It can be difficult to create the perfect environment for your cat, especially with limited space. However, there are tons of ways to utilize your apartment’s highlights to construct an engaging and creative habitat! In this article, you’ll find some fun DIY ideas to transform your apartment into a kingdom fit for your cat. There are two DIY recipes in this article, an easy recipe and a hard recipe. Both include supplies and instructions. Enjoy! 

WINDOW PERCH (HARD) 

If there is one thing that cats love, it’s being in high spaces. Cats love to jump, climb, and scale their surroundings to get some leverage. However, this can be difficult in a smaller space that doesn’t have many ledges. So, why not create one? This first DIY idea is a window perch that will allow your cat to jump around and have a nice view out the window. For this recipe you will need: 

• A sturdy wood plank fitted to the width of your window 

• Two (2) chains 

• Four (4) screw rings 

You’re going to want to attach the two screw rings to two adjacent corners of the wood plank. To do this, you’ll need a screwdriver. Then, attach the chains to the screw rings. Line the wood plank up to your window with the two screw rings parallel to the window on the side furthest from the window. Finally, attach the two chains to the space above the window using the other two screw rings, aligned with the top two corners of the window respectively. Then, you’re all done! Make sure to test the sturdiness of the perch by placing weights or other objects that are similarly sized/scaled to your cat. To be safe, your perch should be able to hold at least double the weight of your cat. Once you’ve tested it for safety, add a cute cat bed or other toys and you’re all set! 

CAT RETREAT (EASY)

If the other recipe is too complex, don’t worry! This recipe is far easier. This idea, creating a fort out of a t-shirt, will allow your cat to have a private, safe space. All you’ll need for this recipe is: 

• An old t-shirt (the biggest one you have)

• A flat piece of cardboard 

• Two (2) wire hangers 

You’ll first cut the hanger part off of the two wire hangers so that you are left with just the wire. Align the ends of each hanger with a corner of the cardboard by forming a half circle with each. Next, tape the intersect of the hangers at the top of the circles together to form a frame. To clarify, each wire should go from one corner to the opposite corner. When placed over the cardboard at the same time, they will meet in the middle. Tape them together here. Then, poke holes in each corner of the cardboard where the wire touches and secure the wire into the hole by folding and taping down the ends. Make sure everything is secure before placing your t-shirt over the frame. The head hole of your shirt will form the entrance for your cat and you should tape the leftover shirt underneath the cardboard. You can additionally take the sleeves and safety pin them down to make the tent more secure.