Quick answer: In a two-cat studio, factory direct vs DIY is not either-or. Make the soft pieces yourself, because no-sew fleece beds, perch pads and hammock covers are cheap, quick and washable. Consider buying the sturdy pieces, such as a scratching surface built into furniture, because stability is harder to get right at home and floor space is tight.
A studio apartment with two cats is a lesson in counting. Every bed, scratch surface and perch has to fit in one room that also holds your sofa, desk and bed. That changes the usual DIY versus buy question: the issue is less about money and more about which pieces earn their floor space.
Fleece is where DIY shines. It is soft, washable and needs no tools, which makes it ideal for the cosy spots two cats need. Sturdy pieces are a different story.
How Many Spots Do Two Cats Need?
International Cat Care says a commonly used formula is one resource per cat plus one extra, positioned in different locations. Its list of key resources includes food and water bowls, litter trays, beds, high resting places, private areas, scratching posts and toys. It also notes that cats don't share important resources with other social groups.
For two cats, that means three of each key resource, ideally spread out. In a studio, three beds and three scratch surfaces is a real space challenge, which is exactly why each piece should be chosen with care.
Factory Direct vs DIY: A Time and Cost Table
Costs and times below are rough estimates for a first-time maker, assuming basic tools. Check your local prices.
| Piece | DIY time | Approximate DIY cost | Make or buy? |
|---|---|---|---|
| No-sew fleece bed | About 1 hour | $10 to $20 in fleece | Make |
| Fleece perch pad for a shelf or sill | About 30 minutes | $5 to $10 | Make |
| Fleece cover for a box hideaway | About 1 hour | $5 to $15 plus a box | Make |
| Floor cardboard scratcher | 2 to 3 hours | $26 to $41 | Either |
| Scratch surface built into a side table | A weekend or more | Varies widely with materials | Often buy |
| Wall shelves for climbing | A day, plus wall checks | Varies | Depends on your lease |
The pattern is clear: soft goods reward DIY, while load-bearing furniture rewards a tested design.
Making No-Sew Fleece Pieces
- Cut two squares of fleece about 15 cm larger on each side than the bed you want.
- Stack them and cut 10 cm slits every 3 cm around all four edges.
- Tie each top strip to the one below it in a double knot.
- Stuff with an old pillow insert before closing the last side, or leave it flat as a mat.
- Trim loose ends so no long strands hang free.
Fleece does not fray, so cut edges need no hemming. Make two of each so one can be washed while the other is in use. Short, tight knots matter: avoid leaving loose strings, which cats can chew.
Choosing Fleece for Cat Pieces
- Anti-pill fleece keeps its look longer after repeated washing.
- Mid-weight fleece is easier to knot than very thick blanket fleece.
- Pick colors close to your cats' coats so fur shows less between washes.
- Wash new fleece once before cutting, so any shrinkage happens first.
- Keep offcuts for small pads; a shelf or sill pad needs far less fabric than a bed.
One fleece purchase of about two meters is usually enough for two beds and a perch pad, which is part of why soft goods are such good value to make.
Where to Put Three of Everything in One Room
| Resource | Spot 1 | Spot 2 | Spot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beds | Fleece bed under the window | Fleece pad on a shelf | Covered box by the wardrobe |
| Scratching surfaces | By the sofa arm | Near the bed | Floor scratcher by the entrance |
| High resting places | Shelf | Top of a wardrobe with a fleece pad | Window perch |
Cats Protection advises that every cat should have their own scratching post, positioned in a different place to avoid conflict, and that cats often scratch and stretch when they wake up, so a post near their bed helps. For more on hiding the kit, see hiding litter and scratchers in small living rooms and the design-forward version of the same guide.
Why Sturdy Pieces Are Harder to DIY
Cats Protection also recommends a scratching post with a heavy, stable base so it doesn't wobble or topple during use. Getting that stability from home-built parts takes careful joinery, weight in the right place and time for testing. In a studio, a wobbly piece cannot be tucked away in a spare room; it sits in the middle of your living space.
A dual-purpose piece also saves floor space. A scratch surface built into a side table replaces two items with one, and with two cats, every footprint you save matters. Our DIY scratcher side table vs buying factory direct comparison goes through the build in detail.
What Factory Direct Means for You
Factory direct simply means buying from the brand that makes the product, rather than through a reseller. Our guides on manufacturer vs retailer cat furniture, what direct from the brand means for cat owners and buying from a maker brand explain what to check, including returns, replacement parts and who handles questions.
If you take this route, one option is the CozeCat Side Table, which combines a sisal scratch face and a table top in one footprint.
A Weekend Plan for a Two-Cat Studio
- Saturday morning: count beds, scratch surfaces and high spots against the three-of-each target.
- Saturday afternoon: make two fleece beds and one perch pad.
- Sunday morning: build a floor scratcher or decide on a bought piece for the sofa arm.
- Sunday afternoon: place everything in separate spots and watch which cat uses what over the next week.
Move pieces that go unused rather than adding more; in a studio, placement solves more problems than quantity.
Feeding Two Cats in One Room
Food bowls are a resource too. International Cat Care suggests avoiding feeding all cats in the same location with bowls next to one another, and offers ideas such as a visual barrier between cats or feeding on different levels, with one cat on the floor and one on a table. In a studio, a kitchen counter and a floor spot behind the sofa can serve as two separate stations, with a third water bowl elsewhere.
Keeping Peace Between Two Cats
International Cat Care notes that if tension arises, or key resources are not available, problems can follow. Watch for one cat guarding the only window or the best bed. If that happens, add a second high spot away from the first rather than a bigger version of the same thing. For more small-space ideas, see our small apartment cat home hub.
A scratch surface that doubles as furniture The CozeCat Side Table puts a sisal scratch face and a table top in one footprint, which helps when a studio has to hold three scratch spots. Next-day shipping is available. Returns are taken within 30 days; you pay the shipping cost to send it back.
Two Cats, One Studio: Questions
Is it cheaper to DIY or buy cat furniture for two cats?
For soft goods, DIY usually wins: a no-sew fleece bed takes about an hour and roughly $10 to $20 in fleece, and a perch pad about $5 to $10. For sturdy scratch furniture, DIY costs vary widely and take a weekend or more, so buying a tested design is often simpler.
How many beds and scratchers do two cats need?
International Cat Care describes a common formula of one resource per cat plus one extra, in different locations. For two cats, that means three beds, three scratching surfaces and three high resting places, plus three of other key resources such as litter trays, spread around the room rather than grouped together.
How do I make a no-sew fleece cat bed?
Cut two fleece squares about 15 cm larger on each side than the finished bed, stack them, and cut 10 cm slits every 3 cm around the edges. Double-knot each top strip to the one below, stuff with an old pillow insert if you like, and trim loose ends short.
Where do I put cat furniture in a studio apartment?
Spread pieces out so each cat has its own spot: beds under a window, on a shelf and in a covered box; scratch surfaces by the sofa arm, near the bed and by the entrance. Cats Protection advises each cat has its own scratching post in a different place to avoid conflict.
