DIY Projects

AN EASY DIY PROJECT: CREATE A CAT CAVE

The internet abounds with DIY projects to create cool things for your cat. If you’re anything like me and the project requires a saw, drill, screws or nails you are never even going to attempt it.

Today, I have a project for you that you can complete in just a few minutes without any special tools.* This project is so easy you can do it with your kids. All you need is a t-shirt and a cardboard box. You know anything made from a box is going to make your kitty happy.

Any t-shirt can be used to complete your project. The t-shirt I used was supplied by Tipsy Elves. This t-shirt is 50/50 poly/cotton and machine washable.

Tipsy Elves, creates clothes and accessories to make you smile! Their collections of award winning ugly Christmas sweaters, American flag clothing and collegiate apparel are unique. And right now, you can take advantage of a 50 percent off sale of select items through May 30.

Tipsy Elves strives to embody the fun holiday spirit no matter the month. While America searches for its next president and is bombarded by interminably unpleasant political headlines, Tipsy Elves decided to launch a new initiative called #CatsForFreedom. The idea is to bring good vibes, fun times and “paws-itivity” back to the blogosphere as well as raise money for the San Diego Humane Society. AND Tipsy Elves is donating 10% of all orders to them until May 31 when you use the checkout code ‘CATS’.

Tipsy Elves believes our feline friends are frisky enough to captivate the internet with enough fervor to replace the unpleasant political headlines.

Here’s a link (https://youtu.be/lxR6kFBeXU0) where you can find a super cute video with the simple instructions for creating a Cat Cave for your furry friend.

As you can see it didn’t take the Kitties Blue gang anytime at all to start checking out their new cave. In fact, Mauricio almost immediately climbed in and settled down for a nice long nap.

I have three things I love about this DIY project/creation:

It takes only a few minutes to assemble and requires no tools.
If you have a box shredder in the family, as we do with Astrid, all of those itty-bitty pieces of cardboard remain inside the box and shirt.
When the t-shirt gets dirty or super furry, it can be taken off the box and thrown in the wash.

Think about taking advantage of the current sale at Tipsy Elves and help the San Diego Humane Society at the some time.

Disclaimer: Tipsy Elves gave me the t-shirt free of charge to complete the Cat Cave project. No additional remuneration was provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and those of Kitties Blue.

* My completed cube looks a bit wonky as the box I used was oblong.

BUILD YOUR CAT A BETTER LIFE: DIY PROJECTS

I was contacted last week by a U.K. company, PowerTool World, and asked if I would like to share their infographic of DIY projects with my readers. With my recent posts about Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin’s new book, Catify to Satisfy, I thought the infographic would be the perfect accompaniment.

All of us have a goal of making our cats happy and giving them the best lives possible. That is what catification is all about. The completion of any of the eight fun projects outlined in the infographic can help you reach that goal. Projects are rated with one to three kittens to indicate difficulty level. Estimated length of time to complete a project is provided as well as a list of supplies and tools needed.

Here is your opportunity to make something truly pawsome for your puss(es) as a Christmas or Hanukkah gift. I am adding the window perch project to my To Do List as I already have two wooden trays from a previous project, plenty of fabric and the required tools. This project has just two kittens so I think with my crafting background I can manage it.

Let me know what projects you decide to undertake and share your results with us.

Power Tool World gathered their projects from a variety of other websites and their sources are listed at the bottom of the graphic.

Good luck and have fun!

November 30, 2015 by Janet Blue DIY Projects 20

YOU
For Fiona

It seems like only yesterday…
You were just a kitten.
When I saw your pleading look,
I was completely smitten.

Now at only six years old,
You are getting ready to leave,
Soon you will have your wings.
I’ve already started to grieve.

You’ve fought hard for the past year,
And I’m not ready to say good-bye.
I can’t imagine you not in my life
I am so sad…today I had to cry.

I am grateful and blessed
For my six years with you.
You’ll live in my heart forever.
You’re one of the best ever Kitties Blue.

YESTERDAY

Many yesterdays have passed since
You gained your angel wings. Today
Is six months since you left us behind
To remember and mourn. Our hearts
Continue to hurt, and we miss
You as much as the day you left.
Giulietta whined from the catio
Yesterday as I worked in the yard.
I know you put her up to it. That
Was your way of getting me to,
Allow you to join me as I
Gardened. You were there with me
In spirit. With every meow
I thought of you and how much I miss
Your sweet face and disposition.
In these past few months, many friends
Have traveled your same path in your
paw-steps. I am certain you were
Waiting to greet them with purrs and hugs.
I pray you and your friends are laughing,
Frolicking and having fun together.
Picturing that makes me smile, but
Does not lessen my sadness at your
No longer being here to snuggle
And receive our love, care and kisses.
Fiona, please do not ever forget
You are still and always will be loved.

ONE YEAR MISSING YOU

One year has passed since you flew away,
And I still think of you everyday.
I see your sweet face in my mind’s eye
And wish we’d never had to say good-bye.
It’s nice you’ve sent us kitties needing a family,
But my dearest love, we are now at capacity.
You thought it would take more than one cat
To take your place in our habitat.
We love Cooper Murphy and baby Sawyer dearly
But thinking either could replace you makes me teary.
You were one-of-a-kind and will stay in my heart
Until the day I join you and we’re no longer apart.
When once again I can hold you in my arms
And revel in all your love and feline charms.
Together with you and all who have passed.
I will spend eternity contemplating how blessed
I was to share my life with my furry children,
Each and every one of you one-in-a billion.

UNTIL

I miss you each day.
Until we meet in heaven,
The pain will remain.

ONE OF A KIND

I don’t know how to say good-bye.
I thought you were invincible; though,
You used up many of your nine lives.
You ruled us all with an iron paw;
Never took “no” for an answer
And always got your way.
If not, you’d bark to signal your
Displeasure and sometimes raise a paw.
I always joked that you were bi-polar.
When I told people you were a calico
They immediately understood what I meant.
Today was unnaturally quiet in the house.
Can a home seem empty with eight cats?
I will miss waking up at night to find you
Sitting next to me and staring at me.
I will miss you yelling at us as you did
When you wanted breakfast and dinner.
I will miss watching you lounging and snoozing
On the porch settee on a warm afternoon.
But most of all I will miss your kisses!
When kitten Sawyer befriended you,
We suspect you were imparting your
Wisdom and secrets for controlling us.
Time will tell if he was a good listener.
But whatever he may have learned,
Neither Sawyer nor any other cat
Can or will replace you in our hearts.
Lily Olivia, you were one-of-a-kind.