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Cat bed: Oval or round?

post #1 of 19
11/12/10 at 6:49pm
Thread Starter 
Some of you may know that I make cat beds. I'm trying something a little different, actually a LOT different this time. I've wanted to try this for a while, but didn't know where to start. Then I got the idea here, when someone mentioned using foam for more defined sections.

Foam! I thought. Of course THAT'S what I need!

I'm going to be making one specially for a kitty friend of mine, but whenever I try something new I like to make a practice one first.

I'm working on the sides right now, but then I need to decide if this bed is going to be oval or round. Which do cats prefer, do you think?
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post #2 of 19
11/12/10 at 6:53pm
Maybe it depends on if the kitty is oval or round? I've not seen an oval shaped cat bed with sides (only dog beds), so I don't know if a cat would prefer that.

How does the friend's cat like to sleep? I have loaf sleepers, sprawlers, and curl up in a ball cats.
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post #3 of 19
11/12/10 at 7:04pm
Thread Starter 
The friend's kitty will be getting a round bed. She likes to sleep curled up in a ball, and I know where the bed is going to be placed. I'm even going to sew little ties on the back so the bed will stay on the chair it is going to be on.

But for this bed, the practice bed, it is larger than the one I will make for Lily, and I have decide before making the bottom of it, what shape to make it.

Don't know why it has to be such a big decision, but I cannot make up my mind!

I'd better run out to the car and get my camera, maybe a picture would help people help me.
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post #4 of 19
11/12/10 at 7:08pm
Well, then make it to fit how your cats sleep best? If you're keeping it for them.

That is definitely one advantage to making stuff for cats as a cat owner. You can get a review from your target audience.
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post #5 of 19
11/12/10 at 8:24pm
Yeah, you have your own test kitties to do a focus group.

I would think oval. I buy a lot of kitty beds for the shelter and they are mostly oval. I have a lot of them at my house (at least 6) and most are oval with low rounded sides. But one is round with really deep sides - like 8 inches deep. Only one of my cats, Ariel, likes it. But she really likes it.

Maybe you should make one of each shape and see what your test kitties prefer?


Robin
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post #6 of 19
11/12/10 at 8:35pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks Robin. The sides did come out a little higher than I really wanted. But too late now!

Oval


round


I am using up some scraps of fabric that are too small for anything else, that's why the sides have two different colors. The bottom is going to be the pink.

I actually find the oval shape more esthetically pleasing. That may be because of the blue section. It kind of defines it as the front, if put in oval shape, whereas in round it just looks.... weird
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post #7 of 19
11/12/10 at 8:43pm
Oh, they'll be nice. And I think they'll like the little bit higher sides.

There is one special (aren't they all) cat at the shelter - Constantine - a tabby with a bent ear, sweet face, and sweeter disposition. He's really dear and I wish I could have him. (There is always a list I have in my mind of who I wish I could have. He's now on the top of the list.) He likes beds with high sides. Every week I go find him one on the clean laundry shelves. As soon as it is in his cage, he climbs right in and looks over the high edge and smiles at me. So cute!

Great project, Otto!

Robin
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post #8 of 19
11/12/10 at 11:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
Some of you may know that I make cat beds. I'm trying something a little different, actually a LOT different this time. I've wanted to try this for a while, but didn't know where to start. Then I got the idea here, when someone mentioned using foam for more defined sections.

Foam! I thought. Of course THAT'S what I need!

I'm going to be making one specially for a kitty friend of mine, but whenever I try something new I like to make a practice one first.

I'm working on the sides right now, but then I need to decide if this bed is going to be oval or round. Which do cats prefer, do you think?
The ones my kitties like the most are rectangular, so closer to oval in shape... they fit their longer bodies better, it seems.... Plus, I like the idea of not being a "me too", since there are plenty of round beds out there, seeing something different for once would be nice
It's going to be pretty!
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post #9 of 19
11/13/10 at 1:41am
Mine prefer oval/rectangle to round. Today I had a laundry basket with clothes to be hung/folded...left it on table came back to !5! kittens in it.

I wish I could make a liner for the laundry basket to make it into a cheap washable bed capable of holding more then 2 cats. the dog beds get to pricey and just adding a blanket means Tommy steals the bed as he likes to snuggle under sheets/blankets
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post #10 of 19
11/13/10 at 3:59am
I think mine would like oval or square. They used to steal the dogs bed all the time and now we have pillow sleepers or "lets make daddys towel all furry for when he gets out of the shower" sleepers. LOL.
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post #11 of 19
11/13/10 at 5:08pm
Mine prefer oval, but they have been known to curl up into a ball and make the oval bed round.

ETA: Both my girls LOVE deeper sides (4"-6").
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post #12 of 19
11/13/10 at 5:22pm
Thread Starter 
I finished sewing the sides and set it down for a moment. When I came back Mazy cat was trying it out. It doesn't have a bottom yet, but I had set it on top of the pink I am using for the bed part.

I'm going to attach a flannel bottom, and then make the bed cushion as a separate piece, to be placed inside the bed..



.
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post #13 of 19
11/13/10 at 5:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
I finished sewing the sides and set it down for a moment. When I came back Mazy cat was trying it out. It doesn't have a bottom yet, but I had set it on top of the pink I am using for the bed part.

I'm going to attach a flannel bottom, and then make the bed cushion as a separate piece, to be placed inside the bed..



.
She looks cozy already. Chester likes to stretch out and he is long so I think an oval one would suit him more. Although a pile of papers I am working on seems to suit him right now.
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post #14 of 19
11/13/10 at 6:37pm
Looks like it's received the seal of approval!
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post #15 of 19
11/13/10 at 6:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephanietx View Post
Looks like it's received the seal of approval!
Hope she likes it when it's finished then!
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post #16 of 19
11/13/10 at 6:45pm
I make my beds oval rather than round. When you cut the fabric for the bottom, cut it in an oval shape and when you sew the foam sides to the bottom, it will turn out oval.

Can I ask what type of foam that you used? There are tricks to finding the right foam. PM me if you want some ideas.
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post #17 of 19
11/13/10 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momofmany View Post
I make my beds oval rather than round. When you cut the fabric for the bottom, cut it in an oval shape and when you sew the foam sides to the bottom, it will turn out oval.

.
That's what I was planning, thanks! The oval is not fastened yet, I was going to sew the bottom on with the sides open and it would close around as I sewed.

(it's all hand sewing)

Quote:
Can I ask what type of foam that you used? There are tricks to finding the right foam. PM me if you want some ideas
Thanks Amy. Just the foam I found at walmart, it was the only thing they had. "Polyfill tru-foam" made in USA. Was more expensive that I expected, $15 for a 6 foot by 2 foot roll.and I'll only get two beds out of it, the sides only, not using it for the cushion part.
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post #18 of 19
11/18/10 at 2:04pm
Sooooo..... How is that cat bed coming???
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post #19 of 19
11/19/10 at 6:37am
Thread Starter 
Hi Carolina, thanks for asking! Actually I had to put it aside for a little while, as another cat needed a bed soonest, so I am making that, just one of my regular self warming ones, nothing fancy. It's almost done, and once I send that off I can get back to the new projects.

I will post pics when they are done.
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