When the last week of the month rolls in, I’m always excited to bring you my latest Reduce, Reuse, REFASHION project for you. What is refashion? I like to think of it as a great way to take our cast-off fashion and turn it into something useful for ourselves, our home, or as gifts. You can see how I make a shirt into a sling bag, a bed sheet turned jumper, or sweaters turned dog coat. For today, I’m taking this thrifted t-shirt and turning it into a DIY cat tent for my sweet little Ivan. (You can see his appearances in these past posts).

Yes, I have a strong affinity for all animals, so creating for them fits right into my passion. For instance, here are some past projects HERE.

THE BACKSTORY

With all that in mind, let’s get this DIY cat tent complete for our little man. If you aren’t familiar with the story of Ivan that I’ve mainly shared in my free email newsletter, let me fill you in a bit. Back in May, my oldest son was on his way home from work when a little orange ball ran out in front of his car. He stopped so not to hit this “thing”, but then it went under his car.

Mr. I got out to see what it was and found a very, very sick and tiny little orange tabby kitten on… Orange Street. He called me to see if he should bring it home and, of course, I told him yes. My daughter had her district track meet that day, so we only got to see this precious kitten for a second before having to leave. We knew he was hanging on by a thread.

After a visit to the vet the next day, it’s affirmed that Ivan has conjunctivitis, ear infections, ticks, fleas, and dehydrated at 3-weeks old. He was given a slew of meds, and we had strict instructions how to care for him. As you can imagine, all six of my kids and I fell head-over-heels in love. However, I didn’t have enough me to go around to care for him, so I told Isaac that if he wanted to keep him after he healed, he would need to be fully responsible for him.

Ivan has had surgery to remove a large polyp in one nostril and that cleared his ear infection on one side. There is still one polyp in the other nasal passage, but after seeing a specialist an hour away recently, it looks like it can be removed at some point.

GETTING BIG

However, he currently at 8-months old, doesn’t have any infection in that ear. Loula is his mommy and takes care of him incessantly.

Ten-year-old Lily, on the other hand, misses her days of independence. She would rather only allow either of them near her when she feels like it. This below is a miracle.

SLEEPY IVAN

As I’m sure many of you know, cats sleep up to 16 hours a day. I have surmised I need to get in touch with my cat side. tsk. Wouldn’t that be nice to nap like that? In lieu of the DIY cat tent, here is an example of me finding Ivan all over the house.

While Ivan loves to nap, he’s also an adorable cuddle bug in juxtaposition to Lily, who is all barn cat (where we got her from). Don’t get me wrong, we love all our animals for their individual personalities that make our family a blessing. At the beginning, we also noticed his markings are unique and find he is a British short-hair tabby. They’re known for their sweet disposition, they don’t talk much, unlike Lily chatterbox, and love to be with you. He is a healing balm for my family who is going through much, just like Loula came at the right time this time last year.

ANOTHER RESCUE

Apparently, the word is getting out we are the cat family because…meet Monty. My daughters found him while walking Loula in September.

He was bleeding, emaciated, and terrified. After coming back with food two times a day in the same spot, we soon realized he is not feral, but a fixed old man who just wanted love. We gave him probiotics, a flea pill, and oodles of love. Thankfully, we saw his fur coming in, but winter is bringing in the cold temps. While I tried to find him a home, I built him a cat shelter with a storage tub, foam for insulation, and an opening for him to get in and out.

We set it up one day and he was interested because we put food in it. However, would he sleep in it? The next morning, before dawn, I walked Loula down to see him. He was not only curled up inside peacefully asleep, but he pulled the blanket over the opening! haha!

After a hopeless search for a home, my sister agreed to bring him into her heated barn to stay. He is adjusting awesomely, his fur is grown in, and he brings dead prizes to her. She has two cats and a large dog already inside and Monty is happy to have the barn to himself.

CAT TENT TIME

Like you, we like to treat those we love with care and an occasional treat. Ivan can sleep wherever, but why not create a fun spot to let loose, right?

It only takes about twenty minutes to make, is made of household materials, and will certainly be a hit for your furry friends. If you’d like to make one of your own, here are the steps written out, but the video gives the best visual detail.

Tools & Materials

• large cotton t-shirt (have fun picking one!)
• sweater (wool is a great one to use as it is very durable and natural)
• two wire hangers
• 3 sheets of sturdy cardboard (I used double-wall) – 15″ x 13″ or any shape or size you want
• hot glue gun/hot glue sticks
• masking tape or similar
• scissors
• wire cutters
• spray adhesive
• awl or nail to make holes
• cellophane paper – if desired
• yarn & pom-pom makers – if desired

STEP 1

As I mention, I create a video to fully demonstrate how to assemble this tent. However, I am adding very simple steps in text as well.

First, you’ll start with your cardboard and wire hangers. Using your spray adhesive, glue two of the cardboard pieces together. Then, use your awl or nail to punch holes in all four corners as video shows. After that, cut the hangers near the hook and then bend them into an arch form leaving about 1 ½” to be bent.

STEP 2

Next, place the hanger ends in the holes you’ve punched and bend inward and glue into place with hot glue. Also, use a bead of glue on the top surface where the hanger protrudes to give it a bit of support. Once you have the hangers in place, pinch them at the apex (top) and use two pieces of masking tape to join them together. When you feel it’s assembled as you like, adhere the last panel of cardboard to the base with hot glue.

STEP 3

Now you are able to add your crinkle. First, unroll about a 3-foot length of cellophane gift wrap and cut it down the center, then cut it to length. This will give you two lengths in which you could make two cat tents. So, save the other for another furry friend. Then, using your spray adhesive and working on the short side of the cellophane, begin attaching it while bunching it up and adhering as you go.

STEP 4

Obviously, any cat will tear that up, so we need to cover it. Grab your sweater (or towel or blanket, etc) and cut a piece to fit the size of the base with a bit of give to overlap the edges of the cardboard. I prefer to use natural fibers, so in this case I’m using a felted wool sweater. If you want to see how to felt or what I’ve used felted wool for in the past, see these past posts.

Next, cut the corners inward at a diagonal about 1 – 1 ½” (depending on your cardboard stack height).  This allows us to go around the wire and connect at the corners. Using your hot glue, adhere the sweater to the sides and join at the corners. The video shows this best.

STEP 5

Last, we can take our t-shirt and stretch it over the frame lining up the neck hole on one end. The rest of the t-shirt is stretched to the bottom where we can trim and adhere with hot glue. What is more, the sleeves can be tucked under as I show, but also do what you like with them. Finally, it’s at this point you can decorate as you like. Ivan loves yarn, so I whipped up a pom-pom garland while enjoying my sunny holiday. Yes, my pic is blurry because I was thoroughly enjoying myself with music on. ahem.

ENJOY

As you can see in the video as well as below, Ivan is quite the happy camper in his refashioned DIY cat tent.

Not only does he love the hidden spot, but also the crinkly base, and especially the pom-poms. After making the pom-poms, I simply strung them on yarn and attached to the tent with thread anchoring at each corner. He is already tearing it up and I don’t mind as I can make more.

Ivan is officially ready for cabin fever season (winter in Ohio) and entertained…for now.

SHARE

So tell me, what do you do to love on your furry friends? Leave some comment below and also pin and share this DIY cat tent tutorial to inspire others as well.

Before you go, be sure to sign up for my FREE newsletter to see what I do with this $1 item OVER HERE.

Until next time!

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While you’re at it, here are more fun DIY projects like this DIY cat house tutorial: