Cats love to curl up somewhere warm for a nap. A cat cave is the perfect spot for many felines to feel secure, without needing to disappear under the bed.
Not all commercial cat caves will match the aesthetic of your home, though. They can also be a little expensive.
This is where DIY cat caves come in. With a few simple materials, like an old t-shirt and cardboard, you can make your own cat cave to match your existing décor.
Don’t worry if you’re a newbie to DIYing; these cat cave plans are simple and easy enough that anyone can make one. There are cardboard, sewing, and non-sewing patterns, so you can find the best option for the materials that you have available.
Click on the type of DIY you are most interest in to skip ahead:
9 DIY Cat Cave Plans Cardboard Cat Caves
1. Cardboard Cat Cave
| Materials | Cardboard and non-toxic glue |
| Tools | Cutter, compass, tape measure, and pencil |
| Difficulty | Easy |
One of the best things about this cardboard cat cave design is that if you have a large amount of cardboard handy, you can add a second floor to give your feline more space. Although simple in construction, this plan requires care when it comes to cutting out the pieces, and you’ll need quite a bit of cardboard too.
The type of construction means your cat has somewhere to scratch their claws. Plus, you can personalize the design with a snazzy paint job.
2. Cardboard Igloo
| Materials | Cardboard, glue, and paint |
| Tools | Scissors and marker pens |
| Difficulty | Easy |
With all the online shopping available, you probably have more than a few old boxes lying around. This cardboard igloo is a unique way to give your cat somewhere to nap and make leftover boxes look less like forgotten clutter. Better still, the design only requires a bit of patience with the cutting and gluing. The igloo itself is simple and super quick to make.
You can even personalize the igloo with a custom paint job, add in a window, and/or pad it out with a cushion.
Sewing Cat Caves
3. Cat Cave Cube
| Materials | 1 yard of woven fabric for outside, 1 yard of lining fabric, eight padded mailers or 2 yards of fusible fleece, and coordinating thread |
| Tools | Rotary cutter, quilt ruler, cutting mat, quilting clips, iron, sewing machine, scissors, small bowl, and pencil |
| Difficulty | Easy |
If you haven’t broken out the sewing machine for a while, this Cat Cave Cube design is a fun way to get back into sewing. It’s completely customizable, so you can use any fabric you want or even design your own. There’s also a handmade pillow that you can try to make if you have leftover material.
You can even recycle old padded mailers if you have several that you’ve been meaning to throw away. Use them instead of fusible fleece to give the structure more stability.
4. Cat Eared Cave
| Materials | Outer fabric, lining fabric, foam interfacing, and matching thread |
| Tools | A sewing machine |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Many cat caves look similar. This design stands apart by including a pair of fabric cat ears to show whom the cave belongs to. If you’re worried about your drawing skills, you can download a template for the ears to save time.
This one takes a little time due to all the pieces. Even if you are a newbie with a sewing machine, though, this one is a nice challenge.
Non-Sewing Cat Cave
5. DIY Cat Tent
| Materials | Medium t-shirt, 15 x 15-inch piece of cardboard, two wire hangers, tape, and safety pins |
| Tools | Wire cutters or pliers |
| Difficulty | Easy |
If you’re short on funds, this DIY Cat Tent is a great way to save money and recycle. The design is super simple and only uses cardboard, a t-shirt, and wire coat hangers.
Although you can hand sew the shirt into place, there’s no need. You can hold everything in place with a few safety pins. The most difficult part is cutting and bending the wire hangers into shape, but with a little patience, you’ll have the framework completed in no time.
For an extra cozy hideaway for your cat, you can include their favorite blanket or a comfortable pillow.
6. Yarn Ball Cat Cave
| Materials | Beach ball or extra-large balloon, yarn/string/cord/sisal rope, white glue, cornstarch, water, bowl, Vaseline, and cork kitchen hot mat |
| Tools | None |
| Difficulty | Easy |
Since cats love yarn and sleeping, a great way of giving them the best of both worlds is with this yarn ball cat cave idea. It might be a little difficult to find the giant knitting needles, but if you’re good at woodworking, you could carve your own. You can also customize the design by dyeing the rope before you start.
Depending on how much yarn or sisal rope you use, you can make a tightly woven ball or a thinner, web structure that looks just as cool.
7. Cat-cus
| Materials | Giant balloon, sisal rope, glue, green dye, water, blue shop towels, resin, dark green spray paint, and clay |
| Tools | Bucket |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
If you want to add an extra challenge to an otherwise simple design, try styling your cat cave to look like a cactus. The method is a little lengthy, but the result is a cute cactus-shaped cat house that doubles as a scratching spot.
This plan can be challenging, but you’ll have fun all the same.
8. Sweater Box
| Materials | Cat-sized cardboard box and an old sweater |
| Tools | None |
| Difficulty | Easy |
We all have a favorite sweater that we don’t want to let go of. When they get threadbare or shrink in the wash, it can be devastating. Instead of tossing it out, though, you can upcycle it with this cat cave design.
Grab an old box that your cat loves to sit in, pair it with your sweater, and voilà ! This one doesn’t require any tools either. You simply adjust the sweater to suit the box and tie a few knots.
9. Crochet Cat Eared Cave
| Materials | Thick yarn, fabric, and wooden or metal ring |
| Tools | 6mm hook |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
If you like to crochet and want to add a few embellishments, this plan includes two fabric cat ears to make the design extra stylish. Along with choosing your preferred yarn, you can also personalize this design with your cat’s favorite blanket or pillow. You could even add whiskers to give it an extra cat-like feel.
Introducing Your Cat to a Cat Cave
New things are scary, especially for your cat. Even if you make their new cave at home from scratch, your kitty will be wary about the odd structure. Fortunately, there are several ways to prove to your cat that their new bed is a cozy and safe place for them to sleep.
Catnip or Treats
If you’ve used catnip before and you know that your cat isn’t allergic to it, you can use it to tempt your cat into the cave. You can also use treats instead of catnip. Choose ones that your cat loves, and place a few around the entrance and inside of the cave to convince your cat to explore their new bed.
Favorite Blanket
Padding out your kitty’s new bed with their favorite blanket can help make it feel like home. Their old bedding will smell like them and be familiar even within the new surroundings.
It may still take a while for them to venture inside completely, but the familiar blanket will go a long way toward enticing them.
Patience
Some cats are warier than others. One might hop straight in after a cursory sniff, while another might refuse to step anywhere near it. In the end, all you can do is give your cat time to adjust to the sight of the new structure in their home.
Praise your kitty whenever they show interest in the cat cave to reassure them. Don’t get upset when they’re not as excited about the bed as you want them to be. Give them time, and before you know it, they’ll never want to leave.
Final Thoughts
Cat caves are a fun way to give your favorite feline a safe, enclosed space to sleep. Commercial designs are often limited with their design choices, don’t match your décor, or are just plain expensive.
Fortunately, there are many DIY plans that you can use to make your own cat cave. You can personalize them with snazzy paintwork, choose your favorite yarn, or make them into any design that you like. Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you to make a cat cave that your kitty will adore.
Related Read:
- 5 Amazing DIY Cat Onesies You Can Create at Home (With Pictures)
- 7 Amazing DIY Cat Stroller Plans You Can Create at Home (With Pictures)
Featured Image: NOKOEIDEH, Shutterstock
