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Idea Machine

Trying to think of a fun petvention?
Let the Idea Machine inspire you!

For creative cat owners, here are a few crafty ideas your cats are sure to love. Either choose and build from an idea below, or use them to spark an idea of your own!

Click on an idea below to get the details, a list of necessary tools, and instructions on how to build it yourself.

Windowsill Terrace

Difficulty Level: 2 Stars

Do your cats love relaxing and soaking in some sun next to a window in your home? Then this idea is for you! It's easier than you think to convert your cat's favorite windowsill spot into a fancy, indoor cat terrace.

What You'll Need:

  • Measuring tape or ruler
  • Cardboard or wood
  • Carpet or canvas
  • Fabric glue
  • Staple gun or short nails and hammer
  • Toys and plants

How To Do It:

  1. Find a piece of sturdy cardboard or wood that fits the size of your windowsill.
  2. Wrap it in carpet or canvas.
  3. Use fabric glue or staples to secure the fabric to the terrace.
  4. Secure the terrace to your windowsill using a staple gun or a hammer and short nails.
  5. Finish it up with a pot of cat grass and hang some toys from a tightly secured curtain rod. Voila!
Cat Hammock

Difficulty Level: 3 Stars

Cats love their naptime. That's why some cats spend up to 70% of the day doing just that. Why not add a little twist to make naptime more fun and entertaining for you and your cats with a kitty hammock?

What You'll Need:

  • Fabric
  • Scissors
  • Newspaper or other lightweight paper
  • Nylon webbing
  • Swivel snaps
  • Sewing machine or needle and thread

How To Do It:

  1. Create a pattern from your choice of fabric. When choosing fabric, make sure it's thick, comfortable, washable, and strong enough to hold your cat. Fleece works great for this and comes in plenty of colors and patterns.
  2. You can choose two coordinating colors for a "reversible" hammock.
  3. Draw your pattern on newspaper or other lightweight paper and transfer it to your fabric before cutting.
  4. Cut strips of nylon webbing with swivel snaps and sew them on to the four corners.
  5. Hang your new hammock anywhere that's safe and easy for your cat to hop into and nap.
Kitty Treasure Chest

Difficulty Level: 1 Star

Do your cats love relaxing and soaking in some sun next to a window in your home? Then this idea is for you! It's easier than you think to convert your cat's favorite windowsill spot into a fancy, indoor cat terrace.

What You'll Need:

  • Sturdy box
  • Tape for sealing
  • Scissors or cutting utensil
  • Cat toys and treats

How To Do It:

  1. Find any sort of box that's big enough for small toys and sturdy enough to be knocked around, poked and prodded by your cats.
  2. Cut some small holes on the top and sides of the box, then seal it shut.
  3. Place some of your cats' favorite toys inside the box. You can put some of their favorite treats inside, too.
  4. Make sure the toys can just barely fit through the holes, making it difficult to get them out.
  5. Let the games begin as the cats hunt for their favorite treasures!
Dangling Feather Doorbell

Difficulty Level: 2 Stars

Have cats that meow and scratch when a door's closed and they want in a room with you? Here's an idea to train them to be polite instead of ruining your door. It's a hanging feather with a bell attached, so it works just like a doorbell!

What You'll Need:

  • Tall feather
  • Jingle bells
  • Tape or pin

How To Do It:

  1. Attach a jingle bell and long feather, or a few "borrowed" from a feather duster.
  2. Tape it to your door or pin it to the wall, so that it's just a paw's swipe away in height for your cats.
  3. Train your cats to use the bell by opening the door every time you hear it ring.
  4. Enjoy life with your polite and well-mannered cats!

    Some cats may like to eat the feathers. Keep an eye out!
Kitty Kingdom

Difficulty Level: 4 Stars

Here's your chance to treat your cats like royalty with a castle full of toys, a scratching post, a perch, and of course a bed. What cats wouldn't love a palace made just for them?

What You'll Need:

  • Sturdy cardboard
  • Non-toxic glue, duct tape, and scissors
  • Markers or paint to decorate
  • Furnishings like ramps, scratch posts, beds, blankets
  • Toys
  • Red carpet

    Make sure all items are non-toxic

How To Do It:

  1. Start with large cardboard boxes and begin creating a castle large enough to fit your cats.
  2. Use an adhesive like duct tape to hold pieces together.
  3. Furnish the castle with your cats’ favorite toys, scratching posts, beds, blankets, pillows, and any other items they love.
  4. Decorate the outside to look like a palace fit for your kitties.
  5. Place a treat inside the castle now and then to help your cats feel right at home.
  6. Roll out the red carpet as you introduce your cats to their new home built for a king and queen!
Feline Gym

Difficulty Level: 4 Stars

Keeping your cats active in a custom-made gym has two great advantages: it keeps your cats in shape and it distracts them from trying to exercise on your nice furniture!

What You'll Need:

  • Cardboard, tubes, and/or wood
  • Fabric to cover your structure
  • Non-toxic glue and scissors
  • Hammer and nails
  • Climbing posts and other cat toys
  • Boom box is optional

How To Do It:

  1. Find the best area in which to build your cat gym and make a rough sketch of the area and the dimensions.
  2. Cover pieces of wood, cardboard boxes, or tubes with fabrics your cats love.
  3. Using glue and tools like scissors and nails, create ramps, ledges, holes, and climbing posts that'll keep your cats on the move.
  4. Turn on some great workout music and enjoy watching your cats play while also getting in shape!
Cat-A-Terrium

Difficulty Level: 5 Stars

With the right tools and a little elbow grease you can turn your backyard into an adventurous nature trail for your cats! To do it right, you may want to call upon a skilled craftsman to help you out.

What You'll Need:

  • Flexible wire
  • Mesh to cover your tunnel
  • Any necessary cushioning
  • Hammer and nails
  • Non-toxic glue
  • Cat toys or decorations for the trail

How To Do It:

  1. Locate a hole or passageway large enough for your cats to walk through to the backyard, like a dog door.
  2. Using metal wire, create a tunnel from the passageway out of your house and into your backyard.
  3. Cover the walkway with soft mesh, and add cushion where needed.
  4. Make sure the trail goes around flowers, bushes, under trees and anything else that your cats love to explore outdoors.
  5. Triple-check your construction to make sure crafty cats can't escape.
  6. Let your cats safely explore your backyard like never before!