Easy to Make Cat Bed

Fabrics

• Choosing the colors of your fabric can be fun. Start by selecting a towel you would like to use for the base. You can either use an old towel that is lying around or buy a new one at a home store. The towel will be the sides of your bed and you will need one to two depending on the size of your cat. If you prefer to use a different material, you could also buy fabric at a craft store instead, which you will need to do for the bottom. Match the fabric to the towel you selected. It is best to use a durable canvas material for the bottom, since it will have the most wear and tear. The amount you need will depend upon the size of your cat.

The bottom

• Measure how large your cat is before cutting your fabric. Simply hold a tape measure at the tip of the nose and run it down the length of the back until you reach the base of the tail. This gives you a length to go by. Add four inches to your measurement, more if you want fuller sides. For an even oval base, cut a pattern out of a paper grocery bag. Cut the bag open and lay it flat. Measure a length that is the same as the measurement you came up with for your base. Fold the bag in half along the length and then fold it in half across the width. Use scissors to round the corners, unfold the bag, and you have an oval to use as your pattern.
  Lay your canvas out on your work surface. Using straight pins to attach your pattern to your fabric, cut out the base around your pattern using fabric scissors. Fabric scissors are made to cut through tougher fabrics. Cut a second oval the same way to create a double sided base. After you have cut out both pieces, remove the pins, and discard your pattern. Pin the two pieces together, right sides facing out, and sew them together, leaving a two inch gap for stuffing.

The Sides

• To determine the length of the towels you will need, first measure the perimeter of the base. Then, measure the length of your towels. The width will be the height you want the edges of your cat bed to be, multiplied by two. Cut out the length, or lengths if you need sew together two sections to create the appropriate length. If you need to attach two sections together, lay those onto one another with the end that will be sewn together flush to one another. Use a sewing machine to sew them together. Fold the towel length in half to create your tube. Sew them together, right side to right side, to create your oval, leaving an opening that is two inches wide for your stuffing.

Putting it Together

• Attach the bottom and the sides together. Use straight pins to attach the sides to the base making sure the open sections for the stuffing meet. Sew the two pieces together, leaving the open sections un-sewn and then remove the pins.
  Add cotton batting to the bottom section, pushing it through the opening. Only use enough batting in the bottom to give it some cushion, it should not be overstuffed. For the sides, stuff batting through the opening until you have a full tube. Use the sewing machine to stitch over the openings. There is no reason to be concerned about unfinished, exposed seams, the roll will cover them. You now have an almost completed bed. To finish it, push the base through the sides to invert it and place it in your cat's favorite sleep spot.