How To Build a Cat Hammock

By Ally Childress

Updated: Oct. 06, 2023

Everyone likes relaxing in a hammock — even your cats. Here's how to make their dreams come true, DIY style.

Time

4 hours

Complexity

Beginner

Cost

More than $40

Introduction

Hammocking is all the rage, especially for my hefty cat, who lounges multiple hours a day on a hammock I built it as part of this DIY cat tree. It's cute and colorful, but not as sturdy as I — and my 20-pound cat — would like.

This DIY cat hammock could never be called flimsy. It's made from strong but inexpensive 2x4s, crosshatched together at the base. Dowel rods hold the hammock. The best thing about it? It didn't take a bunch of complicated cuts. I kept mine low-key, but you can spruce it up with paint, stain or decals.

Tools Required

Chisel
Circular saw
Clamps
Drill
Grommet kit
Hammer
Hole saw - 1 inch
Mineral spirits (optional)
Miter saw
Pencil
Sanding block or handheld sander
Scissors or utility knife
Speed square
Tape measure
Wood drill bit - 3/8 inch

Materials Required

2x4 lumber - 8 foot (2)
Carriage bolts - 5/16 inch x 5 inch (4)
Dowel rod - 1 inch
Hammock
Nuts and washers (4)
Sandpaper

Cat Hammock Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Project step-by-step (11)

Step 1

Cut the base

Whether you’re building a cat house or any kind of cat furniture, you need a sturdy base.
Cut one 2×4 into four pieces 21 inches long.
Miter the four pieces 45 degrees inward from both ends.
- These should look like boats (\_/), not parallelograms (/_/).

Cat Hammock Cut And Miter Base Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 2

Cut the arms

Miter the other 2×4 on one end at 45 degrees.
From the pointed end, measure 21 inches. Don’t turn the board.
Miter 45 degrees again at your mark, in the same direction as before.
Repeat until you have four parallelograms (/_/).

Cat Hammock Cut Wood Base And Arms 2 Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 3

Drill the base holes

Clamp two base pieces together, flush with each other.
Place the flat side down and clamp to the table.
Drill 3/8-in. holes through both legs roughly 1-1/2-in. equidistant from ends, centered.
Repeat on other end, then repeat on other two base pieces.

Cat Hammock Hole Saw Cut In Arms 2 Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 4

Lay out the base

Keep the base pieces clamped and turn one set on edge, long side up.
Find and mark the center with a straight line spanning the top of both pieces.
Measure and mark 3/4-in. from each side of the center line.
Measure and mark 2-1/4-in. from each side of the center line.
- Make Xs on the outer 1-1/2-in. segments.
Repeat on other two base pieces, this time with short side up.

Cat Hammock Lay Out Cuts On Base Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 5

Notch the base

Set your circular saw so the depth of the cut equals half the width of the 2x4s (1-3/4-in.).
Use the speed square to align the circular saw on one of your outer marks.
Make repeated passes of approximately 1/8-in. to 1/4-in., using your speed square to keep the saw aligned with each pass.
- Stop cutting when you reach the center segment.
Repeat on the other side where your second X is.
Repeat on other base pieces, cutting between the marks you made earlier.

Cat Hammock Set Circular Saw Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 6

Remove the wood notches

Place chisel between the notches and move back and forth to loosen.
Use chisel and hammer to knock out wood chips.
Clean up any wood left behind using chisel.
Unclamp wood. Turn all pieces short-side down and fit base together in a crosshatch pattern.
Check the fit. If base does not sit flush, chisel or sand notches to remove impediments.

Cat Hammock Cut Notches With Circular Saw Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 7

Drill arms

Insert one arm between the base pieces and hold flush with table and end of base.
Insert pencil into 3/8-in. drilled hole and mark arm.
Drill 3/8-in. hole on mark.
Repeat on three other arms.
Drill 1-in. hole using hole saw on other end of all four arms.

Cat Hammock Drill Small Holes In Base Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 8

Assemble

Hold the arm in place between two base pieces and line up the holes.
Slide the carriage bolt through all three pieces of wood.
Add the washer and nut. Tighten.
Repeat for all four arms.
Gather any cat toys you want to add so that they’re handy.

Cat Hammock Assemble Base And Arms Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 9

Add dowels

Cut dowels into 6-in. lengths with a miter or circular saw.
Sand rough edges with a sander, or a sanding block and sandpaper.
Push through the hole saw holes.

Cat Hammock Add Dowels Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 10

Paint or stain

Similar to a cat tree, you can paint or stain your DIY cat hammock after assembly.
Sand wood with a sander or sanding block to round edges and remove manufacturer marks.
Remove dust with mineral spirits, if needed.
Paint or stain as desired, or leave as raw wood.

Cat Hammock Sand Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Step 11

Add hammock

Make or buy hammock roughly 30 inches by 30 inches. If using fleece, it will stretch. I recommend canvas or a rug.

Add grommets and ribbon, rope or other connecting mechanism and attach to dowels.
Entice cat onto hammock and cross fingers.

Cat Hammock Finished Longer Shot Ally Childress for Family Handyman

Author

Ally Childress

Ally Childress writes practical, informed stories and how-to guides for Family Handyman and Reader’s Digest. An experienced electrician, Ally's beat naturally includes electrical and construction topics. She also tackles cleaning, gardening, technology, bugs and anything else you can throw at her. She has a knack for finding just the right subjec...