DIY cat houses: Your ticket to a peaceful work-from-home experience

by Judy Szablak 01/07/2024

Remote work is a staple in most industries now. Homes have areas that have now been converted to home offices or office space, household kitchens have become break rooms, and pets have become coworkers. But what do you do when your feline companion starts pawing at your keyboard and cowling for attention?

It may be time to give them a “cubical” of their own. Here is a quick guide to simple DIY cat house designs:

Wooden cat house

While cat houses come in a variety of materials, a wooden cat house may slip into your home’s decor and design easier than most. Most wooden cat houses are built to emulate basic shapes, like squares, rectangles or triangles. However, some have become more stylized and may even mimic residential architecture.

To build one, measure the space you plan to use for the cat house. Then, gather your supplies from a local hardware store. Be sure to use wood that’s hardy enough to safely hold your feline companion and their supplies, such as bedding and toys. If you intend to paint or stain your wood, be sure to do it before you assemble your cat’s new relaxation spot.

After assembling your cat’s house, try adding a few of their favorite treats, scents and toys to entice them to go inside and get accustomed to it.

Cardboard cat house

In the age of home delivery, cardboard boxes are everywhere. If you’d rather find a good use for them before recycling, try using them to build a stellar cardboard cat house. Most cardboard cat house designs can be found online with a quick search.

As with wooden cat houses, measure your space before you get started. However, unlike their wooden counterparts, cardboard houses don’t need nails and screws. In fact, a quick trip to a craft store or your personal supply should get you the adhesives and paints you need to complete this project.

The great thing about cardboard cat houses is they’re relatively inexpensive to make, can be completely customized and help clear up some clutter around the house.

Indoor cat house kit

While a cat house kit isn’t fully DIY, they are relatively inexpensive and perfect for those who don’t have the time to assemble one from scratch. These cat houses can be bought at most big box pet stores, though smaller stores may have a more customized selection.

They often come with instructions and can be set up in a matter of minutes. However, you’ll still want to make sure you have enough room for your cat house, and it can accommodate your pet and their supplies.

Cat houses are a great way to give your cat a place to call their own. You may even want to get creative with them and include hanging toys and puzzles inside them. That way, your remote coworker can have their own cubicle complete with tasks while you complete your workday.

About the Author
Author

Judy Szablak

With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.

She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.

 Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”

 Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com