If a dog can have a dog house, why can’t your kitty have a cat house? You can make a DIY cardboard cat house easily. Sure, you could go online or go to a pet store to find a cat house – you could even add a DIY cardboard cat bed – but that’s no fun. You can make something yourself your cat will absolutely love – a place to not only lounge, but also to climb on when they’re feeling active.
There are a lot of different cardboard cat house designs on the internet to choose from. Learn the simple steps to build your own basic DIY cardboard cat house (and feel free to add any creative touches you like).
A Cat House May Keep Your Feline Friend From Getting Bored
When you get bored, you have a lot of options. You can look for something to watch on TV, find a good book to read, or play games on your phone or your tablet, etc. But when cats get bored, they don’t have nearly as many choices. They may be more prone to mischief as a result. Not sure if your beloved feline is bored? Here are some potential clues.
- Your cat doesn’t seem to care about anything – even activities that they once found enjoyable.
- They seem anxious and agitated.
- They overeat.
- They’re destructive (scratching furniture, for example).
- They chase or fight with other pets.1
Reducing boredom is just one of the reasons to consider making a DIY cardboard cat house. You can add some toys, such as some felt mice filled with catnip, feather toys, or just a few pieces of paper crumpled up into balls they can bat around. Your DIY cardboard cat house might just help keep your bored kitty active and content.
Making Your Own DIY Cardboard Cat House
All you really need to use to make your own cardboard house are some basic supplies. In just a couple of hours, you’ll provide your beloved pet with a fantastic place to play, hide, or snooze.
Things You’ll Need
- Two cardboard boxes
- Tape
- Glue
- A utility knife
- A glue gun
- A ruler and pencil
- Paint
- Painter’s tape
- A paint brush or roller
- Scissors
- Cardstock paper
How To Do It
- Tape the bottom of the first box shut, preferably with painter’s tape. You could use packing or duct tape, but painter’s tape will probably look better.
- After turning the box back right-side up, cut off two of the side flaps using scissors or your utility knife. You could also use a box cutter if you have one. Whatever tool you choose, be careful
Cut the other two flaps into triangles. First, use the ruler to find the center point of each flap. Then, draw a line from that center point to the corner of each flap. That will provide you with a guide to cut.- The next step will be to make the door for your DIY cardboard cat house. Find the area you want to be the front of the house, and draw along your ruler to form a rectangle. Cut across the top and bottom of the rectangle, then cut along the center.
- Make the windows. For a circular window, use a glass and trace around it. Use the ruler and pencil to divide the circle into fourths, and then cut along those lines. Then, draw a square on the side of the box. You could cut the whole square out, or you could leave a cross shape so that it looks more like a traditional window.
- Here’s the last step to make the structure of the cat house.Your second cardboard box will serve as the roof. Cut two of the walls off of that second box, and tape them together. Tape the roof to the rest of the house, and you’re done.2
Adding Some Style To Your New Cat House
You could put your house in whatever bit of space you’ve created for it, sit back, and let your cats have a blast. Or you could spruce it up a little bit. If you choose the latter, here are some fun ideas.
- Paint the house. Use a paint roller — it’s quick and will probably apply the paint more smoothly than a brush. You could still use a brush for the more precise work of painting the edges and corners.
- How about adding some cardboard pieces to make it look like the roof of the house has shingles? Use one of the big pieces left over from the second box and draw some pieces with rounded edges. Cut those pieces out, and glue them to the roof using a hot glue gun.
- One last touch of style to consider will be adding some other details. You can glue some paper straws to the doors to make “handles,” tape some stars or polka dots to the outside for extra flair, or dress it up however you like.3
Tip: Try sprinkling a little catnip inside your new cat house. This will draw your curious feline to it quickly to investigate.
Other Ways to Relieve Cat Boredom
In addition to building a cat house, there are a few other things you can do to keep your cat engaged and active.
One of the best is to simply give your cat as much attention as you can. Try to carve out at least a few minutes every day to play (maybe with their new cat house toys?) – just make sure that they have your full attention. That will help them really thrive.4
Another creative way to help your cat avoid boredom is to get a bird feeder with a suction cup you can attach to whichever window your pet tends to look out the most. Keep the window closed, of course, and try to use one that’s not too close to the ground. That will help keep the birds protected from predators.5
These simple steps, along with your brand new DIY cat house, should keep your beloved pet happy – and out of trouble.
Learn More:
Easy DIY Cat Shelves That You Can Build Today
Homemade DIY Cat Litter Boxes For Cat Parents
Exercises For Cats (Especially Sedentary Cats)
Sources
- https://www.rover.com/blog/is-my-cat-bored/
- https://www.cuteness.com/39176/turn-old-boxes-into-an-adorable-cat-house
- https://www.cuteness.com/39176/turn-old-boxes-into-an-adorable-cat-house
- https://www.rover.com/blog/is-my-cat-bored/
- https://www.petfinder.com/cats/cat-care/beating-boredom-cat/
