We all know that just about any cat appreciates a tight fit in a cardboard box lined with tissue paper or a soft towel. But there are a number of other free or near-free accouterments you can give to your pet that will brighten her day. Here are five of them.
1. Cat Cove
Pair a t-shirt with a sturdy cardboard box to make your pet’s hideaway even more satisfying. Place the box so that the opening faces you rather than facing upwards. Then pull the t-shirt over the entire box so that the hole for the head ends up in the box opening — a little below the center so that your cat will be able to step in. If the shirt
does not fit snugly enough over the box for its head hole to be fully opened, knot the shirt from the other side to tighten it, or fold it a bit at the back and then glue it to the box. Your cat can now feel even more tucked away while still being able to peer out. For a 2-minute YouTube demonstration, see “How to Make a Cat Box with a T-shirt,” by Ali Andrews.
2. Bowtie Bliss
An old fleece blanket or other soft material will work well to create catnip-infused toys that your pet can bat about and also hug to himself. Begin by cutting the fabric into 9-inch by 3- to 4-inch rectangles. Put a bit of dried catnip on one of the longer sides, right next to the edge of the material but equidistant from the two shorter sides. Then roll the fabric forward from that long side so that the catnip you placed on the material is fully tucked in. Tie the ends into a neat bow and, voilà, your cat will have a lightweight toy that’s perfect for tossing about, biting, and hugging. Your cat won’t mind at all that it’s not shaped like a mouse. Check it out at the Vladimir Kitten Project on YouTube.
3. Upscale Hidey Hole
Leave it to Martha Stewart to come up with an elegant-looking feline hangout. Take a small wicker basket, about 16 inches in diameter, and a soft blanket. Then, using two extra-large fender-washers (1/4 inch by 1 inch) and two 1/4-inch screws, drill the basket into the wall. Put one screw at the top and one at the bottom for a firm hold. That will keep it steady when your cat jumps into it from a nearby stool or other piece of furniture. Once the basket is in place, line it with the blanket. You will have satisfied two cat urges at once — the urge to be snug and the urge to be off the ground. If the basket is placed so that your pet has a window view from his cozy spot, so much the better. Go to marthastewart.com, type “cat basket” in the search bar, then click on “How to Make a Cat Basket.”
4. Climbing Shelves
One way to provide your cat with the fun of a cat tree but without the actual bulky, space-taking structure is to place floating shelves on the wall that your cat can jump to and from, as well as perch on when he feels like it. Look online for floating shelves (no brackets showing) that work with your interior design. Make them paw-friendly with adhesive or other material secured to the wood (like carpet strips) so your cat won’t slip. And make sure the shelves are placed at a realistic distance from each other so your cat can jump from one to another.
5. Puzzle Potpourri
Send your cat on a rewarding fishing expedition. All you need is a clear plastic container with a lid, a cup, a marker, a knife that can cleanly cut through the plastic, and some toys that you already have on hand. The container should be at least quart size, and the cup should be wide enough in circumference so your cat can easily move his paw and arm in. Use the marker to outline the cup on the container lid in a couple of different spots. With the knife (an X-ACTO knife works well on plastic), cut out the circles you made. Your pet can now fish inside for the items you add — catnip-filled plush toys, balls with bells in them, treats, and so on.
