Mats for Cats
Making shelter cats more comfortable since 2013
Making Mats for Shelter Cats
I always ask that first you make mats for your local shelters or feral colonies. To make shelter mats for your local shelter, first ask if they will accept your donation. Then obtain cage measurements and try to custom size your mats to each shelter or rescues needs. The MAIN rule for making a mat is that it must pass the cat food test. Take a half handful of dry cat food and toss it on the mat. The food should NOT fall into the holes. If it does, you need to use a smaller hook or a different stitch.
Crochet Instructions
Knitting Instructions
Use one double crochet, one chain. (Being a past shelter worker I can tell you this is very important, both for less wasted food and for easier cage cleaning.)
I do not use a pattern, I use a measuring tape. My most common sizes are Feral (24"x20") and Snuggle (18"x14"), usually double stranded.
Each mat is 15”x20”, 45 stitches wide on #10 needles, and I use Red Heart Super Saver yarn. I buy this with JoAnn coupons, you may have a favorite source. The mats are machine washable and dryable and durable so contrary to knitting convention, it’s best to tie some knots at the beginning and end before you weave in the ends.
Stats
45
stitches wide #10
needles 2
strands of yarn for each mat
Use one solid and one variegated yarn to mix the colors. One solid skein and two variegated skeins will make two mats with some leftover.
You may learn new techniques:
Cast on is a knit cast on – make a slip knot, knit into this stitch, return the stitch to the left hand needle. Insert the right hand needle between the stitches, knit a stitch, and return this stitch to the left hand needle. Continue until you have 45 stitches, the yarn ends will be at the opposite end of the needle.
Braided edge - the last stitch of each row is always slipped as if to purl so the edge is smooth.
~Semi-Basket Weave~
Cast on 45 sts with the knit cast on, see box above.
1,3,5,7) Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
2, 4) K1, *K1, P1, K2* to last 4 sts, K1, P1, K1, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
6, 8) K1, *K3, P1* to last 4 sts, K3, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with an even row.
*Finishing instructions at bottom
~Smaller Semi-Basket Weave~
Cast on 45 sts with the knit cast on, see box above.
1,3) Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
2) K1, *K1, P1, K2* to last 4 sts, K1, P1, K1, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
4) K1, *K3, P1* to last 4 sts, K3, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with an even row.
*Finishing instructions at bottom
~Skinny Diagonal~
Cast on 45 sts with the knit cast on, see box above.
1,3,5,7) Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
2) K1, *P1, K3* until the last 4 sts, P1, K2, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl
4) K1, *K1, P1, K2* until the last 4 sts, K1, P1, K1, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
6) K1, *K2, P1, K1* until the last 4 sts, K2, P1, slip last st as if to purl.
8) K1, *K3, P1* until the last 4 sts, K3, slip last st as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with an even row.
*Finishing instructions at bottom
~Fat Diagonal~
Cast on 45 sts with the knit cast on, see box above.
1,3,5,7) Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
2) K1, *P2, K3* until the last 5 sts, P2, K2, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
4) K1, *K1, P2, K2* until the last 5 sts, K1, P2, K1, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
6) K1, *K2, P2, K1* until the last 5 sts, K2, P2, slip last st as if to purl.
8) K1, *K3, P2* until the last 5 sts, K3, P1, slip last st as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with an even row.
*Finishing instructions at bottom.
~Skinny Bricks~
Cast on 45 sts with the knit cast on, see box above.
1,3,5,7) Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
2) *K5, P3* to last 5 sts, K4, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
4) K1, *P3, K5* to last 4 sts, P3, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with an even row.
*Finishing instructions at bottom
~Fat Bricks~
Cast on 45 sts with the knit cast on, see box above.
1,3,5,7) Knit to last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
2, 4) *K5, P3* to last 5 sts, K4, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
6, 8) K1, *P3, K5* to last 4 sts, P3, yfwd, slip last st as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with an even row.
*Finishing instructions at bottom
~Stripes~
You will need 2 skeins of each of 2 colors, so 4 skeins
Cast on 45 sts with long-tail cast on using 2 strands of the solid yarn. Knit one row to the last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
1,2) With 2 strands of the colored yarn, knit to the last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
3,4) With solid yarn, knit to the last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with the colored yarn.
Finish with the solid yarn to match the starting row, using finishing instructions at bottom
~Fuzzy Wuzzy~
This uses one skein of worsted, one of fuzzy yarn
Cast on 35 sts with long-tail cast on using 2 strands of
the solid yarn.
All rows) With 2 strands of the colored yarn, knit to
the last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
Continue for 19.75 inches, ending with the colored yarn.
Bind off, secure ends.
The End – Use these 2 rows as the end for all mats
Knit to the last stitch, yfwd, slip as if to purl.
Bind off: K1, *P1, slip knit stitch over the purled stitch on the right hand needle*, continue until you have 1 stitch left on the right needle. Cut yarn at 3”, pull thru.
FINISHING: For both the cast on and bind off yarn, slip one of the two yarns thru an edge stitch and tie a knot so your knitting won’t unravel. Weave ends in, following the stitches if you can, or use your favorite method.