Pet Cubby
I had this idea kicking around for a pet cubby / side table originally intended for my pet rabbits and with a recent family members birthday, the prefect excuse was presented have a go at making this idea a reality. After my previous success with my shoe rack design, I just couldn’t stop thinking of other ideas for pet-integrated furniture.
The intent of the design is to provide the pet with a multi room cubby to explore and to rest in, with a balcony at armrest height and a top level that can be used like a side table if positioned next to a couch.
My go to material for this type of product is 12mm ply wood. For this design I opted for flush joins and fixture with glue only for a cleaner appearance. Of course, you’ll need to make sure you have a sufficient amount of long clamps or other heavy weights to hold the material in position while the glue cures - particularly important when using ply since the material isn’t always flat to begin with.
Before assembling all of the cut edges needed to be cleaned of soot. I’ve found white vinegar and brush or towel to be quite effective, although care needs to be taken that the soot runoff does not go back over the face of the material as the soot will simply be redistributed into the wood grain giving it a dirty appearance. I then finish with a slight sand before gluing together and sealing with linseed oil.
I’m really happy with how this build came out, especially for a first attempt. The only thing I’d change is to make the whole thing narrower as it is currently quite large, however my rabbits didn’t seem to mind while they were helping me test it!
If you like the design you can give it a try yourself by heading over to Thingiverse with the link below to download it and cut it using a laser or CNC router.
