8th September 2014

Make a DIY Cat Tipi

Earlier this year, I fell in love with a cat tipi. But I wasn’t so in love with the price.

I am seriously considering spending $50 on a cat tipi. I know My cat literally won’t care. What’s wrong with me?
— Elizabeth Giorgi (@lizgiorgi) August 16, 2014

And so I did what any crafty person would do, I started thinking about alternative ways to make it for considerably cheaper. I figured if I could make it for less than $30 it would be worth the effort. And surprisingly, the home garden department was the answer to my quest.

tipi-text

With the help of a few garden trellis parts, a yard of fabric and about 30 minutes, I made my kitty love a little house. Full disclosure: she loved it way more while it was just three pieces of wood leaning together and a piece of fabric thrown over it. But I have caught her in there a couple times since. These are cats we are talking about after all. She couldn’t possibly want me to actually see her enjoying anything.

tipi-infographic

The basic idea is this:

1. Go to your local garden store and look for a 2 foot to 3 foot long garden trellis. They often come in triangular shapes because it’s easier to attach plants in that configuration. Buy 3 of these. Then, tie them together using some leather cording in a triangle.

2. Wrap a large piece of fabric around your tipi and figure out where the opening will be. The opening is going to be on the flat side of one trellis. You will need to either cut out or saw out a triangular opening, depending on the toughness of your trellis.

3. Pin back the corners of the fabric so that the kitty can come and go as she pleases and pin the corners so the fabric doesn’t come off.

I suppose the most important step is to put a treat inside so she’ll be compelled to check it out. Or her favorite blanket… as Miss Alice would demand.

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8th September 2014

Make a DIY Cat Tipi

The End