My Cats Are Pleased With My Poor Math Skills

I recently posted directions on how to make a really great no-sew cat bed. When I bought the fleece for it, I was thinking there would be more that I was given -- another example of my math usually eludes me. I'd made the bed once before, and it felt like I'd used way more fleece -- let's just say that.

Anyhow, I knew I was going to make the bed for a Catladyland post, and wanted it to look attractive. I was a little bit afraid readers would be like, "That's a tiny pillow! You're cheap! No cat's going to want to lie on that thing!" Admittedly, I can be cheap (although I prefer to call myself a "locator of good deals"), but was perfectly willing to pay full price for the fleece with the kitten-princess print. I mean, what cat doesn't already think he or she is royalty, right? Maybe the regal fleece (that just sounds ridiculous) would make up for the fact that I'd added incorrectly and bought too little fabric.

Phoebe bows to the regal fleece.

So I headed home, created the bed and posted all about it right here on my blog. I placed the bed on the floor, hoping one of the cats would claim it, but no. Of course, when I want them to plop on top of something, they want nothing to do with it. In fact, I had to arrange Cosmo on top of the pillow so I could snag a decent photo of a cat sorta-kinda enjoying the pillow.

Yeah, this is staged. He didn't care about this pillow.

After I posted the cat-bed instructions, the cats decided they did indeed like the pillow, and now I think I understand why it's so popular: It's just about the same size as my bed pillow, of which my cats (especially Cosmo) are so fond of jacking.

He does care about THIS pillow.

So maybe I was wrong -- maybe this is the perfect size of pillow to make for my cats. Perhaps my bad math paid off this time? Whatever the case, it's now the most popular resting place in my house.

Now it's everybody's favorite. Explain cats, please.

So there is a long story about how poor math skills can actually work in your favor. Good luck with all that, and make the cat bed -- it's for-real easy.

You Need to Make this Easy, No-Sew Cat Bed! #BlogPawsDIY

Like most cats, mine are skilled in the art of couch potato-ing. They're masters at identifying potentially comfortable surfaces on which to lie ... and somehow even find coziness in places that don't seem quite cozy to me. But try to explain cats ... go ahead. Yeah, I thought so. Impossible.

I wouldn't consider myself a super-crafty person, but I can create simple projects, and even sew a little. I found instructions for a simple, no-sew cat bed that takes about half an hour to create -- longer if you're actively shooing cats off the top of the fleece.

Here's what you'll need:

• 2 pieces of fleece (different designs are nice) that are exactly the same size. There's no prescribed size -- I usually use 1/2 of a yard or less.
• Sharp scissors
• Masking tape
• Ruler or measuring tape
• Pillow stuffing

1. Lay the fleece pieces on top of each other, with the "good" sides on the outside.

2. Place a line of tape, 4-inches from the bottom of each side. This will leave a square in each corner -- follow the line of tape and cut out the square.

3. Cut 1-inch strips from the fabric to the line of tape -- this will create a fringe all the way around the fleece.

4. Prevent cat from playing with fringe (good luck).

5. Knot the fringed pieces of the top fabric to those of the bottom fabric. 

6. Move cat so you can tie all the knots (good luck).

7. After three sides are tied, stuff bed with desired amount of pillow stuffing, and then tie final side.

Please note: Cat may immediately begin testing the new bed by "making biscuits." 

Yes, it's a success!

Good luck with making your no-sew cat bed! Even more luck trying to work around your furry "assistants!"

This post is sponsored by BlogPaws. I am being compensated by helping spread the word about DIY projects that enrich cats' lives, but Catladyland only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.

Crafty Cats on the Loose

I'm getting ready to head out on a mini book tour for whiskerslist and wanted to bring some cat treats to give to event attendees. Our friend Sparkle's human reminded me of the awesome and easy nip knots. Sparkle shared how to make them on her blog, and I wrote a post that included a version of them on Catster. Easy-peasy -- you should totally make them.

So my kids and I were making these nip knots yesterday. Have you ever tried to create homemade catnip toys with cats around? Yeah, go ahead and laugh because it was a hysterical mess. Not only did all three go nuts when the nip aroma wafted through the air, Phoebe decided she's park her butt on top of the fleece we needed to cut. Look at that indignant face. What do you think she's saying? Whatever it is, you can bet it was steeped in sass.