How to Make a Pet Bed

How to make a bed for your pet by reusing an old bed or throw pillow

Sleeping kitty

This is where my cat found comfort. A sleeping kitty in the fabric and batting scraps from a project I was working on in my craft room.

Seeing this got me to thinking that I needed to get a few new soft and snugly pet beds for the 4-legged kids in my house.

Pets dogs and cats

I know you know Trax as he shows up here a lot with all his shenanigans.  There is also Schnitzel, Kindii, and Mittens.   2 dogs and two cats. Two of them are my oldest daughter’s – she brought Trax home after she graduated from college and Kindi from Africa. Mittens and Schnitzel have been around the longest. They are 12 and 13.

Schnitzel is a little old man who can’t see or hear anymore and lately he can’t jump high enough to get on the sofa so he can take a nap.

They all like hanging out in the kitchen on an extra pillow from the sofa I placed on the floor for them.  They liked it, but it didn’t look as nice as it could, so I went to JoAnns Fabrics and bought a remnant of pretty fabric that will not only look good in my kitchen this Fall, but will be soft and snugly for snoozing.

How to make a Pet Bed for a Dog or cat

Over the weekend I sewed the fabric into a cover for the pillow. It has been occupied since I put it on the floor.

How to make a dog bed
Schnitzel
How to make a cat bed
Trax

It is a little small for Kindi, but she does get herself into a tight ball and naps here sometimes, too.

How to make a dog or cat pet bed

Mittens – the black and white cat stays outdoors and won’t even come inside. We have a warm and snugly setup for her in the garage.

How to make a dog bed

How To Make a Pet Bed

supplies needed:

  • Pillow Form – I used an extra pillow from my sofa.
  • Fabric – measure pillow to determine yardage needed. My pillow was 24-inches square.  I used the whole fabric remnant to make the cover.  It was  27” x 52”
  • Thread to match fabric
  • Scissors

1.  I kept the selvages intact  – I didn’t even make finished edges.

Dog Bed ideas

2.  I folded the fabric in half to to make sure the piece was straight. I trimmed the uneven side.

DIY Dog bed tutorial

3.  I laid the fabric on my worktable right side up.  I then brought each side (selvages) of the fabric to the center.  Where the selvages meet will be the pillow cover opening to allow me to take the cover on and off to wash. I pinned each side and sewed a seam down each.

Pet-Bed-tutorial

4.  I flipped it so the right side of the fabric was out and placed it over the pillow.  All done.

Pet Bed cover tutorial
Instructions on how to make a dog bed

Although, now that I have made the pet bed cover – I am sure Trax will still find any soft place to nap that he can.

Comfy Cat

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17 Comments

  1. Kattia Obando says:

    Beautiful history. I hace 4 pets of my own Andes 3 of them are older ( betuneen 11 & 13 years) and a baby young big dog, that he always fit into the tinta beds… So i will try yo follow your advise and make beds for them

  2. Sheryll & Critters. says:

    Awwwwwh, I was missing seeing Trax & Kindi in your photo’s. I am glad to get to see Schnitzel & Mittens again too. I also have a Tzu named Galahad that is a bit stocky and his short little legs won’t allow him to jump on the big bed with his siblings…… Sunshine Mommy Maltese, Shadow Daddy Poodle, Sugar Maine Coon, Sapphire DSHair Brat, Sadie Mommy DSH and Sadie’s two kids, Shaymus & Siara.
    I know, I know, I have too many fur kids, but what am I to do?

  3. How sweet!
    I’ve got to recover one. And make an extra one for my new grand-puppy. ;o)

  4. Sandra @Beneath this Roof, Within these Walls says:

    What a lovely fabric! And your babies are precious. My kitties think any soft, cozy spot in the house belongs to them, although they have beds of their own. I am embarrassed to admit that my dogs are the same way, they have dog beds, but they are generally found on the sofa, or on my bed. Or wherever they feel like sleeping. That’s ok, this is their home, as well as mine! I love it when I read that other people truly consider their 4-legged blessings as members of the family, too.

  5. I found a simple solution for our fur babies, too. I watch when I shop my favorite thrift stores for nice pillow shams. I have found some gorgeous tapestry ones for only $1-$2. I used an older bed pillow to stuff it, and set it down for the “babies”. Several times I found it back on the couch; so I asked the kids about it, and my older boys thought it was a new couch pillow, for their TV watching–and definitely WAY too good for my “rugrats!” (the Yorkies). When I told him it cost less than $3, he still felt the dogs got better service!

  6. Your fur babies are sure lucky! What a lovely bed. Must make one for my dog, Lucy.

  7. Angie Simonsen says:

    I too love not only your sweet spot for the furry ones, but also the stenciling around your island!

  8. Your fur babies are darling! And did I miss the post/tutorial on the stenciling? I see gorgeous stenciling on your wood floors.

  9. Diane, as soon as I saw your lovely animals I knew that I liked you even more! I own a dog (a Skye Terrier) and a brother and sister Siamese set and a rescue cat that came into our lives and hearts nearly a year ago. I love all animals and I swear I would have a zoo if my hubby would let me!!!

    Your pillow cover is amazing and I will certainly make some up as just this morning I found Roni sleeping snug as a bug on a pile of my clean, folded laundry – I knew that I should have put it away yesterday – ha-ha!!

    Have a great day and thanks for sharing,

    Lorraine – Ontario, Canada
    ;o)

  10. I too LOVE reading about people and their pets! I know you’re a nice person when you speak so kindly of your pets and have a spot in your kitchen where they can be comfy. Just sweet, that’s what this post is, sweet!

  11. Ashlyn@Pinecone says:

    All of your animals are so sweet!! The pet bed turned out perfectly – I might have to think about something like that for these 3 kitties. Thanks for another great idea! xo

  12. Magali@LittleWhiteHouse says:

    This is so adroable. A lost cat has decided to make my house his home since August. He sleeps in the veranda… But the veranda also happens to be the entry… So I didn’t really like to have an old pillow there to welcome my guests! So we made a deal: he can sleep in the veranda if he agrees that I change the pillow cover depending on the season. I just bought a black one for Halloween!

  13. I am in love with Shnitzel!

  14. I love that rich chocolate fabric!

  15. You have THE best ideas, and this even seems easy enough for me to try. I adore reading about bloggers’ pets (since allergies prevent me from having my own) and you have the sweetest little crew! Lisa in VT ;)

  16. Yvonne @ StoneGable says:

    Look at all those darling pets!!!
    I love this great pet bed… and the fabric you chose is stylish too! I hope you share this at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS! Link goes live Wednesday at 8:00 pm. Hope to see you and your furry family members there!