If you are a cat person and a sci-fi nerd, you’ll appreciate this novel idea: a Doctor Who and Star Wars inspired cat houses. Bulgaria-based design studio CacaoPets creates these and other cool designs from 100% recyclable cardboard. The houses are light, foldable, and will look charming in any sci-fi-loving home. Other themes and designs include Taj Mahal, war tank, castle tower, just to name a few. Available for purchase here.
Every cat owner has been there. You buy a space-consuming piece of cat furniture, spend a lot of money, assemble it, only to find out that your cat prefers the box it came in. That’s cat logic for you. Designers at BoxKitty must have experienced the same phenomenon, which is why they came up with this clever solution. Based on a cardboard box cats love so much, the product arrives flat and contains eight different container types. With these elements, you can build an infinite number of configurations, which you can change at any point to keep your cat and yourself entertained. The assembly is achieved via hook and loop sticky tabs, so it’s simple and fast. Double-layer corrugated cardboard is scratch resistant, strong and even water repellent so that cat accidents can be easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Watch the video after the break to see the piece in action. Available for purchase here.
Famed Japanese studio Nendo made a minimalist take on dog products, by creating an elegant, toned down, and yet very pet-friendly collection. Cubic Pet Goods line consists of a dog house, soft toy, a line of ceramic bowls, and a ball. Each piece corresponds to both the dog’s needs and the human’s aesthetic desires. “The majority of pet products for dogs are roundish and cute, – designers say. – However, they aren’t often suited to interior spaces with walls, floors, ceilings, windows and furniture designed mostly in a linear manner. With this issue in mind, pet products are designed with a variety of functions, emphasizing compatibility with interior elements.” These pieces are also great gifts to a design-conscious dog owner.
Some of you may remember CATable by LYCS Architecture. Now they have unveiled a new design, series of sculpturesque cubes with small spaces for cats to hide and play in. I love the sheer beauty of these pieces. They not only provide your cat with fun and exercise, but add aesthetic value to your home as well.
The great swissmiss has recently adopted a cat. Whoo-hoo, I say, for I am excited to see many cool and designy cat accessories she will inevitably discover. Here is a very lovely one – Felt Cat Bed from AgnesFelt. Sold here.
French design studio Fabbricabois is the creator of this inventive coffee table that doubles as a pet bed. Comprised of seven pieces of wood, the table is held together via rubber bands, without any glue or fasteners. It ships flat, assembles in minutes and provides a cosy sleeping space for a cat or small dog. What a fun idea! The pet area is lined with the soft washable cushion, and two angled spaces on the side could be used as additional storage.
Cats love boxes, that is the universal truth. Amsterdam based company Poopy Cat embraced the idea, initially by creating their hit cardboard litter box, and now with the new line of cat playware. BLOCKS is a successfully funded Kickstarter project that goes into production in March. The principle is simple and brilliant: the BLOCKS package consists of two beams, two cubes, tunnel, bridge, slide and two types of connectors. It is light yet sturdy and can withstand any cat. The modularity of the design allows you to adjust it to your space constraints and your cat’s preferences. The boxes are made from recycled and biodegradable cardboard, easy on the wallet and the environment alike.
A cat lady in me is very excited by this initiative. More than 12 Los-Angeles architecture practices participated in a one-night-only exhibition event to raise money for animal charity FixNation. The exhibit was titled Architects for Animals “Giving Shelter” and consisted of cat houses of every shape or form. Some of these creations look pretty obscure, but some could be an attractive and fun cat home/playground. Read more about the fundraiser here.
Since we are on the subject of pet accessories, here is another cool item that caught my eye – Indiana Jones Cat Bridge. Designed by Portland, Oregon-based couple, Mike and Megan Wilson, the piece was first produced in a single edition for their own cats. As the demand grew, Mike and Megan extended their line of cat furniture and turned it into a full-time gig, called CatastrophiCreations. What I love about this particular item is that it utilizes a door frame. No matter how tiny the space is, everyone has a door…
Petly is an automatic pet feeder, that makes a lot of sense for the busy urban folk. Designed by Japanese studio Rinn, Petly dispenses pet food at specified times, so your furry companion can have an independent meal schedule, no matter what life throughs at you. Good for your peace of mind and your apartment – the piece is minimalist enough to blend with any decor. Watch the video after the break for more details.
