DIY cat hammock
Cats are finicky creatures who value comfort and coziness. Since the daily sleep time of these four-legged animals can be up to 18 hours, a cat hammock will be the ideal device for resting your pet. It is not necessary to buy it, because to create a comfortable hammock you will need materials that can be purchased at any hardware store.
Read, how to make a paddock for a dog?
The process of creating a reliable hammock
The process of creating a hammock will take about 4 hours. It can be accelerated if several people work.
You will need the following things to work:
- wooden beam measuring 1.3 x 2 cm and 90 cm long;
- square wooden beam measuring 1.3 x 1.3 cm and 4 meters long;
- pencil;
- joiner's glue;
- roulette;
- sandpaper;
- wood screws;
- drill with drills;
- saw;
- screwdriver;
- scissors and thread;
- two different types of fabric (it is better to choose a softer fabric);
- 4 handles for furniture;
- hair bands;
- sewing machine.
The items listed above can be replaced if they are not available, but to get the perfect result, you should stick to this list.
Step # 1
First of all, cut the wooden block into several equal parts with a saw. The result of the work should be 8 identical pieces of wood from a square bar, and 4 pieces from a bar of 1.3 x 2 cm.
Step # 2
When the blocks are ready, carefully sand the surface with sandpaper. It is important that no sawdust sticking out on the bars after sanding.
It is worth doing the work carefully, because if the cat bed turns out to be sloppy, it will not bring actual benefit.
Step # 3
Now you should prepare the polished bars for assembling the lower and upper frame of the future hammock. When assembling the structure, each corner of it will be fixed with a screw, therefore, holes should be drilled to secure the screw in each bar.
Step # 4
When the base parts are ready, they can be connected into squares. To do this, a small amount of glue is applied to their joints, after which screws are screwed into the previously made holes.
It will be difficult to screw in the screws alone, so it will be very helpful if someone holds the structure while performing this step.
Step # 5
To the two frames that were made in the previous step, attach 1.3 x 2 cm bars on each of the 4 sides. First, you should make holes for the screws in them, and then carefully screw in the screws with a screwdriver.
Before screwing in the screws, a small amount of wood glue should be applied to the joints of the bars in order to increase the strength of the structure.
Step 6
The base of the pet hammock is ready and now, at the top of the side panels, you need to screw in the furniture handles. They are needed to keep the hammock in place.
Step 7
In this step, you need to use a sewing machine. At the same time, pre-cut two identical pieces of 50 x 50 cm from the fabric. Cotton or sheepskin can be used as the fabric.
Step 8
Lay one piece of fabric on top of another and sew around the perimeter with a sewing machine. Before stitching the corners, place the hair ties into the corners to form the "hooks".After that, firmly fasten the corners together, processing them several times with a sewing machine.
At this step, you need to leave a hole at one of the corners.
Step 9
Turn the fabric out and sew the hole by hand using a hair elastic. After that, process it with a sewing machine in the same way as for the other 3 corners.
Step 10
Gently attach the resulting hammock to the wooden frame using rubber hooks on the furniture handles. Make sure the structure is strong enough to support the cat's weight.
Now a simple cat hammock is ready! It remains only to put him in a cozy corner and invite your four-legged friend.
Briefly about the difficulties that can be encountered in the process of work
Although creating a small bed for an animal may seem simple at first glance, it is fraught with a number of difficulties. The step-by-step instructions above tell you how to create a quality hammock. Therefore, it requires so many diverse resources.
It follows from this that when working, many people face the following problems:
- difficulty sawing wooden blocks;
- lack of tools such as a drill or sewing machine;
- problems associated with measuring the dimensions of the bars, as well as marking for future screws;
- the complexity of the perception of the instruction.
You shouldn't skimp on materials for construction. Otherwise, it can lead to discomfort for the pet.
The listed problems are poorly spread, but they still take place. Therefore, we recommend that you take a look at the simpler instructions for creating a cat hammock.
Cat hammock, suspended under a chair
You can make a lounger that hangs under the chair without unnecessary comments and time costs, since in this case you will not have to make a frame.
To create it, you will need:
- soft cloth 60 x 60 cm;
- finishing material;
- Velcro or tape for fastening;
- sewing machine / needles and thread.
Cut out the base of the fabric. Its size will depend on the distance between the legs of the chair - a kind of frame. If the fabric is dense, one layer will be enough. If the material is thin, you will need to cut out several layers, between which you can place insulation.
The finished pattern is folded outward with the right side, and processed with a finishing fabric.
Velcro or tapes are sewn with a sewing machine, or sewn to the base with a sewing needle.
The frameless cat hammock is ready. All that remains is to hang him under the chair and call his furry pet - he will certainly want to lie in a comfortable bed.
Benefits of cat hammocks
Often, the owners of animals, when choosing a sleeping place for them, opt for ordinary rugs or a pillow. A hammock has a number of advantages over these things.
The fact is that, unlike humans, it is important for cats that their sleeping place can follow the contours of their body. And if an overly soft bed in a person will lead him to a curvature of the spine, for a fluffy this option will be the most comfortable.
In addition, it is very important for pussies to have a corner in which they will feel comfortable and from which there is a good view of the surrounding area. Remember: cats are hunters, and therefore even the most expensive and seemingly cozy house for an animal, bought at a pet store, may not like your pet.
Another indisputable advantage of a hammock is the ability to transport a four-legged pet in transport. Cats do not tolerate travel in cars, and this is due to the cramped carrying bags. With the help of a sunbed, which is attached to the glass with suction cups, this problem can be easily solved.
Choosing a place to install a hammock
Choose a place for installing a hanging bed should be carefully based on the preferences of your pet.In every house with small four-legged residents there are places where they like to spend most of their time and relax. It is in such a place that a hammock should be installed. At the same time, you need to be prepared that it will become a personal item of your pet, and its unexpected movement will upset your pet.
General recommendations
There are several places worth placing a hammock. Firstly, you should take a closer look at the wall benches, which are perfect for pets who like to climb higher. In this case, you will need to ensure unhindered access of the cat to the hammock.
Secondly, you need to remember that frame structures are installed exclusively on the floor or under the table. If you choose the second method, then the cat will always be near the owner.
For tetrapods, there is nothing more important than being near a person.
For some cat breeds with a small amount of fur, a radiator is the best place for a hammock. Think for yourself: this place is the warmest in the house, and radiators are usually hidden under the windowsills, which makes such places seem protected by animals.
There are also round beds that can be hung from the ceiling. They are perfect for energetic pets who are used to sleeping on wardrobes. The main thing is not to forget to attach a ladder or rope to such a hammock.
It should also be noted that many pets enjoy basking in the sun. Their preferences can be accommodated by installing a comfortable hammock in a place where the sun's rays penetrate. It is important that the animal does not overheat. If the animal avoids the installed hammock, think about it, maybe it is too hot, and it is worth moving the bed to the shade.
This recommendation is especially relevant for apartments, in which tetrapods sometimes receive a limited amount of sunlight.
If you look well, you can find a dozen more places in the house where you can install a sunbed. Everything is based only on the expediency of finding him in this place, as well as in the preferences of your four-legged friend.
Recommendations to help ensure the safety of the animal
When creating, or buying a ready-made hammock, it should be remembered that only its safety can stand above the comfort of a pet. Of course, the design should use materials that are combined with the interior of the house, but if this contradicts the safety of the cat, it is better to neglect this factor.
Tip # 1
When choosing a material for a hammock frame, do not forget that in a jump, cats create a high load on the entire structure. For this reason, it is not worth using flimsy materials when creating the frame. The best solution would be to use available tools: boxes, thick cardboard, wooden boxes and plywood boards, since they have sides that create a sense of safety for the animal.
Tip # 2
When choosing a stuffing material, it is better to give preference to foam rubber or synthetic winterizer. These materials are quite soft, they do not wear out, and you do not need to spend a lot of money on their purchase.
Tip # 3
If the bed was created for a kitten not accustomed to the tray, or a sick animal, its bottom should be made waterproof with a film or oilcloth, which can be easily changed.
Tip # 4
Before you start creating a cat bed, you should study the behavior of your pet and his preferences. Observe your cat and find out where it is most often and what surfaces it likes to sleep on. These simple steps will help you choose the ideal materials for your design that will please your animal.
Tip # 5
If the hammock will be installed outside or in a cool hallway, its bottom must be insulated with foam. This solution will not allow your four-legged friend to freeze from the cold coming from the ground.
Tip # 6
If you decide to install the hammock on a table or windowsill, make sure the structure is stable.Cats love to jump and move quickly, and a badly secured bed will sooner or later fall, frightening the animal or harm it.
By following the tips listed above, when creating or buying a sunbed, you will provide your pet not only with comfort, but also with complete safety.
Summing up, it is worth noting that simple designs can be made absolutely from any available means. For creation, you don't even need to go to the store: just find old clothes, pick up scissors with a needle and dream up a little. The result will not be long in coming, and as a result, putting diligence, love and attentiveness into the work process, you will get a good hammock for a cat who will be happy with such a gift.