Cat-tastic Cat Puzzles

by magassist — April 21, 2020

Cats. You either love them or you hate them. There are more than 600 million of them worldwide, and are found in almost every place humans live. Cats have been worshipped as protectors of possessions, seen as witches’ familiars, and shunned as bad luck. Some people collect items related to cats—dolls, portraits, books, etc. One collector asked me for something that she didn’t have yet: a cat puzzle. It was a perfect occasion for me to create a range of designs.

Making the Puzzles

The color and the grain accent determine the overall look of these puzzles. I chose Meranti for the sweet cat, rubberwood for the angry cat, and pine for the sleeping cat.

Attach the pattern to the wood. Cover it with clear packaging tape to reduce the chance of scorching and to lubricate the blade. Scroll the puzzle and sand very carefully. You can use a flap sander to round the edges or sand it by hand. Finish all pieces with clear Danish oil.

Cat Puzzle Patterns

Materials & Tools

Materials:

• Hard or soft wood, 3/4″ (1.9cm) thick: sized to fit patterns

• Spray adhesive, repositionable

• Sandpaper: 180, 220 grits

• Clear packaging tape

• Danish oil

Tools:

• Scroll saw with blades: #5 skip reverse-tooth

• Sanding disc or flap sander

Interested in more? Puzzle makers will love this collection of 31 of the most popular scroll saw projects from the pages of Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine. The book includes patterns for more cuddly cats, Jonah and the Whale, a Wooly Mammoth, a Teacher’s Puzzle, and more. All projects feature color photographs of the finished piece, scroll saw patterns, and detailed, step-by-step instructions for easy completion.

About the Author

Eric Van Malderen lives in Dendermonde, Belgium, with his lovely wife, Rita, and awesome daughters, Mieke and Sarah. Eric works at the Belgium railways in Brussels as a G.I.S. designer. He received his Hegner scroll saw in 2002 as a 40th birthday present from his wife.