How To Sew Your Own Easy To Make DIY Cat Bed
This post contains affiliate links and/or images. I have always rescued or adopted my pets. We consider them a huge part of our family. Our latest rescue kitties are two sisters named Meep and Hazel.
They were abandoned by their mom at 4 weeks. We fed them through droppers for two weeks until they could eat wet cat food. To make them feel at home, we made them an Easy To Make DIY Cat Bed.
I love to spoil Meep and Hazel whenever I can. In addition to feeding them high quality foods, I want them to be comfortable. They actually don’t like sleeping in our beds, so I decided to make them their own place to relax and sleep.
I first made Hazel this Easy To Make DIY Cat Bed. After we saw how much Hazel loved hers, we made one for Meep. Now they can watch TV or keep an eye on their domain!
If you have a kitty, do them a favor and them this make your own Easy To Make DIY Cat Bed, you just need a few supplies, a sewing machine and about 30 minutes. Here is what you need:
Easy To Make DIY Cat Bed
Supplies:
- 1 yard of medium weight home decor fabric
- 1/2 yard of a complimentary fabric
- 1 Zipper between 14″-22″, depending on the length of your DIY Cat Bed
- Thread to match
- Scissors
- Iron & ironing board
- Yard stick or measuring tape
- Fabric pen or pencil
Step 1: Fold your main fabric in half with your pattern side touching. Measure for the top and bottom of the bed. I made a rectangle measuring 15″ x 22″.
Step 2: Cut your fabric and set aside.
Step 3: Repeat Step 1 for the secondary fabric. This will be the “gusset” or the fabric that goes around the bed, connecting the top and the bottom pieces of the bed. I made mine 7″ tall.
You will have two pieces the width of your cushion and 2 pieces the length of the cushion. For one of the longer pieces, you will need to make it 1.5″ taller that the other piece. This will be where your zipper goes.
Step 4: Let’s do the zipper first. Instead of typing these longer directions, please visit my DIY Mesh Laundry Bag Tutorial post. Scroll down to Step #2.
Step 5: Now you want to connect your 4 gusset pieces. You will sew one side of a long piece to the side of a short piece, then the other long piece and then the last shot piece. Now you have a gusset “ring”.
Step 6: Pin the right side of one of your main pieces to the right side of one of the gusset pieces. You will pin the long side of the main fabric to the long side of the gusset.
Next, you will do the same on the shorter side, etc. Sew all these pieces together. Now repeat these steps on the other side.
Step 7: Open up your zipper a few inches so you will be able to turn your bed right side out when all the sides are sewn together.
Step 8: Now you need to fill your Easy To Make DIY Cat Bed. I use old towels, but you can use batting or pre-cut foam. Whatever works best for you and as long as it is comfy for your kitty.
If you cannot sew or do not have a sewing machine, you can also make this with heavy duty iron on tape!
SINGER Start 1304 6 Built-in Stitches, Free Arm Best Sewing Machine for BeginnersSinger Bundle – Detail Scissors, Thread Snips, 8.5
Magnolia Home Fashions Talbot Harbor, Harbor
Robert Kaufman Denim 10 oz. Fabric, Indigo Washed, Fabric By The Yard
25pcs Nylon Invisible Zippers for Dresses, Skirts, Pillows, Sewing Craft (16 inch, White)
Coats & Clark All Purpose Thread 400 Yards White (ONE spool of yarn)
Shauna says
May 16, 2016 at 2:41 pmOh my goodness, you made that look so super-easy. I love it… My brother-in-law has a cat and would love something like this. Thanks so much for sharing
Jennifer says
May 16, 2016 at 2:51 pmThat is such a cute little bed. I don’t have a cat (I’m allergic) but I have a dog who’s just small enough to love something like this.
Jeanette says
May 16, 2016 at 4:31 pmI have never been able to sew! That looks so cute! I bet your cat loves it! We don’t have a cat ourselves, but I would say you should sell these! People would love them.
Jennifer Sikora says
May 16, 2016 at 4:33 pmWe are big Nutrish lovers here. We have been using it for about 4 years now and my dog and cat both thrive on it. I love how all the proceeds go to Rachael’s Rescues 🙂 It’s easy to get behind a food company that cares about my pet like I do.
Jenna Wood says
May 16, 2016 at 4:45 pmThanks for sharing such an awesome tutorial I just might make this for my cat for the holidays! I love that Rachael Ray donates her proceeds from the sale of this food! #client
Tara says
May 16, 2016 at 4:59 pmOur kitty would love that bed for sure. She is always stealing the dogs bed and now that she is bigger she won’t leave when they ask her too. The cat food sounds good and wholesome too, I like that it is not filled with a bunch of by-products and fillers.
Jeanine says
May 16, 2016 at 5:34 pmI love this bed. My cats would love it, I actually need a bed for them and would love to make one myself! This doesn’t look too hard for me!
Amy Desrosiers says
May 16, 2016 at 8:08 pmI had no idea that it was this easy to make a cat bed. I love this for my mom’s cat Greyson.
Kathy says
May 16, 2016 at 8:57 pmThat is a great cat bead! I have two cats and my one cat has claimed my girls little couch. He uses it for a bed all the time. I need to make one of those for him. He’d love it! I also think that cat food sounds great. I’ve always wanted to try out Rachael Ray cat food for my cats.
Ninja mommers says
May 16, 2016 at 9:12 pmOh that’s such a cute bed. I don’t have a cat, my husband is allergic. I know a few people who do have cats that would love this.
Ann Bacciaglia says
May 16, 2016 at 9:20 pmThis cat bed looks perfect for my kitties. They would love it if it was in front of the big living room window.
gingermommyrants says
May 16, 2016 at 9:21 pmMy friend just adopted a little kitten. This would be a great project for her. I will have to share this with her.
Elizabeth Lampman says
May 16, 2016 at 9:22 pmNourish is a great pet food brand. I did not know they had a cat formula as well. I will have to give it a try.
Amanda West says
May 16, 2016 at 11:20 pmI just bought a bunch of this cat food on Amazon! The reviews are great. I can’t wait to try it!
Cathi Crismon says
May 17, 2016 at 12:15 amMeep and Hazel definitely look happy with their Nutrish food and… I think they love their bed and mama for making it!
Janeane Davis says
May 17, 2016 at 7:44 amThat cat bed is so easy to make. It gave me an idea to make a little mat for the children to lay on when they watch television or read in the living room.
Paula says
May 17, 2016 at 10:26 amWhat a great tutorial ! I don’t have a cat but am going to try this for my little dog. He tends to eat through any bed we bought. Maybe he will know this was hand made and leave it alone
Liz Mays says
May 18, 2016 at 3:56 pmI have a new kitty, so I just have to make her one. I love this idea, and I have to put a canopy on hers since she loves to be under things.
Veronica Lee says
December 19, 2016 at 7:44 amLove this! And so easy to make too!
mycraftingworld says
March 22, 2017 at 7:05 amWe don’t have a cat now. We are thinking about getting one. I will consider Rachel Ray cat food at that them. I also thank you for the directions on the cover. Those are hard to make with those corners. You did a very nice job.
Elise says
April 18, 2017 at 4:37 amThat’s got to be one of the cutest cat pillows I’ve ever seen, hehe. I love it so much! And I know my cat would love it even more!
mycraftingworld says
October 9, 2017 at 6:45 amI used your theory to make a new mattress and cover for a doll bed. Your directions are great. The girls loved it.
Dana Rodriguez says
August 16, 2018 at 11:02 amThat is so clever and your cat is beautiful. I know my cats would love this too!
Lissa Crane says
August 16, 2018 at 6:01 pmI love it! I will definitely be trying to make this for my kitties!!
Peggy Nunn says
August 17, 2018 at 8:51 amThat is really nice and is relatively easy to make. It will be good for my sister’s dog. Thank you for the idea.
Lynne B says
August 23, 2018 at 1:42 pmI love that you recycled old towels. I used my daughter’s pillows when I got her new ones. I’d like to think that the smell of my daughter comforts our dog.
Samantha says
January 9, 2019 at 9:59 ami love this i think it would be reat for my cats (I have 12) and my dog. thank you.