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PROJECTS FOR CATS

Radiator Cat Bed

Difficulty

Did your cat disappear hours ago? Don’t panic–he’s probably curled up somewhere warm. Cats love cozy, out-of-the-way places. If you have radiators in your home, they may be the perfect place to hang a bed for your cat.

WARNING: This project is designed for hot-water radiators in homes heated by gas or oil (usually older houses and apartment buildings). Electric radiators can overheat and cause a fire if they come in contact with a combustible object.

Materials

• 1 sheet OSB (oriented strand board)

• 2 furring strips, about 2 ft (60 cm) each

• 2 shelf brackets, minimum about 8 in (20 cm) on shortest arm

• 4 corner braces, about 2 to 3 in (5 to 7.5 cm)

• 2 nuts and bolts to fit the corner braces

• About 12 screws

• Fabric and foam

• Glue

Tools

• Power drill/screwdriver

• Staple gun and staples

• Saw

• Scissors

Making the bed

1. Cut the furring strips to the desired length, referring to the photo of the finished project—you determine the distance between the top of the radiator and the bed.

2. At the top of each furring strip, screw on a corner brace.

Choose your corner braces carefully—their shape will determine the success of your project. Use metal corner braces, which will hold up better under pressure, heat, and repeated use.

3. At the bottom of each furring strip, on the side opposite the one with the corner brace, screw on a shelf bracket.

4. At the top of each furring strip, use a nut and bolt to attach a second corner brace to the first corner brace to form a U; this is what will fit over the radiator.

5. Screw the board to the shelf brackets as shown. Make sure you choose a screw that is short enough not to go through the top of the board. If the screws do slightly break through, use adhesive putty to cover the tips.

If you can find someone to help you, this step is easier with two people.

6. Glue the foam to the top of the board, cutting to foam to size as needed.

7. Lay the fabric over the foam, staple it to the underside of the board, and cut off any excess fabric.