Here are a couple of my own DIY projects that I just completed. Above are photos of an installation I did at my vet’s office (Dreamy Draw Cat Hospital in Phoenix – hi, Dr. Oyan!) I used FLOR carpet tiles to cover the front of the check-in desk, creating a vertical scratching surface. Office cat [...]
Continue reading...29. January 2009
Here’s a new one from IKEA Hacker. It’s an adaptation of the Duktig doll bed for use as a sturdy cat bed, designed especially for a slightly hefty tabby, Titina. Titina’s mom Paola bought two Hedda Rak cushion covers and sewed them to the correct size to make removable, washable covers for the existing doll [...]
Continue reading...18. January 2009
An excellent way to be thrifty and eco-conscious is to use old cardboard boxes to make your own scratching pad. Here’s a great design for a homemade kitty scratching pad found over at Design*Sponge.
Continue reading...18. January 2009
Here’s a nice moderncat IKEA hack from Joachim in Stockholm. The project uses the good old Bjarnum brackets and Jarpen shelves (in oak) topped off with pieces of an IKEA wool carpet. On the very top shelf sits an IKEA Bastis cat bed, which is, I’m guessing, the most coveted spot in the house. More [...]
Continue reading...12. January 2009
Jake and Karen from Brooklin, Ontario created these custom climbing and perching platforms for their cats, Suzy and Odie. The platforms are made from 3/4″ stained oak veneer plywood. Extra care went into creating the joints to make the platforms extremely sturdy (check out the close-ups below) plus they routed out the surface so the [...]
Continue reading...5. January 2009
Remember Ben & Stu? Well, their mom Brieanne (creator of the DIY charging station) decided that the boys needed a private space to chill out so she got creative again and made them a cozy cubby using one of the compartments in her bookshelf. All it took was a fleece blanket for a bed and [...]
Continue reading...29. December 2008
Do you remember Colin’s Custom Kitty Catsle? Well, Sari from Helsinki, Finland was so inspired by Colin’s creation that she made one of her own for her Egyptian Mau named Mauno. Sari used the same structure but painted hers and added some fun grass stickers. Great work, Sari and thanks to Colin for the inspiration! [...]
Continue reading...20. October 2008
This project to convert an IKEA organizer into a charging station (for all those electronic gadgets) originally appeared in ReadyMade Magazine, but thanks to Moderncat reader Brieanne, here we have a terrific cat-friendly variation. Since Brieanne’s cats like to chew on cords, she and her husband decided that this would be a good project for [...]
Continue reading...4. October 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...24. September 2008
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.
Continue reading...21. September 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...30. August 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...17. August 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...13. July 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...30. June 2008
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.
Continue reading...10. June 2008
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.
Continue reading...11. February 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...29. January 2008
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 [...]
Continue reading...8. January 2008
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. Thanks, Marmalade!
Continue reading...11. December 2007
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.
Continue reading...26. November 2007
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 Jannie for the tip!
Continue reading...24. October 2007
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 [...]
Continue reading...22. August 2007
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 [...]
22. February 2009
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