Homemade Pet Beds
As simple of a product as it may seem, a standard pet bed can be very expensive to buy at your local pet store. If possible, you should consider making your own homemade pet bed as a way to save some money. You can create a simple pet bed cheaply with a few simple items you may already have at home.
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Things You'll Need
- Cardboard box
- Thread and needle
- Two rectangular pieces of fabric (same size)
- Odor-neutralizing foam filling
Instructions
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Cut the top flaps and one of the sides off of a standard sized cardboard box (about 12 by 18 by 10 inches) to make a bed "frame" with a front opening for your pet to walk in. Some pets, especially cats, like to climb inside of cardboard boxes.
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2
Match two similarly sized square pieces of fabric (preferably satin) together to start making the pet's bed cushion to insert inside the box. Make sure the fabric is long and wide enough to fit the opening of your cardboard box. Use a threaded needle to sew three sides together. You can also simply use a pillow case for the bed covering.
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Fill the sewn fabric with pet bed filling. It can be plain cotton filling, which you can find at a crafts store. If possible, try to find a filling that contains both cotton or a similar cushioning material and an odor-repelling substance (like cedar wood chips). This will help prevent pet odor in the homemade bed. You can find a bag of this odor-neutralizing filling online or at a pet shop. Use plenty of filling since the bed will sink down slowly over time. Sew the last side closed when you're finished filling the fabric.
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Fluff up the cushion and insert it into the cardboard box. Place the homemade pet bed in your pet's favorite place so that she can get used to sitting and sleeping inside.
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Tips & Warnings
If you're trying to train your pet to sleep in his own bed instead of yours, place the pet bed next to your own bed. Whenever he jumps on the bed, place him back down on the homemade bed. If the pet enjoys a certain blanket or likes to sleep on your clothes, place that item on the pet bed to entice him to sleep in it going forward.
Decorate the cardboard box with wallpaper or fabric if you want to make it look more attractive.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit sleepy cat image by Slavyan from Fotolia.com
