We always knew that cat lovers are brilliantly creative people, and now we’ve got the DIY evidence to prove it. From cool cat scratchers to boho pet teepees, we’ve rounded up eight stylish DIY projects to suit all skill levels, whether you’re a fully fledged DIY-er, complete with staple gun and tool belt, or more of an accident prone apprentice. Super glue comes off right?
DIY MINIMAL CAT SCRATCHER
Molly from creative blog Almost Makes Perfect whipped up his minimal DIY cat scratcher as a birthday present for her two cats Lucy and Bodhi, and we’re loving it so much we had to share it with you. You’ll only need a few basic materials to put it together (including a hot glue gun which is exciting in itself), and the final result is simple, pared-back pussy perfection.
Make it // Almost Makes Perfect
DIY CAT TEEPEE
Cats love to curl up in their own private space (away for annoying humans and infuriating children), so this DIY cat teepee is a great little crash pad for your ultra cool kitty. Made by Esther and Jacob from Local Adventurer for their two cats Mika and Sebastian, all you’ll need a blanket (a tribal or South American print will look spot-on), some rods of dowel, safety pins and leather cord or twine.
Make it // Local Adventurer
DIY CAT FOOD TRAY
For the true DIY-phobe, this is really more ‘organising’ than ‘making’, so put down that nail gun and pour yourself a glass of wine. If your cat’s food area is looking a bit of a state, upgrade things from fast food to fine dining with this organised little cat feeding station courtesy of Beauty Lab. A tray, some storage jars and a bit of white crockery later – hey presto you’ve got a lovely little space for you cat. A warning that the instructions for this one are in Dutch but can be easily translated with Google translate.
Make it // Beauty Lab
DIY WOOD PET BOWL STAND
Another cracker from Molly at Almost Makes Perfect, this wooden pet bowl stand is such a simple idea – with an awesome result. The minimal frame holds three stainless steel cat bowls, which is perfect for the multi-cat household or just to keep your kitty’s wet food, dry food and water nicely separated.
Make it // Almost Makes Perfect
MENSWEAR MOUSE CAT TOY
Time to raid your Dad’s wardrobe! We think these dapper little mouse toys are the cat’s whiskers. Get your paws on some of those unwanted suits and shirts that are turning to moth food – tweed, houndstooth, checks and corduroy would all look suitably sharp, whip out your scissors and get sewing.
Make it // Martha Stewart
DIY COLOUR BLOCK CAT SCRATCHING POST
This gelato coloured cat scratching post by A Beautiful Mess is pastel pussy perfection. A far sight better than some of the ghastly scratching posts on the market, your cat will be raring to pounce on this bad boy. To achieve the pretty colour block effect, you will need to dye the sisal rope, and you can of course experiment with whichever colour combinations you fancy. MEOW.
Make it // A Beautiful Mess
DIY CROCHET CAT TOY
When it comes to DIY sometimes the best approach is to start small. So if a scratching post seems like a bit of a stretch, why not start with these cute little DIY crochet cat toys? The little bell and cardboard tubing are bound to be a hit with your playful pussy.
Make it // Dabbles and Babbles
UPCYCLED SUITCASE CAT BED
SCHWING! Can we all agree that this retro cat suitcase bed is everything? The suitcase-turned-pet-bed concept has been around for a little while, but this is example by the creative folk at Atomic Attic takes the catnip-laced cake. While this one isn’t strictly DIY, you can get some detailed instructions on creating your own here from The Instructables.
Have you created anything cool for your cat or come across any DIY projects we should know about? Share them in the comments below!