build an observation deck - animals love to climb up to be able to have a good view of the room.
11Make sure the house is securely fastened to the wall or floor. If it collapses one day, the animal will be wary of it and is unlikely to agree to live in it.
The smell of freshly cut boards or glue-soaked plywood can repel a cat. They must be well aired before assembly.
Attaching a tree to the house
The cat really likes to climb tree branches. Do not deny her this pleasure; build a device for her from any available means - PVC pipes or wooden blocks covered with jute rope or covered with carpet.
You can even bring part of a real tree with large knots from the forest.
Tree for a cat in an apartment
1To prevent the animal from dragging the bark all over the house, it must first be cleaned.
2 Carefully sand each of the branches so that the animal cannot get hurt.
3For ease of climbing, attach several viewing platforms to large branches, on which the cat can comfortably lie down and watch those around him. They can be attached using bolts.
4You can hang a hammock on one of the branches. Stretch its ends well so that the animal can climb into it comfortably.
You should not use leather or leatherette for upholstering a lounger - cats do not like slippery surfaces that absorb heat.
Making a scratching post
Scolding a cat for sharpening its claws is pointless . Indeed, in the wild, when animals climb rocks and trees, they wear off automatically. In an apartment they don’t have this opportunity, and their overgrown claws get in the way.
You can protect furniture and door frames from damage by attaching a wall-mounted, floor-mounted or hanging scratching post to your house.
House with scratching post
Let's describe how to make a house with a scratching post:
1The most convenient design is a column or rectangle with a height of 9-10 cm. Its width should also be sufficient - from 8-10 cm. At the top of such a structure you can arrange a comfortable lounger.
2The scratching post is attached using furniture corners to a cross-shaped, rectangular stand, which, in turn, is screwed to the floor.
3To cover it, you can take thick jute twine 0.5-1 cm thick, carpet or thick burlap. Synthetic rope should not be used - if an animal gets caught on its fibers, it can damage its claw. The twine is tightly glued to the surface, while being tapped with a hammer.
4As a scratching post, you can use a rug attached to the wall, a carefully sanded log, or even a piece of wood brought from the forest. Before installation, all small knots must be removed and sanded well.
5Hang a couple of your favorite toys next to it - they will help attract the animal's attention.
Housing built into furniture
You can set up a bedroom for a cat in one of the compartments of a bedside table, closet or chest of drawers. After all, even the most sociable animal needs a place for periodic solitude in which it will feel safe.
After all, even if a pet loves to lie on the sofa, when it sees a stranger, it will most likely look for a secluded place.
To create a house in your nightstand, just make a small hole in it.
It’s definitely not worth allocating space for a house in the hallway. It is better to arrange it in one of the distant rooms, preferably in the one in which the cat is most often. If you are a breeder and your animal is not sterilized, you can also set up a maternity hospital for your cat using ordinary furniture.
To do this, you just need to make a hole in the side wall of the bedside table or closet and build a soft bed from a small children's mattress or an old blanket. If your cat likes to take a nap on an elevated surface, set up a spot for her on one of the bookshelves.
To make it convenient for her to climb up there, place a small ladder nearby, covered with hemp or jute twine.
Even an old chest of drawers can be turned into a cat play set. To do this, you just need to remove the drawers, cover the free space with soft fabric and hang curtains so that the cat can rest quietly in privacy.
A home for two cats should consist of a couple of rooms or have two floors so that each of the pets has their own place.
Veterinarian advice on choosing a home
When choosing a suitable home, you should take into account the psychology of cats - each individual pet. It is important to evaluate the character, age, weight of the animal, and its habits. If a cat likes to sleep in a closet, between sofa cushions, a soft, maximally enclosed house with a roof will suit him. For cats who sleep on a radiator, a laptop keyboard, or other “warm” household equipment, a chimney house suspended in the coziest place, a bed upholstered in woolen fabric, is suitable. When an animal prefers to sleep on the owner’s sofa, bed, or chair, a small bed on a hill or a cat mini-sofa will suit it.
Those who like to climb to the very top are offered a series of hanging shelves and a booth with a high upper platform. Neutered, simply clumsy, overweight pets will never climb into a shaky, unstable home, so for them the option is chosen that is firmly fixed in the corner, with a strong, wide ladder.
When choosing manufacturing materials and finishing, preference is given to natural ones that are not harmful to health, even if small particles get inside - cats love to taste everything, scratch surfaces with their claws, and then wash their paws with their tongue. A foam mattress may have a removable cover, which is periodically machine washed. The main thing is that the home should not have any foreign odor; this indicates the presence of harmful dyes in the composition that can cause allergies.
The size of the bed is also important: it should not be too spacious for an adult pet - most cats prefer a “bed” that is slightly larger than themselves. The house is made a little more spacious - its height should allow the animal to calmly stand on four legs, move, and turn. If there are several cats, they like to sleep nearby, making the home even more spacious for the mother and kittens. For sick, very old, injured pets, a spacious bed or house with a removable top is required. If necessary, a heating pad should be placed here, and it should be possible to eat food right on the spot. A mattress for non-walking cats is covered with disposable diapers or placed under regular flannel oilcloth. In case of skin or infectious diseases, the house must be disinfected, all textiles must be washed at maximum temperature. Animals that are visually impaired or have one blind eye are often afraid of closed houses, preferring open beds on the windowsill, where there is enough light.
House on the wall
Most apartment owners can hardly boast of a lot of free space. It’s not always possible to place even the necessary furniture, let alone play complexes for cats.
But it turns out there is a way out. A house for her, or at least a sun lounger, can simply be screwed to the wall. Such a home is also convenient if there are children aged 2-5 years or dogs in the house.
Loungers can be placed directly on the walls
The principle of assembling the structure is similar to that described above. It can be built from plywood, fiberboard sheets, chipboard or wooden boards. But you shouldn’t use boards from old polished furniture for assembly - the animal is unlikely to like moving from shelf to shelf on a slippery surface.
We choose arbitrary dimensions of the house arranged on the wall. To prevent the animal from damaging the wallpaper or paint, you can first attach a wooden board to the wall, and only then hang the shelves.
The scratching post, just like the other elements of the structure, can also be attached to the wall. Combine a similar play complex with a bedroom by attaching a lounger or small hammock to one of the shelves.
Photo with dimensions
No matter how much we talk about the design of a cat house, the best way to understand the dimensions is by drawings with dimensions. If you look at them carefully, you will notice a solid run-up. This is understandable - there are large and small cats, and accordingly the size of the cat's house will be larger/smaller.
You can adjust them yourself depending on the size of your pets or the available space.
The height of the presented structures is quite large - 180 cm and above, but you can reduce it by removing floors that you think are unnecessary. All these dimensions can be taken as a basis to develop your own layout and put down approximate dimensions.
Having the drawing in hand, you can begin purchasing materials and manufacturing.
Tent made from an old T-shirt
The sizes can be arbitrary. The most important thing is that the animal does not feel too cramped in it. A similar structure with a wire frame can be easily moved and placed in another place.
Cozy T-shirt tent
1Make the bottom of the tent from a piece of thick cardboard or plywood. To prevent the cardboard base from bending, glue or tape 2-3 sheets together.
2To make the frame you will need two pieces of thick wire. They will need to be bent into arcs.
3We connect them together so that the ends are located in the same plane. Secure the upper part of the frame, in the area of the crosshairs, with tape.
4To attach the frame to the bottom of the house, we make four holes in the corners of the cardboard or plywood blank. It is necessary to retreat 3.5 cm from the edges.
5After pushing the wire into the holes, its ends must be bent on the back side of the bottom and secured with tape.
6The entrance hole of the house will be the neck of the T-shirt. We turn up the lower part and sleeves. You can simply sew it on by hand, but since the T-shirt will need to be washed periodically, it is better to secure the bottom with pins under the bottom of the house.
7A soft tent for a pet can also be sewn from felt, knitted or other types of fabric. Make a pattern from newspaper, attaching it to a wire frame. When cutting, be sure to leave seam allowances.
Soft bed
For sleeping, cats most often choose soft pillows, the backs of sofas and other places that are comfortable from their point of view. But it is in these places that the largest amount of wool is always collected. You can solve the problem with the help of a small soft bed.
It is better to use natural fabric that will not electrify - linen, cotton, wool. The filler can be batting or padding polyester.
You can easily make such a bed in one evening
You will need to cut out a pillow-lounger, sides (we will later fill them with soft filling) and handles for carrying. Make a small depression in one of the sides - it will be more convenient for the cat to enter and exit through it.
To give our design its shape, attach a sheet of cardboard to the bottom.
A hanging bed can be attached to a radiator - after all, cats are constantly trying to find a warmer place. To make the frame of such a product you will need very strong wire.
The cover is sewn from two pieces of fabric. Wrap the hanging parts of the frame with fabric or twine. If the fabric bottom of the bed sag a little, it’s okay - if the shape of its bed resembles a hammock, the animal will only be happy about it.
You can even create a cozy place for your pet from an old stool by upholstering its sides first with chipboard or plywood, and then with thick fabric or carpet. Prepare a shelf in it that will serve as a sleeping place.
The author of this video assembled a whole play complex from furniture scraps for a tailed member of his family. You can see all the stages of creating a cat house with your own hands in the video:
