Cat Castles

November 1, 2016
Cats love cardboard boxes, so why not use them to create a fun space shaped like a miniature sofa, a food truck, a rocket, a pyramid, a submarine? Twenty possibilities are featured here, including not just hideouts but also scratching objects and a geometric pleated tunnel. Readers are encouraged to make these DIY projects to reuse materials, to capitalize on the feline fondness for boxes, and to customize their creations specifically for each cat's individual personality. Most projects have fewer than a dozen steps and should take no more than an hour or two. Several varieties of cardboard as well as sisal rope, wooden dowels, and plywood are used, put together primarily with nontoxic hot glue. The required tools will be in most home workshops already and include a long ruler, measuring tape, utility knife, hot glue gun, scissors, pliers, and electric drill. Techniques to make each item are outlined, and each step of every project is illustrated by a sketch. Cat lovers will also enjoy the meet the models section.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)