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26 Adorable DIYs for Cats + Cat Lovers

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These cute, feline-friendly DIY projects will keep your craft creativity purring for hours.

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These DIY Crafts Are The Cat's Meow

If your love of crafting is only surpassed by your love of cats, put down what you're doing and try these DIY projects right meow. Upgrade your feline friend's scratch pad, build them a cozy hideout and save a few bucks by crafting catnip toys to keep them entertained for hours. We even included a few cat-inspired projects for you to enjoy as well.

Start with this stylish upcycled cat hammock, which not only elevates your pet when they're relaxing but also your living room decor. Wrap the legs of an existing piece of furniture with jute rope and choose a colorful hand towel to serve as the hammock. For an added bit of luxury, line the base with faux fur. Your kitty may never want to leave.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Cozy, Upcycled Pop-Up Tent

Create the ultimate lair for your best bud with an old shirt and some simple supplies. First, clip and straighten two wire hangers, and bend both into an arch. Cross them over one another, securing them at the top with duct tape. Push the end of each wire through the corners of the cardboard base below, bending at a 90-degree angle to secure. Next, drape the shirt over the wire framework, lining up the collar along the base to create an entryway. Neatly fold and wrap the sleeves and excess material around the bottom of the cardboard base and secure with tape.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Boho-Chic Basket Lounge

Whether your cat is super playful or downright lazy, they'll love this aerial lounge with a killer view. The key to this project is making sure your basket is super sturdy (ideally with a metal frame) and hanging it from the ceiling using a proper anchor to support your cat's weight. Use an embroidery hoop at the top to give kitty more space to lounge and play.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Wall Art or Scratch Pad?

If you have a cat that loves to use their claws, you'll both dig this clever, DIY scratch pad. Refurbish an old frame by giving it a fresh coat of paint, then replace the art with a patterned door mat (coco coir works best) trimmed to fit the frame. You'll need a deep-set frame and heavy-duty tape to secure the mat inside the frame. Once you're finished, hang it with proper anchors and hardware so it will stay put during playtime.

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Personal Scratch Assistant

Treat your little furball to this easy-to-install self-scratcher. Simply attach a bristle brush to the wall, doorway or furniture about 12 inches from the floor. Use removable adhesive strips so you can reposition the brush later if needed. Now, kitty can rub against the brush whenever the mood strikes.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Recycled Tee Toys

Upcycle your old tees into something your cat will stalk and cuddle with delight. Make this just like you would make a decorative pom-pom. Cut the old material into long, 1-inch-wide strips, then wrap the strips around your hand or a piece of cardboard. Tie the looped material off at the top with a piece of yarn. Using scissors, snip the bottom of the looped material and fluff it up so the yarn can't be seen. Finish by spraying with catnip, then kick back and get ready for the show.

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Upcycled Pet Food Bin

If space for food and toys is limited, upcycle an old litter container into the ultimate storage bin and scratch post. All you need is spray paint, painter's tape, jute rope and a hot glue gun. Be sure to give the container a thorough cleaning before storing any food or toys inside!

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Upcycled Kitty Playground

Transform old dresser drawers into a wall-mounted kitty playground. Add scrap carpet to the bottom of each drawer for a comfy landing spot.

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Feline Flats

Channel your inner artist to create a fun and simple design that'll cheer you up every time you look down. Embellish a pair of canvas flats or sneakers using fabric paint. Lightly sketch your design, then fill in the design with paint. Let them dry overnight before wearing.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Purrfect Barware

Curling up with a glass of wine just got a lot more fun. Use a small paintbrush and dishwasher-safe glass paint to make your own playful design with your feline BFF in mind.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Precious Paw Print

Stamp your BFF's adorable, little paw on an 8-by-10-inch piece of card stock to create a meaningful piece of artwork. Be sure to use a non-toxic ink pad and wipe the paw clean before they run off! Matte and frame the image for a stylish keepsake you'll treasure for years to come.

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Photo: Flynnside Out Productions
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Cat Magnetism

Dress up the refrigerator with these cute and colorful magnets. Spray-paint tiny, plastic cats in fun colors, then glue magnets onto the bottom (or back) of the figurines for an instant dose of cattitude.

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Cat Herb Garden

Fill a ceramic pot with feline-friendly herbs like catnip (to alleviate stress), mint (to soothe digestive issues) and rosemary (to repel fleas). Be sure to check with your veterinarian before introducing your cat to any new plants.

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Cardboard Camper

When you buy your cat a fancy bed or condo, there’s a good chance they’ll be more interested in the cardboard box it came in. Turn a plain box into an adorable, vintage camper-inspired kitty hideaway.

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Cone-Shaped Scratching Post

Transform a traffic cone into a scratching post for your cat by wrapping it with rope. You can even dye the rope to match your decor.

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Photo: Tomas Espinoza Photography
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Upcycled Cat Tree

Skip the pet store and opt for the thrift store instead, where you can likely find a wooden baker's rack or bookshelf that can be repurposed into a high-rise cat tree. All you need are a few basic tools to create a cat condominium complete with a scratch post, litter box (with privacy curtain) and a kitty hammock.

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Photo: Jalynn Baker
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DIY T-Shirt Kitty Tent

We all have T-shirts that don't make it into our normal rotation. Instead of letting them take up space in your closet, turn those T-shirts into a kitty tent. Use a foam piece for the base, an XL shirt for the tent plus a few other simple materials, and your pet will have the purrfect hideout spot.

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Photo: Lauren Oster
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Cardboard Scratch Pad

Due to the rise of online shopping, most people usually have several cardboard boxes lying around the house. Take five or six of those boxes and with a few simple steps, you can create a scratch pad for your cat that will keep them entertained and their claws away from your upholstered furniture.

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Photo: Debbie Wolfe
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Cat-Shaped Tea Bags

Looking for a unique gift for the cat lover in your life? Look no further than these adorable cat-shaped tea bags. You can customize the cat face template, thread color and paper tags to fit the personality of the recipient, or make a batch for yourself to enjoy while sipping tea with your furry friend by your side.

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Photo: Andy Vinson
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Sensory Playground for Cats

Cats are curious by nature and providing them with unique items to play with is crucial to their development. Give them the ultimate sensory playground by upcycling a step stool. Start by giving it a fresh coat of paint, and then attach brushes, fringe, jute rope, feathers and more for your cats to interact with.

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Photo: Shain Rievley
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DIY Cat Hideaway

Cats like to hide and observe, and you can make both easy with this creative DIY cat hideaway. You'll need some non-toxic plywood, a circular saw and some other materials, but this cozy DIY is totally worth it. Plus, it will blend in with your furniture when it's complete.

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Cat Jungle Gym

Cats love to climb and keep an eye on things from an elevated perch. Give them the aerial advantage they desire by securing a series of woven baskets to twine-covered PVC pipe with shelf brackets.

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Photo: Chris Corona
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DIY Cat Window Bed

From birds to cars driving by, cats are obsessed with watching the world go by from the comfort of their own home. Give them the best seat in the house by turning a sturdy basket into a window bed. Just add hooks and suction cups, and your four-legged friend will be on lookout all day long.

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DIY Light-Up Haunted House

Even if you don't have a black cat, your pet can still be part of the Halloween festivities with this light-up haunted house complete with a scratch pad. Repurpose cardboard boxes and get the whole family involved in creating this unique Halloween decor.

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Christmas Catnip Toy

Cats go crazy for catnip, which makes it the perfect holiday gift for their stocking. Don't waste money on mass-produced and expensive catnip toys. Instead, make your own using heavy, woven fabric, heavy-duty thread and dry catnip. You only need basic sewing skills, and we promise your kitty will look forward to it every season.

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Christmas Cat Wand

This DIY Christmas spinner wand is on every cat's wish list. Not only is the holly-themed design adorable, but it will also lead to hours of playful interaction as you drag it across the floor and wave it through the air for your pet to try and catch.

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