The next time you order a pizza to be delivered think of your cat. Not for his opinion on whether or not to order anchovies but to consider his or her comfort. Of course you give your cat a comfy life but it can be even better. Grab your wallet to pay for the pizza but not for new, plush sleeping quarters for your cat. Those will come when the pizza is gone if you take the cardboard plates inside to use for the unusual project. Never order pizza out? Your favorite is the frozen pizza? Those cardboard trays will work as well!
You’ll need two large, identical cardboard circles to begin making the easy cat bed. There are many different ways to finish the bed, according to the time and money you have to invest, but any of the designs are simple to create and not expensive to make. The cat bed will only be as big around, of course, as the cardboard circles. You do, however, have options when it comes to how tall you want to make the bed. In fact, if you already have a cat bed you can make a much taller version to create a play center instead.
Start by cutting a long piece of thick cardboard. The cardboard should be at least as thick as the cardboard circles. Cut it long enough so that it can easily wrap around one of the circles with a few inches to spare. Cut the cardboard strip to be as wide as you want, keeping in mind that a very wide strip will create a really tall bed or play center, and a more narrow strip will make a shorter bed. Consider the size of the cat before deciding on the final measurement for the width of the cardboard.
Wrapping the cardboard strip around something circular can be helpful when it comes to assembling the cat bed. Suggestions include a lamp, a round fan, a canister or something similar. After doing so, encircle the cardboard circle with the rounded cardboard strip to get a better idea of where to trim the cardboard. Lay the cardboard out flat and use another round object to draw a circle on it. The circle should be located opposite the seam that will be created when you tape the two ends of the cardboard together. The circle should be nearly as wide as the cardboard itself. Begin attaching one of the cardboard circles to the cardboard strip. For now, all you have to do is tape the edges of the circle to one edge of the long strip as you wrap the strip around the circle. After taping it to the outside, go to the inside and tape the seam again. Now do the same to the other side, taping the outside first, then reaching inside the cutout circle to tape the inside. Strengthen this design by gluing or taping flat, cardboard or wooden slats to the inside, here and there, all the way around. The slats should reach from the top circle to the bottom one to work well.
If you’re just trying to make something in a hurry you can simply place a pillow inside and let the cat get comfy. If you’d like something a little more presentable let’s start again: after cutting out the cardboard strip use cloth or fake fur to cover the pieces. The strip of cardboard should be covered on both sides before cutting out the circle that will allow entry to the cat. One of the cardboard circles should be covered on just one side while the second cardboard circle should be covered on both sides. Glue thin foam to the pieces first, if you want, to make the bed or play center more plush. After gluing the fabric over the foam you can then assemble the bed. Set the first cardboard circled on a flat surface and place it so that the covered side is facing upwards. Begin gluing the covered strip of cardboard around the circle. Hot glue works well for most fabrics. After the cardboard strip is glued in place you can then glue the top cardboard piece on.
You can add a small pillow to the inside of the bed, if you want, to make it even more inviting. Cats can crawl inside through the cutout hole to find serenity or can go inside and claw around. On the outside, the cat can claw the sides or take a nap on top. Add toys by attaching them to pieces of ribbon or yarn. Poke holes in the sides, thread the ribbon through, then tie the ends in knots that are located inside the house of the bed. Sure, your cat’s life was pretty cozy before, but now, he or she will enjoy the days even more!
