Simple and cheap: an old pillowcase stuffed with shredded paper. Put in a zipper or Velcro to close if you want to be able to wash and reuse it or just sew it shut for a 'disposable' version (which is perfect for sick animals or skin infections like ringworm that aren't easily removed from fabric). When the paper is too crushed to be of any use it can be recycled a second time as cat litter (just add baking soda). Old laundry baskets and litter boxes make good containers for the bed (dish pans are much better litter boxes since they have high sides - those plastic laundry totes are even better). Less permanent but more fun for the cat are cardboard boxes laid on their sides - or you can cut out a whimsical shape as a 'door'. Just plop in the stuffed pillowcase and voila!

Love every one of them! The cardboard chaise lounge is most notable, though, considering how much my meow meows love new boxes. I'm passing this post along.

its weird but true, my cats love old shoeboxes to lie in.they love recycling(joke)! love your post ps. try my blog

What would a cat-owner be without catnip toys? You should search cat-friendly catnip toys. Most of the mass-produced catnip toys are made from felt which actually isn't good for your cats (you rub your fingers against it and the felt balls up... It can get swallowed by your cat and get stuck in their digestion system). Not to mention the toys usually sit months in warehouses before getting shipped. It's important for the catnip toys to be in a ventilated place so no mold or bacteria can grow. There's a stall in Portland Oregon's Saturday Market that sells really nice catnip toys for cheap, made out of fresh catnip (and they don't sell two week old toys either. They switch them out) and are made from fabric that does not fry easily. If the scent is getting thin, just a couple squeeze it your hands to break up the catnip in the toy. I know that my two cats love it.