I actually made one of these for my cat and a) it really wasn’t that much work, and b) she loves it and stays in it all the freaking time. Your mileage may vary, of course. I do understand the concept of what you’re saying, because I’ve bought any number of fancy cat beds, shelters, and elaborate cat playgrounds and…

Even easier is a cat box made from an empty box and a t-shirt. A friend of mine on Facebook posted just this past week:

Once your cat realizes the amount of work you put into something for them they will promptly ignore it and revel in your frustration before demanding more food.