If you have cats with long hair, this product is an absolute must-have. I have two long-haired cats, including one Maine Coon, and this has been a lifesaver. The Furminator is a grooming tool that removes the loose, dead undercoat, leaving the topcoat beautiful and shiny. At first it may seem like just another grooming gadget, but it is not. I have found that it dramatically reduces shedding and hairballs. Not only has my Maine Coon stopped throwing up hairballs on my brand new, white, imported Italian carpet, but my senior cat, who had a very bad skin condition, has seen great improvements in the health of her skin and coat. The Furminator is a fabulous tool, worth every penny.

Buy the Furminator now at Amazon

Litter box placement is always a challenge, especially in a modern or minimalist interior. One excellent solution is kattbank, a sleek contemporary bench designed to completely conceal the cat litter box. Keeping both human and feline needs in mind, the team at Compressed Pattern (the design firm behind kattbank) went above and beyond when working out the details of this piece.

Features include ventilation to provide adequate airflow inside the bench, soft-close hinges on the bench lid, a plastic grid on the interior floor of the bench to remove litter from paws before cats exit the bench, adjustable interior dividers, and easily removable interior parts to make cleaning a snap. The inside of the bench is finished with high-quality lacquer that prevents odor absorption.

Kattbank can be ordered in a wide variety of finishes including fourteen different lacquer colors and four wood veneers. It is available in 48 and 60 inch lengths. Order online directly from Kattbank.

Last year Apartment Therapy held a pet decor contest, requesting submissions from readers showing creative solutions to common pet decor problems at home. This entry is for a set of climbing shelves that fit perfectly in a modern interior. Made from floating shelf units purchased at West Elm and Home Depot and topped with Flor carpet tiles, this minimalist solution maximizes space while providing indoor cats with a great way to get some exercise.

Source: Cat Stairs Pet Decor Contest Entry at Apartment Therapy

Another ingenious transformation of simple corrugated cardboard comes in the form of the Cat Cocoon by designer Warren Lieu of One Form Design. This other-worldly form serves multiple purposes, providing a scratching surface, a secluded hideaway, and a lounging area. The peepholes perforating the cocoon’s surface provide a convenient way for kitty to survey her surroundings from inside her fortress or to swat at unsuspecting by passers.

The product development team over at Wetnoz International did some excellent user research when developing the Fat Cat feeding dish. They actually noticed that feline feeding has a few challenges of its own, including “whisker stress” caused when a cat’s sensitive whiskers rub against the sides of a regular-shaped feeding bowl. The wide, shallow shape of the Fat Cat dish is designed to accommodate a cat’s whiskers, reducing whisker stress. The dish is also raised on sleek rubber feet, bringing it to just the right height for a cat to dine from. Raising the dish helps to reduce stress that can be caused by eating from a lower position. Made from premium grade stainless steel, this glistening cat dish will look great in a modern kitchen and, with proper care, will withstand years of use.

This beautiful Leo scratching post from James Owen Design could easily be mistaken for a modern sculpture, perhaps causing your visitors to panic when kitty runs his claws down the elegant form. Leo is made of zebrawood with a gently curved, polished aluminum base that causes a slight rocking motion when in use.

Brilliantly simple design and all-natural materials make Wooley Bully a classic cat toy with modern appeal. This little ball of sheep’s wool–with leather ears, nose, and tail–can withstand years of play. Once he starts to show some wear and tear, simply toss him inside a sock and run him through a hot water wash and dry cycle. When he comes out, he’ll be as good as new.

Buy it now at Amazon

Finding a well-designed pet carrier, that is appropriate for cats, can be quite a challenge. Hard plastic, bulky forms, and difficult-to-use latches are the norm. Generally, the carrier is associated with a negative experience for both cat and owner. Finally, the designers at Meowme have developed a truly innovative pet carrier. The Sleepypod mobile pet bed functions as both a bed and a carrier. It becomes your pet’s personal living space while at home, then easily converts to a safe, stylish, and comfortably-familiar carrier.

The innovative features of the Sleepypod include a mesh dome top that can be easily opened and closed or removed completely, machine-washable plush bed liner, water-resistant foam liner, and luggage-grade nylon outer covering. It has both a carrying handle built into the dome top and a removable padded shoulder strap. You can even purchase an optional electric warming pad that fits snugly under the bed liner and can be used with a 12 volt car adapter.

One outstanding feature of the Sleepypod–something that is ignored in most other carriers–is the ability to safely and easily secure the carrier in the car. Simply wrap the seatbelt around the base of the Sleepypod and latch in place, then pull the shoulder belt through the carrying handle and Velcro the handle closed.

I hope that this is just the first of many innovations that we will see from Meowme.

Buy the Sleepypod now at Amazon

The light-carrying properties of acrylic make it one of the most spectacular materials for use in modern furniture and interiors. One of the first companies to design modern pet furniture using acrylic was London-based Wowbow. Their elegant Loulie Cat Tower is a cube made of 10 mm thick acrylic, that supports a memory foam cushion covered in faux suede and topped with 3 inch sheepskin. Could you ask for a more perfect perch?

To accompany the cat tower, Wowbow designed Skritch, a beautifully simple scratching post. The sisal tube mounts to the wall with an acrylic frame that practically disappears, transforming the scratching post from an eyesore into a streamlined sculpture.

Wowbow’s Mija bed and Mija dining table also make excellent use of this stunning material. Both are available in smaller sizes, suitable for cats.

All of Wowbow’s products are handmade in the UK and the company donates a percentage of profits to benefit animal welfare organizations.

It’s hard to choose just one of these cool little mice from the designers at ItchyKnee. Each one is handmade from designer wool, cotton, or faux fur and stuffed with organic catnip and some polyfill to fatten them up. This small New York-based company obviously takes great care in the selection of materials for each of the products they create. Co-founded by sculptor/designer Lance Foley and architect Haruko Fukui, ItchyKnee is one company to keep an eye on for great modern cat products.

Litter box duty will never be glamorous, but with the Linda litter scoop and the Vicci cat litter box, you can feel a bit more stylish about it. The scoop comes with its own plastic container to conceal it when not in use. The elliptical Vicci litter box has a removable rim for securing box liners. These two Italian designs are made of polypropylene and are available in thirteen colors. Both can be purchased at Rocco and Jezebel and Target.com.

Inspired by watching her cat take to a corrugated cardboard chair she had made for one of her clients, designer Elizabeth Paige Smith set to work creating Kittypod, a collection of modern architectural cat furniture made from layered cardboard, reminiscent of the work of architect Frank Ghery. The first piece in the collection is the original bowl-shaped form that is raised off the floor on a maple x-base. This shape creates a form-fitting nest that is just the right depth for cats to feel comfortable in without loosing the view of their surroundings. The second design is the c-shaped Archipod, a form that provides a variety of surfaces for perching, climbing, and scratching.

Adding to the collection, Smith created two more forms made entirely of cardboard. The cradle-like design of the Couchette can be turned on either end, creating both a perch on top and a hiding spot underneath. The elegant Prrrounge is the perfect cat bench and can function equally as well for people.

All Kittypod products are made from industrial strength corrugated cardboard joined with non-toxic adhesives. Each design is rigorously tested by the designer’s cat, Simon.

One of the first companies to start creating modern cat products was San Francisco-based Everyday Studio. Founded in 2004 by designer Susan Kralovec, Everyday Studio is a design company specializing in the development of intelligent consumer products. They started by tackling one of the most necessary items for the modern cat household, the scratching post. The result is the Cat Tree, a sleek, geometric piece that works perfectly in a modern environment. The Cat Tree has a sturdy metal frame that holds the cardboard insert securely in place. It can be easily mounted to the wall or used on the floor.

Next, they created a streamlined pet dish suitable for cats. Two removable stainless steel bowls rest in a durable frame made of either steel or crystal clear acrylic. Raising the bowls off the floor makes it easier for cats to reach food and water, plus it transforms this everyday object into a pleasant addition to the modern kitchen.

At the top of the list of outstanding modern cat product designers are the people at cat-interiors. This German company creates exquisite furnishings for cats, emphasizing both design and functionality. They believe that cat furnishings, such as cat beds and scratching posts, do not need to reveal their purpose at first glance. Instead, unusual design can transform these objects into “furniture showpieces.”

In addition to creating beautifully designed objects, cat-interiors also seeks to create pieces that have been thoroughly thought-out while keeping the users (i.e. cats) in mind. One of the design criteria at cat-interiors is that cats must accept a new product, use it, and visibly show how happy they are with it.

Made with only the highest quality materials and craftsmanship, the products from cat-interiors are meant to withstand years of use. Everything is manufactured in Germany and made by hand, not in assembly line mass-production. This kind of quality and attention to detail undoubtedly results in cat furnishings that can truly be called design objects.

Cat-interiors currently offers several styles of cat beds. The various styles have an outer cover of either wicker or felt and all have a luxurious inner cushion with a custom filling developed specifically for cats. The filing is a non-allergenic flaked latex that forms a hollow when cats sit on it. All cushion covers are removable and machine washable.

One of the newest companies making modern furniture specifically for cats is Portland, Oregon-based Square Cat Habitat. Not only do they seem passionate about creating beautifully designed pieces, but they are committed to reducing their impact on the environment by using earth-friendly materials whenever possible. So far they have incorporated sustainable bamboo plywood, water-based finishes, and recycled packaging materials into their products.

The product line includes Bastet (pictured above) a multi-use piece combining perch, bed, scratching surface, and play station. Additional pieces are the Buddha wall-mounted shelf perch and Itch, an attractive scratching surface that can be mounted on the wall or used on the floor. All three items make use of removable carpet inserts that are easy to clean and replace, plus they offer an alternative to cardboard scratchers, which can make such a mess.

All products are made in the USA and can be purchased at the Square Cat Habitat web site. This company seems to be off to a good start. I look forward to seeing what they come out with next.

Itch and Buddha are both currently available at Amazon.