fish cat bed (simplicity 9004)

[mgallant811]

despite all the horrible things i read about this patten, i decided to give it a go.  it was just too sweet to pass up.  i think it took about 8 hours, including 3 hours spent cutting out all the pieces and the foam. 

here is the little fishy



unfortunately, the cats are too scared to go into it, as it's a pretty tight opening



when zombie finally got brave, layla jumped on it and scared him 



i don't think i could have found more perfect fabric!  i was so pleased



and to clarify, all the negative things you've read are pretty much true.  i felt the directions were pretty easy to follow (my first pattern in MANY years) but the layers of foam are impossible to sew through.  it was way more easy to hand sew than it was to try to feed all that through my machine with tissue paper.  yes, i hand sewed the whole thing.  i love the cats that much, hehe.  my only complaint is that it's too small    i hope they will squeeze in someday, but for now my 7 and 11 pound monsters will probably just jump on it.  no difference though, as it's a pretty funny conversation piece!

[quaggy]

Love the fabric also. You did a great job.  My sister would love one of these.  Maybe i can put it on my do list

[jnaos]

Thanks for posting about this pattern.  I picked this up this year to make one for my sisters cats and never got around to it.  Yours is awesome!

[mego]

Haha!  Oh geeze, I totally agree with you -- my cats would be too terrified to go into it!  I suppose its one of those things you have to condition a kitten to like when they're young.

[wendyloo]

This is awesome! My kitten would be in this before i finished it! My older cat (looks just like your lady, btw) would just sniff it and never look at it again.
I am so gonna be on the lookout for this pattern!

[tavernkitty]

that fabric is awesome! I think the too small for most grown cats thing is pretty true of the pattern. I kept resisting the urge to get this pattern myself because I have something like this at home that my partner bought for the cats and they snub it like crazy. We've moved it all about the place but nothing. Fickle things these cats! But that is adorable!

[loca4crafts]

WOW!!  This is amazing.  I cannot decide if my cat would like it or not.  She does like cave-like environments    Such a cute cat bed.  Nice work.

[Puppy_girl]

that's so cute!  i don't even have cats and i kinda want to make one just to have around.  haha.

[Cealy]

If you left it out for them to investigate at night or when no one is home I bet you would be surprised. Put their favourite toy or a treat in it and see if they will make the move. Sometimes its the smell too. If you comb your cats, try putting a bit of the combed out fur in it to scent it-then it will smell like them.

Just an idea-my cats are for the lack of a better word, retarded! My alpha male likes to sleep INSIDE gift bags, doesn't matter if there is a gift in there or not! What a surprise to walk by the Christmas tree and have him JUMP out at you! The other one, the female, well that would take too much energy! lol

Love the work you did on the fish bed!
C

[vwluvervw]

My fiance's mother made this for his two cats... I think they actually used it for a bit... then decided they'd rather lay on it then go in it. She used plain fabrics, but it came out really cute... yours is adorable and you did a FANTATSIC job!