How to Build a Pet House

If you love your pet, you probably want him to have a place that he can call his own. A pet house can be a place for him to go and sleep, relax or feel safe. You can make a pet house for small critters, such as hamsters or guinea pigs, or for larger animals such as dogs or cats. You can also make a pet house for the inside of a cage or inside of a house, or you can make one for outdoors.

Things You'll Need

  • Wood or cardboard
  • measuring tape
  • glue, nails, screws
  • Hammer or screwdriver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your animal. You can use approximation for very small or very large animals.

    • 2

      Decide on the size of the house needed by using the measurements of your animal. Calculate this differently depending on the animals. For larger animals (e.g., dogs or cats), the size should be as long as the animal, as wide as three-times the width of the animal, and as tall as about five inches taller than the animal. This will give the animal enough space. For smaller animals (e.g.,hamsters or guinea pigs), the size can be just slightly larger than the animal. If your hamster is five inches long and one inch tall, the house can be about five inches long by three inches wide, and a little over an inch tall.

    • 3

      Cut pieces of material out in these sizes. Again, this will differ depending on the animal. Plywood (or other types of wood) works for cat or dog houses. Cardboard can work for a hamster house or guinea pig house. Keep in mind that small animals will chew on anything, so use a material that won't hurt them.

    • 4

      Glue, nail, or screw the wood together to form a roof and four walls.

    • 5

      Cut a hole in one of the walls so your animal can get in and out.