Cardboard box turned cat bed! (tute, image heavy)

[Murray_Girl]

So I was watching a terrible movie (The DaVinci Code, sorry, but I thought it stunk) and my mind started to wander ... how to make a cheap and easy cat bed?

So here's my baby Bella, in her favorite bed, aka a cheapo cardboard box:



I decided to use the minimal amount of time, energy and money to make her more comfortable.  First, I cut out the base in the shape of an oval, and cut the sides off in one long strip, which I then curved and taped (duct tape - see, I said cheap and easy) to the base to hold it's shape.



I then laid out my fabric and placed the box on top, using that as sort of a pattern to cut out 2 ovals, about one inch larger than my oval (to accomodate stuffing).  If I had thought about it, I would have taken a picture, but you get the idea.  I also measured the sides (5 inches) so I cut a 12 inch width of fabric (twice the height of the sides so it could be folded over, plus an inch of give on each side to accomodate padding) with a length a little longer than the oval is around.  I sewed one oval to my strip, hence making the top and sides.  Um, I've never written a tutortial before, so I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense.  Hopefully the pictures some it up.

Then I cut open an old pillow (NOT the down kind, but the weird extra-firm type that is too firm for me).  I made duct tape loops (so the sticky side is facing out) all over the base, inside side, and outside side.  I pulled off big pieces of the pillow and stuck it to the duct tape.



As you can see, I discovered that my cat loves duct tape.  Who knew?  Anyways, ...



Once the now-oval box is covered in padding, I slipped on the cover that I sewed earlier with my sewing machine.  I sort of tufted the seam that holds the top cover and the sides through the cardboard so the the pillowy top stays down and doesn't float all around.  I just did it sporatically in eight spots so when you look at it, you can see definites sides and a base, plus sewing through cardboard is hard.  If I had thought about it more, I would have figured out a way to make it so that I didn't have to sew the sides to the bottom panel by hand, but oh well.  It's the bottom so who's going to see it?  And the fabric I used was an old curtain of my mothers, with a funky colonial pattern on it of advertisements of carriage makers and nautical suppliers.  I think it's awesome.

So anyway, here's my baby girl in all her new-comfy glory!



I hope you all like it!

[Ms. Rosie]

That is adorable - she looks very comfy in the bed.  Thnaks for the tute.

[tbutterflyy]

Okay, I think I get it.  I had to read it a couple of times (trying to get the old brain to working) but it makes sense.  I think my Sofie would love one of those.  Thanks for the tute.  It looks fantastic and Bella seems to approve.

[PepsiTwist]

Wow its hard to believe that was a box! If you hadn't shownthe before and during pics I would have thought it was so not a box before! that is brillant

[Amanelle]

That's so cute. I know if I put that much effort into my cats wouldn't sleep in it. They'd rather sleep in a plain old cardboard box. I like the fabric too.

[murdermebeautiful]

adorable! :] my cats love lying in box lids, as well.

[munzder]

Oh my that is fabulous, I shall make some.

[Gishygoo]

I wanted to thank you for your pictures and wonderful tute!  I used it to make two cat beds for my kittens, which I hope to post pictures of later.  Instead of a cardboard box though, I used a LARGE round hat box from Hobby Lobby and cut it in half (top half for one kitty bed, bottom half for the other.)  It was really cheap because the box was on sale and it was torn (I didn't care, I was gonna cut it up and duct tape it anyway!) and the girl gave it to me for an additional mark down price.  Thanks to your inspiration, I was able to make two kitty beds for under $20!  This website rocks! 

[1born2knit]

That is so cute! 

[Gishygoo]

I promised pics, and here are a few.  I didn't get any of the other bed, but it was the same type of material, just picture it in lime green.  My kittens almost fight over them, but at least they love it.




Move over will you??  I need more space to Stre-e-e-e-e-e-e-etch.