As we all know, there are lots of dangers awaiting our beloved pet cats when they venture outdoors. But we also know how hard it can be to watch kitty as she looks longingly out the window, wishing she could play in the grass and get a breath of fresh air. One possible solution is to build a catio, an enclosed outdoor area that is safe for cats, usually attaching to a home or enclosing a portion of the yard. Catios come in all different sizes and styles and people everywhere are building these structures to keep their precious pets safe.
There is a wealth of informaion available about catio design, but it has been scattered across countless websites until now. I’d like to introduce you to a brand new website, Catio Showcase. This site provides a single source for catio design and construction. Catio Showcase features cat enclosure projects from around the world that will inspire you to design a catio for your feline friends. Whatever your style, your skill level, or your budget, there will be something for you, so check it out and sign-up to receive email updates so you can see all the latest projects as they post. And if you have a catio design of your own, we welcome photo submissions so you can share your ideas with others. Visit Catio Showcase for info on how to submit your project.
Catio Showcase is a new venture by yours truly, Moderncat. Not everything on Catio Showcase will be modern, but I’ll be sure to cross-post any modern designs that I find.
Exciting news! My very own condo was featured on Apartment Therapy today as part of their pet design month! Take a look at the article and be sure to check out the house tour gallery.
Moderncat reader Colin from Vancouver sent in photos of this excellent cat climbing tower that he and his father recently designed and built. Discouraged by the unattractive carpet-covered climbers, Colin and his wife decided that they wanted something better for their two cats Yama and Kumo.
Constructed out of pine and finished with an eco-friendly non-toxic stain, the sleek tower has been nicknamed “The Catsle.” Final cost for this elegant structure was $200 Canadian.
As with any piece of cat furniture, there’s always a risk of rejection. Colin writes, “While we were building it, we tried not to think about the fact that the cats might not like it.The big pay off came when my wife and I moved it indoors and the cats instantly jumped onto it and started to play.” Sounds like a success to me!
See more photos and videos of Colin’s Custom Kitty Catsle in his Flickr set.
Had to share this awesome pattern for a DIY cardboard cat chaise originally posted at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. Since we all know that cats love cardboard, why not try your hand at making one of these for your moderncat?
Complete instructions with photos are provided along with a downloadable pdf pattern. The design can be easily modified to fit into any decor including a modern home. If you come-up with a great modern variation, please send in the photos and I’ll post them!
5-month old Abyssinian Blue, Zidane is a very lucky kitten. First, because he lives with his parents Cybelle and Davide in this beautiful modern loft in San Francisco, and second, because his mom and dad built these shelves especially for him to traverse from the kitchen to the bedroom.
And this project didn’t even involve a trip to IKEA, just some regular shelves with brackets from the hardware store, topped with 15 sample Flor tiles.
I came across an excellent post about another DIY cat climber project using the Bjarnum shelves, but this time the shelves are covered with pieces of a rough-textured rug to keep kitty from sliding off. Nice touch!
The original post gives all the details on exactly how to make these shelves yourself, complete with excellent photos. There are even plans for the next phase of the project.
WARNING: There is just a little bit of inappropriate language in the original post, but the project was so well documented, I had to share it with you.
The folks over at Katt-Trappa posted this really cool cat ladder from Germany. Most designs on Katt-Trappa are custom, so you probably can’t buy one of these, but if you’re crafty, you could make one yourself.
Here’s another cat-friendly DIY project from IKEA Hacker, this time using the Stolmen clothes storage system components to create a minimal and extremely functional cat climber. This design makes great use of vertical space — perfect for small homes. Read more about this project here.
Check out this great article on CatChannel.com for some excellent advice on customizing your home to suit both your cat and your sense of style. Writer Stacy Mantle points our several things to keep in mind, including architectural details, flooring choices, cat-friendly outdoor enclosures, and automated home products like litter boxes, water fountains, and pet feeders. She reminds us that there are many ways to make your house cat-friendly while preserving its resale value!
Easily create your own customized kitty stairway using the simple Bjarnum/Jarpen shelf system from IKEA. The shelves can be cut to any length and the cut edge is concealed by the sturdy metal hardware that attaches the shelf to the wall.
This project was originally posted on Flickr by Jujuo (being demonstrated by his beautiful cats Juju and Toy) and it was also blogged at two of my favorite sites, Katt-Trappa and IKEA Hacker.
Here are some fun FREE cat toys from Marmalade Pet Care. Just download the free templates and use them to make some snazzy 3-D cardboard shapes that kitty will just love.
Craft maven Martha Stewart comes through again with two more DIY cat items. This time we have a heated cat bed and this woodsy cat tree. Both are certainly minimal and could fit nicely into a modern home. The cat tree would definitely make a good conversation piece. Directions for both are on marthastewart.com.
Who better to come up with a DIY cat toy than the master herself, Martha Stewart. Instructions and templates for making these felt cat toys can be found at marthastewart.com.
Thanks to Moderncat reader John for sending in photos of a great DIY project that he and his wife tackled. They decided to extend a wall in their bedroom, creating a separate area for a window seat and, at the same time, adding some architectural details designed for their cat Lupe. The idea was to integrate the cat-friendly elements in such a way that they would not be obvious.
The project includes a long shelf above the bed connected to another shelf inside the alcove by three small square windows. These windows allow Lupe to pass through the wall at ceiling height, something every cat would love to do. Both shelves are carpeted for Lupe’s comfort. Three small shelves in the alcove provide steps to reach the upper level. Halogen lights covered with glass shades create a toasty napping spot on the shelf in the alcove.
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.
