Picture this: 2 AM, me standing in pajamas surrounded by carpet scraps and hot glue, craft supplies everywhere, while Luna watches judgmentally from the bookshelf with the same disapproving stare my toddler gives when I hide veggies in his dinner. Welcome to cat parenthood!
How did I get here? Well, it started innocently enough. Just like bringing home that first baby outfit before your child is born, I bought a beautiful leather couch before adopting Luna. In hindsight, this was like putting white carpeting in a finger-painting studio, but we all make rookie mistakes.
Three years and countless claw marks later, I’ve become something of an expert in what I like to call “defensive decorating” – the art of creating cat-friendly alternatives to save what’s left of my furniture (and sanity).
What began as a simple DIY scratcher, followed by a fancy DIY cat tree, has evolved into a full-blown obsession that now takes up approximately 40% of my free time and 60% of my living space.
Consider this guide your permission slip to embrace the chaos, save some money, and channel all those “what am I doing with my life?” moments into creative projects that might – just might – save your furniture from becoming the world’s most expensive cat scratcher.
“But Mom, I Need More Places to Climb!” – Create a Cat Climbing Wall
When my DIY cat tree wasn’t enough to satisfy Luna’s apparent mountain-climbing aspirations, I found myself researching DIY cat wall ideas at 2 AM (because that’s when all great parenting decisions happen, right?).
Cat climbing walls are basically DIY feline parkour courses for your living room. But that moment when your kitty discovers they can literally scale your walls? Completely worth the drywall damage you’ll absolutely be explaining to your landlord later. Trust me on this one.
I used:
- Floating shelves (the sturdiest ones I could find)
- Carpet remnants (yes, from the same pile I used for the cat tree – waste not, want not!)
- More sisal rope (because apparently I’m single-handedly keeping the sisal industry in business)
I arranged the shelves in a zigzag up the wall, creating DIY cat steps for Luna to reach the ceiling. My favorite part? When visitors ask about my “modern wall installation,” I just smile knowingly like it’s intentional home decor and not just my desperate attempt to save my curtains from becoming Luna’s next climbing victim.
“I’m Bored of That Now” – Quick DIY Cat Toys That Actually Work
Of course, after spending approximately 87 hours creating the perfect cat paradise, Luna decided that what she REALLY wanted to play with was the plastic ring from the milk jug. Typical.
Rather than questioning all my life choices, I embraced my new role as Toy Maker Extraordinaire and whipped up some DIY cat toys that cost basically nothing:
- Old socks + catnip + beans = kick toys that kept Luna entertained for hours (and gave me enough time to actually finish a cup of coffee while it was still hot).
- Toilet paper tubes + treats = the feline equivalent of a puzzle box that had Luna mentally stimulated and me feeling like a genius cat mom.
- Cardboard boxes + cutout holes = an obstacle course that turned my living room into what looked like a hoarder’s paradise but kept Luna from attacking my ankles during Zoom calls.
The neighbors probably think I’ve lost it based on the sounds of me cheering every time Luna successfully bats around a homemade pom-pom, but hey, it’s still better than the judgment I get at preschool pickup when I show up with mismatched shoes.
“But Where Will I Sleep?” – The Ultimate DIY Cat Bed
After creating all these activity spaces, I realized Luna needed a proper DIY cat bed for all that post-play napping. You know, because the 18 hours of sleep cats require daily is apparently very taxing.
I turned an old sweater (that I swear I was going to wear again someday) into the coziest cat bed ever:
- Stuffed the sleeves with polyfill
- Sewed up the neck and bottom
- Created a circle with the sleeves around the body of the sweater
- Added a pillow inside
Total cost: $0 because I used what I had on hand Total time: One episode of whatever show I was binge-watching after the kids went to bed Total appreciation from Luna: She slept in the Amazon box it all came in for three days before deigning to try the bed.
But when she finally did use it? I took approximately 472 photos and sent them to everyone I know, including my mother who still doesn’t quite understand why I’m so invested in my “fur baby” when she has actual grandchildren.
If you’re as obsessed with making cozy spots for your cat as I am, you’re in luck! I’ve rounded up 20 more DIY cat bed ideas that are just as fun, budget-friendly, and feline-approved.
“It’s Getting Cold Outside” – DIY Cat House Outdoor Winter Edition
When the neighborhood stray (who I definitely haven’t named Oliver and absolutely don’t feed daily) needed shelter during the winter, I channeled my maternal instinct into creating a DIY cat house outdoor winter refuge.
Using a plastic storage bin, some foam insulation, and an old heating pad, I created what my husband called “nicer accommodations than our first apartment.” Step-by-step:
- Cut a door in the storage bin
- Line the inside with foam insulation
- Added straw for extra warmth (after researching that it’s better than blankets for outdoor shelters)
- Positioned it under our porch, protected from wind and rain
- Check on it daily like it’s my third child
My kids were baffled by all the attention “outside kitty” got, creating a sweet teachable moment about compassion—until they asked to bring Oliver inside, and I had to explain why Daddy’s still “adjusting” to our first cat… seven years late.
If you’re looking for more ways to create safe outdoor spaces for cats, you may also be interested in outdoor catio ideas or catio ideas for a balcony.
“But My Budget is Tight!” – DIY Cat Tower Easy Cheap Solutions
When my sister wanted to create something for her new kitten but was on a serious budget (first-year teacher salary, bless her), I helped her make a DIY cat tower easy cheap version using only:
- Three concrete form tubes ($8 total)
- Remnant carpet samples (free from the local flooring store)
- An old wooden cutting board as the base (upcycled from her kitchen clear-out)
- Sisal rope (shared from my apparently endless supply)
The whole project cost under $20 and took one afternoon. Her kitten, Mr. Darcy (yes, she’s an English teacher), loved it immediately – which is approximately 3 weeks faster than Luna deigned to acknowledge any of my creations.
The best part was watching my sister’s confidence grow as she wielded the power drill. “If I can build cat furniture, maybe I really CAN control a classroom of 30 teenagers,” she texted me later. Crafting as therapy – it’s not just for Pinterest moms!
“I Need More Scratching Options” – DIY Cat Scratcher That Won’t Offend Your Décor
After successfully saving most of my furniture, I decided to create more designated scratching spaces with a DIY cat scratcher that wouldn’t make my living room look like a pet store exploded in it.
My favorite creation was a wall-mounted scratching panel that doubles as “art”:
- Wrapped a canvas in thick sisal
- Mounted it on the wall at Luna’s preferred scratching height
- Added some minimalist wooden accents to make it look intentional
- Told visitors it was a “textural art piece” when they asked
This DIY cat art project protected my furniture while preserving my home aesthetic. When my book club commented on my “interesting modern art,” I just smiled, secretly grateful Luna was actually using it.
“Where’s My Castle?” – DIY Cat Cardboard House That’ll Make You Keep Those Amazon Boxes
The irony of spending money on cat supplies just to have your cat prefer the boxes they came in is not lost on me. After accumulating what my husband called “a concerning number of cardboard boxes,” I decided to put them to use with a DIY cat house cardboard project.
Using box cutters, duct tape, and too much time, I created:
- A two-story cat castle with turrets (because Luna has delusions of grandeur)
- Connected tunnels between boxes (creating what my 4-year-old called “the cat subway”)
- Little windows so Luna could glare judgmentally at us from various heights
The cardboard castle dominated half our playroom but kept both Luna AND the kids busy for weeks. When it finally collapsed during an intense laser pointer chase, I felt secretly relieved—until I caught Luna’s expectant look that clearly said, “More Amazon boxes coming soon, right?”
“Adventure Time” – Creating a DIY Cat Harness for Outdoor Exploration
Luna’s dramatic window-diving at passing birds signaled she needed more stimulation than our apartment offered. Instead of letting her roam free and tangle with wildlife, I crafted a DIY cat harness from an old t-shirt and webbing.
What You’ll Need:
- An old t-shirt (preferably one you don’t mind sacrificing to the cat gods)
- 1-inch wide sturdy nylon webbing (about 2 yards)
- A small buckle or clip closure (I nabbed one off my kid’s old backpack – don’t tell him)
- Sewing machine (or needle and thread if you’re patient, which I am not)
- Scissors
- Pins (to hold things in place while your cat judges your every move.
- Cut an 8×10 inch rectangle from an old t-shirt (I used my husband’s forgotten band tee that he’ll suddenly remember exists the moment scissors touch fabric).
- Fold the rectangle lengthwise, sew it into a tube, then flip it right-side out. This creates a soft belly piece that won’t irritate your cat’s fur.
- Cut two webbing pieces: 14 inches for the neck and 18 inches for the body (adjust if your cat is tiny or… let’s say “enthusiastically free-feeds” like my sister’s chonky boy).
- Thread the webbing through both ends of your fabric tube to create two loops – one for neck, one for body behind front legs.
- Attach a buckle to the body loop for easy access. I sewed mine extra secure because Luna’s escape artistry rivals Houdini.
- Make the neck loop adjustable by creating a few “belt holes” where one end can thread through the other.
- Reinforce by sewing the webbing to the fabric tube at four points (think north, south, east, west). This prevents the whole harness from shifting when your cat does the inevitable “I’m being oppressed!” dramatic flop.
The whole project took me about an hour, not counting the 25-minute break I took when I stabbed myself with a pin and had to dramatically explain my “grievous injury” to my unsympathetic 6-year-old.
Total cost? Maybe $5 for the webbing and buckle since I already had the shirt. Total satisfaction when Luna finally ventured outside and I saw that magical look in her eyes that said, “The world is so much bigger than I thought”? Priceless.
Pro tip: Cat walks aren’t dog walks. Prepare for statue poses, phantom pounces, and your cat scaling you when cars pass. I bring a tote because Luna inevitably quits mid-walk, becoming the world’s most judgmental purse I carry home.
“The Grand Finale” – DIY Cat Activity Center That Brings It All Together
For Luna’s “adoption day” (which yes, I celebrate like a birthday because I’m fully committed to this cat mom life), I created the ultimate DIY cat activity center that incorporated all her favorite things:
- Scratching posts of varying heights
- Hiding spots for treats
- Suspended toys for batting
- Cozy sleeping nooks
- Tunnels for zooming through
This project took over my life for a solid week. I was finding carpet scraps in my hair during Zoom meetings and explaining to my boss why I had hot glue burns on my fingers. But the pride I felt when it was finished? Pure magic.
Did Luna use it right away? Ha! She circled it suspiciously for days like it was a cat trap. But when she finally claimed that top platform for a nap, I felt that rare mom-victory rush—you know, like when your kid actually eats a vegetable you cooked!
Let’s be honest—DIY cat projects aren’t about the cat. They’re about us crazy cat parents expressing love through cardboard and questionable crafting skills. Each project really says, “I love you enough to let my home resemble a feline funhouse if it makes you happy.”
Isn’t that what all parenting boils down to? Creating spaces where our little ones thrive, even when they thank us by knocking stuff off counters at 3 AM? For more ideas on keeping your kitty entertained, check out these 10 cat enrichment ideas.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go rescue my latest DIY cat climbing wall before my actual child decides it’s the perfect addition to her dollhouse. The joys of a multi-species household never end!
