Each year Design*Sponge offers a scholarship program to provide financial assistance to art and design students. The scholarship focuses on product/furniture design, graphic/pattern/surface design, textiles, ceramics and interior design. This year one of the winners, Sharon Levy, included this design for cats in her portfolio. The assignment was to design a pet product and Sharon chose for her inspiration the modular systems of prefab homes. Sharon’s portfolio outlines her research and development of this concept, including target consumer, competitive product analysis, concept sketches, “user” research, use of materials, product details, and final presentation. Her final concept, called Dwell Habi-kat, is a set of modular wall-mounted components made from environmentally-friendly industrial felt. Still just a student concept, the Dwell Habi-kat is not in production, but I wish it was! Sharon definitely gets an A+ from me!

Beauty and creativity come together in this incredible line of products for living with cats by Dutch designer Marly Gommans. The collection, called ‘Cats in Style,’ includes a scratching post, a covered litter box, a pillow bed, and a concept for a cat door.

Made using natural materials like wool felt and sisal rope, these pieces are eco-conscious in addition to being beautiful and functional.

Another Moderncat favorite from the Global Pet Expo was the streamlined and stylish CatVantage modular cat tree system. There are lots of great things to call-out about this product. First, it’s designed to take up very little floor space by extending between the floor and ceiling with a unique, modular design that can fit ceilings up to 10 feet. Also, the products used in the CatVantage are earth-friendly, using 100% recycled PVC for the components of the central column with carpet-covered birch steps.

The pieces of the tree fit together to form a sturdy staircase leading to a large loft at the top. An optional sisal scratching pad can be attached to the tree and the company is currently working on other add-on components.

The PVC and birch model (shown to the right above) is currently available by calling the folks at CatVantage. They are also developing an all-wood version (pictured in the video above) that will be out later this year.

This month, we are thrilled to be giving away the newly designed cat tree from the folks at TrendyCat. This beautiful and practical cat tree is like nothing you’ve seen before. It has two levels with large 16″ by 18″ cushioned perching shelves. The shelf supports are sisal covered scratching posts, with the tallest one measuring 30″ for maximum kitty stretching. It has a solid base for stability and is constructed with high quality bolts–no staples!

Like all the other TrendyCat products, the new cat tree is made of sustainable bamboo and birch hardwoods, and is finished with a durable, non-toxic satin finish. TrendyCat products never contain particle board or MDF and each one is handcrafted in the USA.

The winner will get to choose either the natural or the caramel finish. Sign-up now for your chance to win this terrific giveaway! (This giveaway can only be shipped to the US or Canada.)

At the expo, I visited the crew from West Paw Design who just added some cute cat toys to their eco-friendly offerings. Made from the same IntelliLoft fabric used in their Eco Nap pet beds, these toys are soft, durable, and stuffed with organic catnip. Just like everything from West Paw, the toys are made in the good old USA.

Available directly from West Paw Design.

This unique pet bed provides a cozy cave-like napping spot for kitty and gives you peace of mind with its eco-friendly materials. The Bella Bed by Bella Creature Comforts features an unusual baffle design that conforms to your pet’s body, providing comfort and support. The exterior is made from Eco2 recycled cotton fiber and the interior fiberfill is recycled PET. All materials are hypoallergenic and washable. Available in a variety of color combinations and sizes, the small bed is perfect for cats.

Buy it now at The Cat Connection.

If you’re looking for eco-friendly options in cat towers as well as clean, contemporary design, then these models from TrendyCat may be just the thing for you. Handmade in the USA from solid bamboo with absolutely no particle board or MDF, the TrendyCat towers are some of the greenest cat furniture I’ve come across. The towers are available in three sizes ranging from 3 feet to 5 feet tall, and come in two finishes, the lighter natural color and a darker caramel color, which is actually produced by caramelizing the bamboo during the manufacturing process, not simply by staining it. The bamboo is finished with non-toxic satin polyurethane.

The medium and tall towers shown above both include two cantilevered sisal-covered shelves, perfect for perching or scratching. Replacement shelves can be purchased separately if the sisal becomes worn over time. All three models, including the small tower, have padded cushions, which are also replaceable.

These towers are a bit of an investment, but they offer the kind of quality that is sure to last for many years.

Available directly from TrendyCat.

Brand new from Marmalade Pets, introducing the Wall Flower cardboard scratcher. This sleek design can be used on the floor, or purchase the wall clips (sold separately) for mounting to a vertical surface. The elegant curves give the Wall Flower a sculptural form while also providing a sturdy scratching surface. Made with recyclable cardboard and non-toxic adhesives, just like the scratcher beds, also from Marmalade Pets, the Wall Flower comes in blue, orange, or green. Available at Muttropolis.

This simultaneously ancient and futuristic form is the creation of British designer Andrew Viccari. It reminds me of something you might find at Paolo Soleri’s Arcosanti. Made from a unique form of hand-pulped paper maché, the petpod provides a cozy dome for kitty to curl-up in. Artistic, functional, and environmentally-friendly–a perfect combination.

Another find at the SuperZoo pet expo, was the Eco Nap pet mat from West Paw Design. These earth-friendly pet mats are handcrafted in Bozeman, Montana and made from fabric milled in the U.S. using 85% post-consumer recycled plastic. In other words, soda bottles. Even the inside filling uses recycled content. Each one of these beds actually keeps up to 40 soda bottles from going into the landfill. The fabric is extremely soft, but also durable and machine washable.

Buy the Eco Nap Mat now at Amazon

The smooth curves and irresistible textures of these cardboard scratcher beds from Marmalade Pet Care will be sure to please even the finickiest moderncat. Made from heavy-weight corrugated cardboard with hardboard outer walls, these beds come in two different styles. The swooping slide of the Cheeky Chaise and the continuous form of the Sweet Lounge both provide plenty of scratching surface, plus they create concave resting spots, perfect for a cat nap. These beds are handcrafted in the US and are made from renewable and recyclable materials.

Buy the Cheeky Chaise and the Sweet Lounge now at Amazon

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

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.