How to Make an Indoor Cat's House Out of Wood

Cat houses can be expensive when purchased ready-made from a pet store. Making your pet's house on your own is a great, inexpensive alternative. With just a few pieces of equipment and the right tools, you can build a sturdy, durable and comfortable cat house easily.

Things You'll Need

  • 1 wood base panel, 24-by-24 inches
  • 2 wood side panels, 24-by-18 inches
  • 1 wood back panel, 24-by-12 inches
  • 1 wood front panel, 24-by-12 inches
  • 2 wood roof panels, 24-by-6 inches
  • Saw
  • Wood adhesive
  • Nail gun or hammer
  • Sandpaper
  • Nails
  • Towel or bedsheets
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Instructions

  1. Cutting the Side Panels

    • 1

      Use a 24-by-18-inch piece of wood for your side panel. The wood can be any lumber you can easily obtain, such as plywood or pine.

    • 2

      Find the halfway point (12 inches) on the 24-inch horizontal side with a measuring tape and mark it with a pencil. Draw a vertical line through the center of the side panel from this mark.

    • 3

      Measure 12 inches up on the 18-inch vertical side of the panel and mark this point with a pencil. Draw a straight line to the 12-inch marker points from the top of the vertical line you drew previously to create a triangle shape at the top. Repeat this step on the 18-inch vertical side. Cut off the outer triangle shapes left at the top corners using a saw. Sand the top of the panel to remove any rough edges. Repeat this step for the other side panel.

    Cutting the Front Panel

    • 4

      Select one of the 24-by-12-inch panels and lay it flat. Measure 3 inches to the left from the right-hand bottom corner and mark the 3-inch point using a pencil. Mark a further 9 inches to the left from the 3-inch point. This is the width of the house's front door.

    • 5

      Use the two points you previously marked and draw a vertical line up 6 inches from each point. Draw a horizontal line at the top to connect the two lines. This is the top of the doorway.

    • 6

      Cut the door out using a saw. Sand the doorway thoroughly with sandpaper to ensure there are no rough or sharp edges.

    Assembling the House

    • 7

      Use a 24-by-24-inch piece of wood for the base of the house. Arrange the side panels, back panel and front panel on the floor where they will go once assembled.

    • 8

      Squirt a line of adhesive down the left side of the base. Take the left-side panel and squirt a line of adhesive on the bottom. Stick the left-side panel onto the left side of the base. This creates a right angle. Use a nail gun or hammer and nail through the base up into the left-side panel. Place a nail every 2 inches to secure the panel. Wipe away any excess glue. Repeat this process for the right-side panel.

    • 9

      Apply a line of adhesive along the front side of the base. Squirt a line of adhesive on the bottom of the front panel, which is the panel with the door in it. Stick the front panel onto the front of the base. Nail through the base up into the front panel with a nail placed every 2 inches. Wipe away any excess gule. Repeat this process for the back panel.

    • 10

      Use a towel or some bedsheets and place them on the base of the house. This provides comfort for the cat.

    Installing the Roof

    • 11

      Apply adhesive to the triangular shape at the top of the side panels.

    • 12

      Use one of the 24-by-6-inch roof panels and stick it onto the front slant. Repeat this step for the back slant.

    • 13

      Use a nail gun or hammer and nail through the roof down into the side panels, placing a nail every 2 inches to secure the roof.