At Home With The Modern Cat

June 22, 2015

by Natalie Secretan

Cats are by nature very curious animals that like to explore and venture around the house, looking for the warmest, quietest spot to snuggle up, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy being secreted away in another room. No, they want to be close to their human family and spend as much time with them as possible.

Sometimes I think pet owners are as much caregivers as they are animal behaviorists who enjoy watching their pets play and the antics they get into. To make this more enjoyable for both pet and human, we’ve integrated pet furniture into our homes that, quite frankly, now seems outdated and isn’t very attractive. From cat scratchers to carpet-clad climbers and unsightly litter boxes, we’ve put up with some pretty ugly designs and some of them not so practical. So, let me introduce you to some innovative ideas for making your cat feel more at home.

The above photo shows an example of how people in Japan are designing their houses to suit their pets. This house called Plus-Nyan is by architect, Asahi Kasei. Notice how seamlessly the cat ledges and houses flow with the modern design of the house, but you don’t have to remodel your entire house to please your cat. By mounting a few shelves on the wall, you can create a similar landscape for your feline friend. Just check out these cool cat perches by Urban Pet House:

This is called the Wave Perch and it comes in two sizes. Urban Pet Haus has other designs to fit your décor. There is even one with a built-in feeder that doubles as a catnip planter for your cat’s enjoyment. Check it out:

From sleeping and climbing to frolicking about in the catnip, there’s one other vital item that creates an eyesore in most cat friendly homes and that’s the dreaded kitty litter box. The traditional big and bulky contraptions that we’re so used to seeing have long since fallen out of favour. Cat owners are getting more creative with their litter boxes. Check out this design from Merry Products:

Now that's stylish and would make a great DIY project, if you're so inclined. One other cool idea that I'd like to share with you is this room divider by PetsMood:

Ideal for the open concept type of home, now your pet doesn't have to follow you all over the house. Safely housed in this elegant room divider called Librato, they'll be able to keep an eye on you, and you'll never have to worry about them getting into mischief.

I hope these ideas have inspired you and provided a few clever ways to dress up your home while keeping your cat purring.