Cats have strong opinions about where to nap, what to scratch and which houseplant looks like lunch, and these 13 DIY cat hacks give them better choices than the arm of the sofa. A cat hack is a simple, budget-friendly fix made from everyday supplies like an old T-shirt, a thrift store vase, a woven basket or a cardboard box, built to keep a cat busy, comfy and out of trouble. There are window perches and a sisal climbing wall for the climbers, a teepee and a hammock for the nappers and a treat puzzle for the snack hunters. A few practical tips round it out, from growing cat grass without dirt to keeping the litter box out of sight. Most come together in an afternoon, and the cat will supervise every step. Looking for more? Browse these cute DIY cat crafts next.
1. Easy DIY T-Shirt Cat Toy
An easy DIY T-shirt cat toy costs next to nothing, especially when the shirts come from a thrift store clearance day. Cut two or three old tees apart at the seams, then slice them into 3 by 10 inch strips (a rotary cutter and mat make it faster, but scissors work fine). Stack six strips, stretch each one gently so the edges roll in on themselves, then tie the whole bundle into one tight knot and trim the ends. Pick the brightest shirts in the pile, because a pink and yellow bow of a toy is simply more fun to toss across the floor.
Get the full tutorial at Muslin and Merlot.
2. Grow Cat Grass Without Dirt
Growing cat grass without dirt means no potting soil to dig in and no mud tracked across the counter. Fill a low, wide glass jar about two thirds full of grow stones, lay a piece of unbleached paper towel on top, then scatter a thin layer of cat grass seeds over it. Soaking the seeds overnight speeds things up. Add water up to the paper towel line and keep it there. Sprouts appear in a couple of days, and the grass is ready to nibble in seven to ten days. If gnats ever show up, dump the water, rinse and refill.
Get the full tutorial at Health Starts in the Kitchen.
3. DIY Hanging Window Basket Cat Perch
This DIY hanging window basket cat perch looks like a boho swing but is secretly sitting on solid shelf brackets. Mount two brackets under the window trim, screw a piece of thin plywood on top cut about two inches smaller than the basket, then zip tie a woven basket tray to the board through two drilled holes. Jute rope knotted inside the basket and looped over the curtain rod bracket supplies the hanging look. A folded blanket topped with a washable tea towel makes the cushion, and the cat gets a front row seat to every bird in the yard.
Get the full tutorial at Hymns and Verses.
4. Make Your Own Cat Deterrent Spray
A homemade cat deterrent spray needs just water, a little dish liquid and rosemary essential oil. Fill a spray bottle three quarters full of water, add a few drops of dish liquid and 10 drops of rosemary oil, then cap it and shake well. Mist the corners and arms of the sofa, or any spot a cat has claimed as a scratching post or a bathroom. Rosemary was the pick here after research showed lemon and eucalyptus oils are not safe for pets. The cats simply avoid the treated areas and still happily curl up on laps.
Get the full tutorial at Mom 4 Real.
5. Hide The Litter Box Inside A Chest
Hiding the litter box inside a chest turns the least attractive thing in the house into furniture. This IKEA hack uses a rattan Byholma chest, now discontinued, so look for any woven storage chest with independently woven sides. Pick one side, snip the horizontal rattan with wire cutters and pull it out, then twist the vertical supports free. Trim stray strands and check for staples so nothing scratches a paw. Lining the inside with clear shelf liner and dots of hot glue makes cleanup easier. Slide in a jumbo pan and leave the lid open for a few days while the cats adjust.
Get the full tutorial at Nocturnal Knits.
6. DIY Vase Scratching Post
A DIY vase scratching post looks like a decor piece first and a cat toy second. Start with a heavy ceramic vase (a $5 thrift store find works, but skip glass), then hot glue sisal rope around it from the base up, wrapping as tightly and evenly as possible. A kitchen knife helps press the rope into the glue without burning fingertips. Fill the bottom third with rocks for weight, then hot glue the base to a slate board or ceramic tile so a climbing kitten cannot tip it. Branches or faux flowers in the top add a little extra temptation.
Get the full tutorial at Meow Lifestyle.
7. Grow Your Own Catnip
Growing your own catnip gives a cat fresh leaves to roll in and gives you a free supply for stuffing homemade toys. Plant it in spring after the last frost, 18 to 24 inches apart, in a very sunny spot with fertile, well-drained soil, or in a container of good potting mix. Pinch back the stems and flower buds to keep the plant full. Enthusiastic cats can flatten it, so push smooth sticks or dowels 2 to 3 inches apart through the plant or cover it with an arch of chicken wire. Indoor pots need regular trips back outside for sun.
Get the full tutorial at Bonnie Plants.
8. Climbing Wall For Cats
A climbing wall for cats takes up almost no floor space, which makes it a smart pick for apartments. A large sisal rug hangs from screw hooks set into the ceiling trim, with wire threaded through its top edge and looped over each hook. Two more hooks near the floor anchor the bottom so it stays flat when a cat grabs on. Above the doorway, a pair of shelf brackets holds a solid wood perch covered in cut doormats for grip. Use a stud finder, check the weight ratings and hang a toy or two from the top to get things started.
Get the full tutorial at IKEA Hackers.
9. Make A Window Perch For Your Kitty
A window perch for your kitty can start as an old breakfast tray. Sand and scuff the tray, then line the inside with wallpaper or scrapbook paper and decoupage it down. Sew a simple envelope cover for a small pillow to use as the cushion, and add an eye screw on the front for hanging fabric toys stuffed with catnip on ribbon. Mark and pre-drill the bracket holes under the window sash, then screw the tray onto short brackets from the hardware store. The result is a sunny lookout for watching birds and squirrels, sized just right for one cat.
Get the full tutorial at DIY Show Off.
10. Indoor Cat Care
Indoor cat care covers everything a cat would otherwise find outdoors. Every indoor cat needs a quiet retreat, ideally a boxed-in spot covered on three sides, plus a proper scratching post so the furniture is spared. Litter boxes need more frequent cleaning and should sit well away from food and water. Perches, towers and new things to explore fight boredom, and toys that mimic hunting, like puzzle boxes, feathers and toy mice, keep cats moving. In summer, plan airflow carefully so an open window never becomes an escape route.
Get the full tutorial at The Mummy Toolbox.
11. IKEA Hack Cat Hammock
This IKEA hack cat hammock turns a side table with removable leg rails into a bed with a view. Measure how long and wide the hammock should be, keeping it snug enough that the fabric never sags to the floor, then cut a sturdy cotton print to size. Fold and stitch the long edges about 2 cm for a clean finish, then sew a tunnel on each short end wide enough for the rails. Slide the rails out of the table, thread them through the tunnels and fasten them back in place. The hammock sits under the tabletop like a hidden nap nook.
Get the full tutorial at Enter My Attic.
12. DIY Cat Teepee
A DIY cat teepee can be built in about 20 minutes from things already in the house. Five sticks form the frame: wooden dowels are easiest, bamboo works and tree branches look the prettiest. Tape three sticks to the floor in a triangle so they stand while you wrap twine or leather cord where they meet, adding hot glue as you go. Add the fourth and fifth sticks and keep wrapping until it stands on its own. Drape a scarf or old sheet around the frame, safety pin it at the front and tuck a sweater inside as the cushion.
Get the full tutorial at Meow Lifestyle.
13. Easy Cat Mystery Box
An easy cat mystery box is made from a handful of toilet paper rolls and an empty tissue box. Thread a string or ribbon through two holes in the back first, so the toy can be tied to a chair leg (adding it later is a pain). Hot glue the cardboard tubes together and to the sides of the box so nothing shifts. Drop a few dry treats into the tubes and let the cat work out which one to fish them from with a paw. The idea comes from a cat games book, costs almost nothing and takes about five minutes.
Get the full tutorial at fourwhitepaws.
Special photo credit goes to for the cute cat and ipad which can be found at http://imgur.com/gallery/cKGegyO
