As spring comes along, you may be thinking of ways to renovate your garden to revive it after winter. But have you considered some ideas that would make your backyard a nice spot for your canine or feline friend as well? Building something special in the yard for your pet can be a great way to go into the landscaping process with some idea of what you want to accomplish while also giving your pet a great space to roam and play.​

There are great ways to create fun and affordable backyard layouts for your cat or dog, and you don’t have to completely transform the entire yard. In fact, you would most likely be able to execute these ideas yourself!​

Here are a few ways to keep your pets happy and entertained with some very simple changes to your backyard:

Backyard Oasis for Dogs:

With dogs, it is important to remember that they generally need a lot of open space so that they can run and play without restrictions. Of course, the amount of space each dog needs is proportional to its size, so small dogs won’t need such a big space.

However, many people don’t have access to vast yards and have to make do with the space they have. There are still many non-expensive ways to give your dog an opportunity to let off some steam in any size yard:

1) Obstacle Course

Making a simple obstacle course for your dog can be a great way to re-appropriate some spare clutter you have lying around in your garage and transform it into a playground in your yard. Courses can be made from spare tires, poles, sticks, hula hoops… you name it, and you can incorporate it into a fun obstacle course for your dog.

2) Dog Pool

If you would prefer a tidier backyard, you could also consider creating a small dog pool or pond for rec use.

The process of digging the pool can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. But generally, a simple dug-out and level hole can add scenery and character to your yard while providing dogs with a place to cool off during the summer.

3) Dog Lounge

If you would like to create a pleasant rest area for your canine friend, you can easily designate a corner of your deck to be the dog resting area. You can stick some simple wood furniture with some waterproof cushions to make some pretty outdoor-ready couches for your pets to enjoy.

3) The Classic Dog House

One of the most important things to remember about dogs is that they always need a shaded area. One of the easiest and most classic ways to provide them with this necessary shade from the summer sun is by creating an easy, DIY doghouse. You can make simple but cute lodging for your dog by using just a few wooden panels and one of those waterproof and durable cushions.

Backyard Oasis for Cats

Cats tend to be a little less complex in what they desire in an outdoor space, and there tend to be fewer options for them since they don’t always wish to stick to the yard.​

The main question, however, is whether you want your cats to be primarily indoor or outdoor cats (or somewhere in between). If you want to keep your cats indoors for their safety, especially in an urban area, but still don’t want to trap them inside all of the time, then you can easily find some affordable solutions.

1) Cat House or “Catio”

Who says that dogs can only have houses? Since you do want to make sure your cat only sticks to one area, however, the design is just a bit different.

You will need to be able to build a passage from an accessible area of your home into space outdoors. Many owners repurpose smaller windows for just this use.

From there, you can attach a cage of sorts that can be as big as you want: it can take up the length of a patio, or can even resemble a flower box on a windowsill. It is typical to make it out of mesh, so the cats can get some fresh air and sunshine. And if you already own a deck, then you already have a suitable floor you can build on.

Cat houses may take a bit of work initially but will be well worth it when completed. From there, you can stick some litter boxes, toys, and scratch posts in the cage to keep your cat entertained.

If possible, you can add some wood paneling higher up on the structure to allow your cats to jump to different heights and watch the world from above. Many cats like to sit on windowsills and watch the world go by, and this is a great way to let them do this while giving them some fresh air and sun.

2) Cat Deck Area

Just as dogs are often found in the shade, cats love to lounge in the sun. For this reason, you can create a similar rest area for cats out of a pre-existing deck. Dedicate a small area of the deck for some wooden benches with waterproof cushions so that your cats can nap in the sun. It is even better if these cushions are black, in order to soak up as much of the sun as possible.

However, also make sure you have some bushes scattered throughout the yard so that cats can occasionally take some natural refuge from the sun too.

3) Hammocks!

Just as dogs are often found in the shade, cats love to lounge in the sun. For this reason, you can create a similar rest area for cats out of a pre-existing deck. Dedicate a small area of the deck for some wooden benches with waterproof cushions so that your cats can nap in the sun. It is even better if these cushions are black, in order to soak up as much of the sun as possible.

However, also make sure you have some bushes scattered throughout the yard so that cats can occasionally take some natural refuge from the sun too.

4) Wooden Cat Tree

While cat trees are usually made out of fabric or carpet and are put indoors to appeal to cats, you can easily make a more durable wooden cat tree so that your cats can relax on it outside as well. Many owners have found very creative and innovative ways to design lovely structures in their yard that make both cats and humans happy.

If you want to take the “tree” aspect of it more literally, you can also create a tree house of sorts for your cats by simply adding some well-placed planks of wood to any of the trees in your yard.

No matter how you go about creating a cute and affordable space for your pets, it is important to remember that safety always comes first. It is important to clear your backyard of any clutter that your pets could injure themselves. Additionally, make sure your fences are nice and smooth and don’t leave any gaps that a cat or a dog could get themselves stuck in. These designs are all nice, appealing, and safe ways to create a lovely backyard haven for your pets… and, hopefully, you will have a good time making them as well.