How to Make Comfy Cat Beds Out of Oil Pans

These durable, machine-washable beds are made simply from oil pans and comfy fleece—visitors will love watching cats curl up in them. Here are the instructions, courtesy of volunteer Tracey Collins from PAWS of Hertford County.

Materials List:

• 1 30-inch square of fleece
• 1 13-inch square of fleece
• 28 inches elastic (1/2-inch wide)
• Small amount of fiberfill
• Oil pan (get them for a few dollars in auto section of stores like Walmart, or ask for donations)

 Note: If you buy 43 inches of standard-width fleece, this will make two beds

Staff Time & Resources:  Crafty staffers or volunteers

 

Instructions

1. Fold over 30-inch square of fleece twice so you have a square, and then cut it so you have a circle
2. Do the same with 13-inch square of fleece for the inner circle
3. Line up centers of circles and pin. Then pin inner circle around the edges (figure 1)
4. Sew inner circle to outer circle with a zig-zag stitch. Leave a 3-inch opening (figure 2)
5. Stuff inner circle with fiberfill. Do not overstuff
6. Sew opening closed (figure 3)
7. Sew casing for elastic on big circle, using zig-zag stitch. No need to pin— just fold tiny darts in as you go along to go with the curve. This is about 1 inch folded over (figure 4). Leave a 2-inch opening
8. Pin your elastic to the opening; next, with another big safety pin, thread your elastic (figure 5)
9. Tie ends of elastic very securely, and sew the opening closed
10. Finish bed by placing fleece in oil pan, folding over the edges (figure 6)