Black Cat Outdoor Halloween Decoration

Create an arched-back black cat cut-out for your front yard to give trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests a fright.

Black Cat Outdoor Halloween Decoration

Create an arched-back black cat cut-out for your front yard to give trick-or-treaters and Halloween guests a fright.

By: Layla Palmer

Related To:

Materials Needed:

2 'x 2' piece of plywood
jigsaw
fine-toothed wood-cutting jigsaw blade
electric drill with an extra-large drill bit
18" wood landscaping stakes two
pneumatic nail gun and nails

hammer
paintbrush
scissors
sanding block with 80-grit sandpaper
black exterior paint
Download: Halloween Scaredy Cat Template

Print and Cut Out Template

To create an oversized cat, have a local copy shop print out a 2' x 2' version of the cat template. Using scissors, cut out pattern.

Tip: If you'd prefer, you can create smaller versions of the cat using templates printed onto standard printer paper.

Print and Cut Out Template

To create an oversized cat, have a local copy shop print out a 2' x 2' version of the cat template. Using scissors, cut out pattern.

Trace Template

Use a pencil to trace the cat template onto a 2' x 2' piece of plywood.

Trace Template

Use a pencil to trace the cat template onto a 2' x 2' piece of plywood.

Cut Cat Out

Use a jigsaw equipped with a fine-toothed wood-cutting blade to cut the cat out by slowly following your pencil lines.

Cut Cat Out

Use a jigsaw equipped with a fine-toothed wood-cutting blade to cut the cat out by slowly following your pencil lines.

Create Eye Holes

Create starter holes in the center of each eye using an extra-large drill bit. Insert the jigsaw in the drilled hole and continue cutting out the eyes.

Insert the jigsaw in the drilled hole and continue cutting out the eyes.

Drilling Cat Eyes

Create starter holes in the center of each eye using an extra-large drill bit.

Create Eye Holes

Insert the jigsaw in the drilled hole and continue cutting out the eyes.

Attach Stake

Apply construction adhesive to the upper portion of a wooden landscaping stake and attach the stake to the back of the cat's legs (Image 1). Flip the cat over, and use a pneumatic nailer to further secure the stake to the cat from the front side (Image 2). Flip the cat over again, and hammer down the ends of any nails that are sticking through the back (Image 3).

Flip the cat over, and use a pneumatic nailer to further secure the stake to the cat from the front side.

Flip the cat over again, and hammer down the ends of any nails that are sticking through the back.

Attach Stake

Apply construction adhesive to the upper portion of a wooden landscaping stake and attach the stake to the back of the cat's legs.

Nail Stake to Cat

Flip the cat over, and use a pneumatic nailer to further secure the stake to the cat from the front side.

Attach Stake

Flip the cat over again, and hammer down the ends of any nails that are sticking through the back.

Sand, Then Paint

Use a sanding block to smooth rough edges. Coat both the front and back sides of the cat and stake in black exterior paint and allow to dry.

Sanding Edges

Use a sanding block to smooth rough edges.

Painting the Black Cat

Coat both the front and back sides of the cat and stake in black exterior paint and allow to dry.

Place in Yard

Select an outdoor location for the cat and use a second wooden stake to create a shallow starter hole in the ground. Remove the stake, then position the cat, firmly pushing its stake down into the started hole.