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This knit cat bed is made from a simple garter-stitch rectangle, then sewn into a loop and cinched at one end to create a soft, round resting spot. It is worked with straight needles rather than circular needles, making it a practical project for knitters who know how to make a basic scarf. The finished bed can also suit a small dog, bunny, or another pet that enjoys a snug place to curl up.
Materials for the Knit Cat Bed
Gather the following supplies before you begin:
- 400–600 yards of extra-bulky craft yarn
- 10 mm knitting needles
- A darning needle for sewing the seam and gathering the edge
The project uses two strands of yarn held together as one to create a thicker fabric. You can wind two skeins into one large ball, keeping the strands together as you wind, or work directly from both skeins. Winding them together can help reduce tangling while you knit.
How to Knit the Rectangle
Cast on 28 stitches, leaving a tail about two feet long. Hold the two yarn strands together throughout and knit every row in garter stitch. Continue until you have worked approximately 60 rows, then check the length before binding off.
To estimate the finished bed’s circumference, bring the short ends of the rectangle together. The number of rows determines the overall size, so keep knitting if the loop seems too small for your pet. About 65 rows made a snug bed for a 9-pound cat; a larger cat may need approximately 70–80 rows. These are starting points, so check the fit for your pet before binding off.
When the rectangle is the desired size, bind off. Tie off and trim the working yarn, but keep the long tail from the cast-on edge for gathering the bed.
Join and Shape the Bed
Bring the short ends of the rectangle together to form a loop. Use the darning needle and one long tail to sew the ends securely, drawing the yarn through the end stitches to make a neat seam. Make an extra stitch through the seam, pull the tail through the resulting loop, and tighten it. Trim the excess yarn.
Next, use the remaining long tail to gather one open edge of the loop. Weave the tail through every other stitch along that edge. Pull the yarn firmly as you work so the opening closes tightly and the center does not leave a hole. Once the edge is gathered, secure the yarn with a loop, pull it through, tighten, and trim the excess.
Push the gathered section down to form the bed’s center, then pull up and fold the sides around it to create the raised rim. Before your pet uses the bed, check that the seam and gathered center are secure and that no loose yarn ends remain.
Project Details and Sizing Tips
- Skill level: Beginner, if you can knit a basic scarf.
- Needles: 10 mm straight needles.
- Yarn: 400–600 yards of extra-bulky craft yarn, worked with two strands held together.
- Approximate cost: $30.
- Yield: One bed.
Yarn use and the number of rows may vary with the pet’s size and the way you knit. Keep the two strands together consistently, and check the loop’s size before binding off so you can adjust the fit without having to reshape the finished bed.
Project credit: Kayleigh.
Make a Knit Cat Bed for Your Pet
This knit cat bed comes together with a rectangle, a joined seam, and a gathered edge—no circular needles required. Adjust the row count to suit your pet, secure the yarn ends, and shape the sides into a comfortable rim before introducing the finished bed.
