You know, I looked around the house the other day and realized my cats, bless their furry hearts, just didn’t have a proper dedicated spot just for snoozing. They’d find random places, sure, but I wanted something special. A real cozy corner. So, I got this idea stuck in my head – I decided to build them what I started calling the ‘Catnap Cattery’.
First thing, I had to figure out where to put this thing. Needed somewhere quiet, away from the main foot traffic, maybe with a bit of sun. I settled on that little unused nook under the stairs. Perfect size, nobody really goes there.
Then came the fun part: gathering stuff. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, you know? So I looked around:
- Found some old wooden planks out in the shed. Good solid stuff.
- Had some leftover paint from redoing the kitchen. A nice calm blue.
- Grabbed some old soft blankets and towels we weren’t using anymore.
- Picked up a couple of cheap, fluffy cat beds from the store. Couldn’t resist those.
Alright, time to get my hands dirty. I measured the space under the stairs first. Didn’t want it to be too cramped or weirdly shaped. I cut those old planks to make a sort of low platform, maybe two levels? Yeah, decided on two levels, give them options. Sanded them down real smooth, didn’t want any splinters in tiny paws.
Putting it together took an afternoon. A bit of screwing here, some hammering there. Nothing too fancy, just sturdy. Then I painted it that calm blue color. Let it dry really well, obviously – didn’t want any fumes bothering the cats.
Once the structure was done and dry, I started making it comfy. Put the fluffy beds on the different levels. Draped the old blankets over parts of it to create little hideaways. Tucked a towel into a corner. Added one of those crinkly balls nearby, just in case they felt playful after waking up.
The moment of truth! I put the finished ‘Catnap Cattery’ in its spot under the stairs. At first? Crickets. The cats just sniffed it suspiciously. Typical. Gave it the side-eye for like, a whole day. I almost thought, ‘Well, that was a waste of time’.
But then, slowly, Mittens (she’s the shy one) crept in. Found the lower bed, curled up, and was out like a light. Success! Soon after, Jasper (he’s the boss) decided the top level had the best view and claimed it. Now? They pretty much live in there during nap times. They seem to love having their own little ‘zone’.
Honestly, seeing them use it makes all that sanding and hammering totally worth it. It wasn’t some grand project, just a simple thing using mostly stuff I already had. But it worked. Gave them a comfy spot, and gave me something satisfying to build. Sometimes the simple projects are the best, aren’t they?
