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How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle

Want to build a DIY cardboard castle for your cat? Here are the step by step instructions that you need to do so!

I love making my gray fluffy cat, Bear, happy. I have bought her a ton of toys and as you can imagine nothing makes me madder than when she ignores the new toy in favor of the empty box. So, I decided to embrace the box and build Bear a castle from empty cardboard boxes!

Building a cat castle from cardboard has a few big benefits – it is free if you have boxes on hand (online shopping for the win!), it is eco-friendly because you are re-using old boxes AND it’s entirely recyclable or it can fold up flat in case you do want to store or keep the cat house for later.

It’s more convenient and 100% cheaper than buying cat furniture – really it’s a win-win-win.

If you want to make a DIY cat house cardboard box, simply adjust your design so you cut it less like a castle and more like a house shape!

Love DIYs for your pets? Check out all of our pet projects here!

DIY Wooden Top Entry Litter Box // Potted Cat Garden // Rolling Pet Food Container

DIY Raised Pet Bowls // How To Build Pet Bunk Beds // DIY Dog & Cat Narwhal Costumes

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat House Castle

What you need:

  • Cardboard boxes big enough for your cat to get in – I used one medium and one small
  • Strong clear tape
  • Scissors
  • Box cutter (helpful, but you can use just scissors if that’s all you have)
  • Felt, ribbon, hot glue gun, or any supplies to decorate

What you do:

Design a general layout plan for your DIY cardboard cat castle.

I wanted 2 stacked boxes. I added a few rounded windows, square saw teeth along the top, and a drawbridge door!

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

Assemble your boxes and tape them if needed.

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

Use scissors or a box cutter or a utility knife to cut out your designed windows, doors, and accents. You can add them to the side of the box or even the side flap!

If you are nervous about this part, you can use a pen to draw a line and trace that with your blade.

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

Use tape to attach the boxes together. I made a top box as a “turret” and the bottom box as a base.

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

Add any decorations. I made these flags with felt, hot glue, and skewers. Go with anything your cats love! String would be great!

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

Check out tons of ideas for DIY projects for your cat!

Get the easy to follow cat castle plans in the printable widget below!

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted
Yield: 1 cardboard castle

How to make a cardboard cat castle cat house

Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Easy
Estimated Cost: $0-10

Is your pet worthy of royalty? It is so easy (and free!) to build this DIY cat castle out of old cardboard boxes. Here is a step by step tutorial.

Materials

  • Cardboard box
  • Felt or other decor as desired

Tools

  • Scissors or box cutters
  • Box tape

Instructions

  1. Design a layout for you castle based on the boxes that you have and your cat's needs. How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted
  2. Assemble your boxes, taping as needed. How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted
  3. Use scissors or box cutters to cut out your desired windows or doors. How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted
  4. Use tape to attach your boxes to each other. How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted
  5. Add any decorations - I made little felt flags. Use feathers, string, or whatever your cat likes! How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

Recommended Products

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Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Coax your kitty into her new DIY cat castle. Need some help? Bear wasn’t 100% sold at first, so I lured her over with Meow Mix Simple Servings.

I love that they come in an easy-to-open and easy-to-serve cup (without forks or spoons). She loves that they have pieces of real seafood in a savory gravy.

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted
How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

With a single serving in every cup, you can feed your cat the wet food they crave, minus the portioning and leftovers. All you have to do is open and serve—it’s that simple. It comes in several flavors, but Bear’s favorite is the Seafood Variety.

How to Build a DIY Cardboard Cat Castle via Charleston Crafted

If you make a DIY cat castle, please share it!

Click here to check out our project on how to build a DIY self-filling cat food dispenser!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MeowMixatTarget  #CollectiveBias

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Anjuli

Wednesday 8th of April 2020

Hi, what breed of cat do you have? My rescue looks exactly like yours! I’m just curious because my kitty just keeps growing. Thank you!

Sean

Thursday 9th of April 2020

Your guess is as good as ours! She was a rescue and we have no idea. We just call her a "fluffy grey cat."

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