How to Make Cat Beds

Cat beds can be expensive when purchased at the pet store, but making your own cat bed is easy and inexpensive. When you create your own homemade cat bed, you can match it to your furniture, curtains and other home décor.

Things You'll Need

  • Fabric (around 3/4 yard) Tape measure Straight pins Fabric scissors Sewing machine or needle and thread Stuffing Zipper Basket (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by selecting your fabric. Cats prefer softer fabrics like fleece. If you're trying to match a bedroom set, buy a pillow case set and use the fabric from it. You can also match curtains by purchasing an extra set of curtains and using the fabric from them. You'll need about 3/4 of a yard per cat bed (and this allows for some error).

    • 2

      Decide whether you want the cat bed to sit in a basket. Cats love the cozy feeling of a cat bed that sits inside a basket. And in most cases, it looks a bit nicer, particularly if the bed will sit in a visible area like on the floor or on a table. Select a square or round basket approximately 14 to 16 inches in diameter on the bottom. Larger baskets can accommodate more than one cat.

    • 3

      Measure the bottom of the basket, if you're using a basket for the cat's bed. This will dictate the size and shape of the cat bed. Take the measurement and add 2 inches to get the final measurements for the fabric. A 14 inch by 14 inch square basket will need two 16 inch by 16 inch pieces of fabric. A round basket with a 16-inch diameter will need two circular pieces of fabric with an 18-inch diameter.

    • 4

      Using the formula from Step 3, cut out two pieces of fabric of the appropriate size and shape.

    • 5

      Pin the fabric together, running pins around the edge. The exterior side of the fabric (the side that will show once the bed is complete) will be positioned face-to-face, which means we'll be sewing the bed inside out.

    • 6

      Sew the two pieces of fabric together, with the line of stitching approximately 1/2 inch in from the edge of the fabric. For a square bed, sew three of the four sides. For a circular bed, sew two-thirds of the circumference.

    • 7

      Remove the pins from the bed, position the zipper and then insert pins to hold the zipper into place as you sew it in. The zipper will be one entire side of a square-shaped cat bed; for a circular cat bed, the zipper will comprise approximately 1/3 of the circumference.

    • 8

      Remove all pins and turn the bed right-side out. Insert stuffing. The zipper will allow you to add stuffing or remove stuffing as necessary in the future. As the stuffing compresses over time, the zipper allows easy access to add to or replace the cat bed's stuffing.

    • 9

      Place the cushion into the basket, creating a comfortable and cozy homemade cat bed.