When approaching a new DIY Catification project, I sometimes like to walk the aisles of the home improvement store looking for materials that can be used in a completely unexpected way. That’s how I came up with this idea for a new way to make a cat tent. You’ll just need a few simple items and some sewing skills, and you’ll have a totally unique cat hideaway in no time at all.
Cats instinctively seek out small hiding spaces to feel safe and to stay warm. With this project, you can create simple, inexpensive cat tents that match your décor, making it easy to give your cat at least one or two to choose from.
PVC pipe is great for building all kinds of Catification projects, but I needed something curved to create the top of the tent. I found flexible conduit that is the same size as the PVC pipe, so it fits with the same connectors. Once you have everything gathered, the base of the tent can be assembled in just a few minutes.
After the base is created, download the printable PDF pattern and get ready to do some sewing. Don’t worry, it’s not hard, just a few simple seams and you’re done. Pin the pieces together first to make sure everything is properly aligned.
The tent cover can be made with any fabric, allowing you to get creative. I used fleece because you don’t have to finish the edges, you can simply cut the fleece with scissors and the edges won’t fray. If you have more advanced sewing skills and want to use a different type of fabric that requires finished edges, go for it! There are several ways you can customize this project to suit your cat and your home. Have fun!
Tools and materials
- Printable pattern (get the PDF at catster.com/diy-cat-tent)
- Drill
- Screwdriver
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Tape
- Sewing machine
- 4 pieces of ½-inch PVC pipe, each cut to 15 inches long
- 4 3-way ½-inch PVC connectors
- 2 pieces of ½-inch flexible conduit,
each cut to 44 inches long - 4 small screws
- 4 pieces of fleece cut to 20 x 20 inches
- 1 yard of string
- Small cat toy
- 15 x 15 inch soft pillow or blanket
Instructions
- Assemble frame base using PVC pipe and connectors.
- Attach flexible conduit to frame base so pieces cross in middle of frame.
- Secure the conduit to the frame base by drilling a pilot hole through PVC connector and the outer wall of conduit. Insert short screw. Note: If PVC pipe is loose in connector, do the same to secure the pipe to the connector for extra stability when moving your cat tent.
- Make sure conduit crosses at center of frame base, then wrap string around both pieces of conduit and tie knot underneath to secure.
- Tie a small cat toy to the end of one piece of string.
- Download the PDF pattern and print on 8.5” by 11” paper. Make sure to print at full size (DO NOT scale to fit).
- Tape pattern pages together, aligning dotted lines. Cut out pattern.
- Fold one 20 x 20 inch piece of fleece in half. Align pattern along fold as indicated on pattern. Pin pattern in place on fleece. Cut around pattern.
- Repeat, cutting four pieces of fleece. Cut hole in only ONE piece.
- Pin two panels together on one side, aligning top point and bottom edge. Sew along one side using 3/8-inch seam allowance. Repeat with remaining two panels.
- Align top seams and pin along sides, making sure bottom edges are even.
- Sew all the way across using 3/8” seam allowance.
- Flip cover right side out and slide over frame. Place pillow or blanket inside.
I hope you and your cat love these easy, DIY cat tents!
