Ever tried to pull a cat out from under the bed when they’re alllll the way in the middle? It’s like trying to grab a shadow. And if there’s an emergency? Game over. That’s why I made this simple DIY cat blocker.
DIY Under-Bed Cat Blocker (So You Can Actually Reach Your Cat)
Why I Needed a Cat Blocker in the First Place
My bed is pushed up against the wall, and there’s nothing under it. We all know cats love to crawl under beds, and that would be fine if they came out when called. (Spoiler: they don’t.) This becomes a problem if you don’t have enough space to shimmy under your bed to drag the cat out.
Once, I had to flip my entire king-sized bed over to get to my sick cat that needed medicine. I’m not proud of that moment, but I am proud of this hack.
How I Made My DIY Under Bed Cat Blocker
My Simple DIY Solution: A U Shaped Cat Blocker
This DIY takes minutes and might be one of the best cat safety projects I’ve ever done. Here’s what I used:
- 2 long 2×4 boards
- 1 short 2×4 board
- Screws and a drill
- A tape measure (so you know it’ll fit snug under your bed)
I measured the height under the bed to make sure the boards would be tall enough. Then I screwed the two long boards to the ends of the short one to make a U shape. Super simple.
Then I slid it under the bed with the open side facing the wall. It blocks off the entire middle section but still leaves about a foot and a half open on the other sides.
That means the cats still get their little under-bed hidey hole, but I can actually reach them if I need to. Win-win.
Note: I never drag them out from under the bed when they are hiding there. I leave them be so it can be their safe space. I only grab them if there is a medical or emergency reason.
Why This Matters for Cat Safety
It’s not about convenience. If there’s a fire, a vet emergency, or anything where I need to grab them fast, I don’t want to be panicking because I can’t reach them. I realized what a big issue this was the first time the fire alarm went off in my apartment building. I probably should tell you this, but I was not leaving my house without my cats. Lucky for me, it was just a busted pipe and not a fire because it took me about 15 minutes to get the cats and get out. If that were a real fire, I would have been standing on my balcony with my cats screaming for help. So I decided I needed to get that time down to about 2 minutes.
Bonus: It’s Moveable (Kinda)
The frame’s not permanently attached to anything, so you could technically pull it out. In my case, I’d have to lift the bed to do that, but I’m fine with it. The goal isn’t to move it around, it’s to keep my cats accessible.
Final Thoughts from One Cat Mom to Another
If your cat likes to disappear under the bed and you’ve ever found yourself doing yoga poses with a broom trying to get them out, this is your sign to try this DIY.
It’s cheap, fast, and makes your home a whole lot safer.
Got a hiding cat story of your own? Drop it in the comments on the video. I love hearing from other cat parents!
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And don’t forget to check out the blog for more DIYs and cat care tips: 👉 ThatCatMommy.com/blog
