There’s a new player in the modern cat furniture world and so far I love what I see. PDL Cat designs handcrafted modern cat furnishings, and they just launched with a collection of gorgeous eco-friendly scratchers. These beauties are made with sustainable bamboo plywood and hand finished with natural oil. The scratching surface is all natural sisal rope and each scratcher design has rubber feet to grip hard floors. The scratchers ship flat and fit together quickly and easily with high-quality European connecting hardware. These are truly quality pieces that are designed to last and look beautiful in your home.

There are currently four designs: the Washboard, for kitties who like a horizontal scratching surface; the Feline Incline for angled scratching; the Pylon measuring 31 inches tall; and at 36 inches tall, the ultimate sctatcher, the Obelisk.

We were lucky enough to test the Pylon and it is a new favorite in the Moderncat household. As you can see, Ando not only loves to scratch on the sisal rope, but he enjoys sitting on the large and sturdy base, like a little stage. I love the bamboo plywood and the details of these pieces are very architectural.

The new PDL Cat scratchers are available from the PDL Cat Etsy shop. Prices range from $90 to $320. All of the PDL Cat products are handcrafted in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m really looking forward to seeing what other designs they create in the future.

Snap-up some super cute, eco-friendly cat toys from Go Pet Design with a special Labor Day savings coupon! Use coupon code LABORDOG when ordering today at the Go Pet Design Etsy shop and get 20% off your whole order.

There are lots of cute cat toys to choose from, all with an earth-conscious twist. Go Pet’s Scrappy Rats are all made with salvaged designer materials including cute prints and colorful felt, each delivered in the coolest eco-friendly packaging.

And don’t forget kitty’s favorite Paca Pet from Go Pet made with 100% organic alpaca wool from US farms. These little toys can take a beating, but all it takes is one machine wash and dry cycle and it’s as good as new.

We don’t like to let anything go to waste at Moderncat Studio! Certain cat food bags — in addition to being cute and colorful — are made of a durable, crunchy plastic material that makes a great addition to cat toys. Kitties love the sound and the texture, so we figured we’d take advantage of that. Check out our newest creation — Junk Food Flyers!

As you can see, Ando really likes to nom these little toys. He picks them up with his paw or in his mouth and zings them across the room. They are made with funky shapes cut from clean recycled cat food bags sewn together with a colorful piece of felt. No two toys are the same! We call them Junk Food Flyers because they’re colorful like candy and crunchy like potato chips.

The new Junk Food Flyers are available in the Moderncat Studio Etsy shop for just $5 for a set of 5 toys in assorted colors. And remember, we have a special Labor Day coupon code that’s good through Monday, Sept 5, 2011. Enter coupon code SEPTEMBER10 in the Etsy check out and get 10% off your whole order! (Enter the coupon code in the Etsy shopping cart. Look for the blue link that says “Apply shop coupon code” on the right side. You’ll need to click “Apply” after you enter the code.)

Cement and cardboard. It doesn’t get any more Moderncat than that! This is the brand new Skiitch modern cat scratching post from the designers at Kassen, and I’m completely in love. Designed in the style of Brutalist architecture, Skiitch is made with roughly angled heavy-duty corrugated cardboard mounted on a sturdy cement base. Measuring 32 inches tall, Skiitch looks like it would really take a beating from the toughest of cats, all the while looking like an incredible piece of modernist sculpture in your living room.

Skiitch will set you back $145, but that includes shipping to the US and Canada, which can’t be inexpensive with a 20 lb. cement base. Cardboard replacements are apparently available separately.

via MocoLoco

We have a very exciting giveaway this month! It’s Square Cat Habitat’s brand new product, the new Acacia cat tree, a smaller version of the Baobab. Both are beautiful sculptural forms that look amazing in a modern home. The original Baobab is five feet tall and the Acacia is three feet tall. It’s the perfect size for any space and the cats absolutely love it.

The Acacia has three platforms, two “branches” for climbing and one large “treetop” for lounging. The platforms have recessed carpet inserts to prevent kitty from slipping. You can choose from a huge variety of colors and textures to match your decor perfectly and the inserts are easy to clean and replace if necessary. The Acacia and Baobab are both available in three different finishes: black or white low-pressure laminate over Arreis sustainable design fiberboard, or Plyboo architectural plywood made from 100% renewable bamboo.

EXTRA CHANCE TO WIN!

The November giveaway winner will receive an Acacia cat tree in either black or white laminate with their choice of carpet inserts. To enter the monthly giveaway, make sure you’re signed-up to receive Moderncat updates via email. If you’re already getting the updates but you’d like an EXTRA chance to win this month, please leave a comment on this post. Complete details on the monthly giveaway here. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on November 30. This giveaway includes free shipping to addresses in the US. International readers are welcome to enter if you are willing to pay the extra shipping charges.

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative for your tree hugging moderncat, then these beautiful cat trees, perches and scratchers from CatsPlay.com might be the thing for you. Made from 100% solid red cedar with no particle board, plywood, carpet or adhesives, these are some of the greenest cat products I’ve seen.

Each item is individually handcrafted and the surface of the tree is scraped and hand shaped to make it safe for kitty, while maintaining its natural appearance. The wood is not sealed so it continues to release a natural cedar scent. Cedar is a perfect scratching material for cats because it is hard enough for a satisfying scratch but not so hard that it will splinter. Kitty can really dig her claws in!

Little details like perches, baskets, ping pong ball “mouse holes,” and natural feather toys add fun and functionality for kitty.

Choose from a huge variety of styles, from 6 foot tall cat trees to freestanding scratching posts. Each piece is a unique work of art made by skilled craftsmen. Prices range from $75 to $460.

Visit CatsPlay.com to see all the different styles.

Tree-hugging moderncats rejoice! This month we’ve got a great giveaway just for you! The wonderful folks over at Mountain Cat Trees are offering one of their beautiful, eco-friendly, handcrafted cat trees for the monthly giveaway. I first wrote about Mountain Cat Trees last year, and showed you all of their wonderful scratchers and cat trees made of natural materials that kitties love. They use real trees with the bark removed and natural sisal. Everything is handmade in Massachusetts using trees that are locally harvested from downed trees or timber cutting and forest management. Now that’s really green!

Mountain Cat Trees is offering a 36-inch two-level cat tree (retail value $155) to one lucky winner. To enter the monthly giveaway, make sure you’re signed-up to receive Moderncat updates via email. If you’re already getting the updates but you’d like an EXTRA chance to win this month, please leave a comment on this post. Complete details on the monthly giveaway here. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on August 31. Due to shipping costs, this giveaway includes free shipping to addresses in the US only.

Here’s another new set of hip kitty toys from Moderncat Studio — Atomic Flyers Merino Wool Felt Cat Toys with Organic Catnip. These are a personal favorite of mine, as I’ve been working on bringing the pieces together for a while now. The toys are cut from absolutely gorgeous, thick 100% Merino wool, in vibrant non-toxic retro colors. Each toy is the perfect size and shape for zipping across the floor. Especially good for wood or concrete floors!

Merino wool is an eco-friendly, all natural, renewable material that appeals to cats. Kitty will love the texture and you’ll love the colors and shapes as they create a little art installation on your living room floor.

Atomic Flyers come in a set of four, one of each shape and one of each color – chocolate brown, lime green, lemon yellow, and retro orange — all packaged in a little tin and sprinkled with organic catnip. Color/shape combination will vary, making each set is a little different. Toys measure approximately 2″ to 2 1/2″ across and 3/16″ thick. Designed and handmade by yours truly.

$10 for a tin of four toys with catnip. Available at the Moderncat Studio Etsy Shop. NOTE: If your cat doesn’t like catnip, you can order a set with out the nip.

Eco-conscious kitties can dine in style with the Whisker-Wide Bowl from Big Shrimpy. This beautiful dish is made from 100% recycled glass and the low, wide design keeps delicate whiskers from rubbing on the side of the bowl.

Choose from green or grey. Available from The Cat Connection, AllPetFurniture.com and Puutty Power.

Here’s a great new idea for moderncat lovers who really want to go green. Molly Meow is a new line of eco-conscious pet bedding that helps you reuse old items to create a new and super stylish bed for your cat.

First, start with the Molly Meow Stuff Sack. This large mesh bags allows you to create the bed lining from old clothes, towels, and blankets. Simply fill the bag with all those things that were going to be donated or tossed, then put the loaded Stuff Sack inside one of the Molly Meow Duvet Covers and you’ve got a beautiful new bed. Because the Stuff Sack is made of durable, washable mesh, when it’s time to clean the bedding, just remove the cover and throw the whole stuff sack into the wash. Easy!

The Duvet Covers are also completely washable and made of pre-shrunk 100% cotton. They come in two cute designer fabrics, Bird on a Wire and La Vie en Rose.

The Stuff Sacks come in round or square and sell for $10 US. The Duvet Covers are also available in round or square and sell for $20 US. You can also get a DIY kit that includes one Stuff Sack and two Duvet Covers for $50 US. Since you provide the stuffing, they are very affordable!

BONUS GIVEAWAY! ENTER TO WIN!

Molly Meow is giving away one round Stuff Sack with a La Vie en Rose Duvet Cover! To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winner will be selected in a random drawing on June 14. One entry per person. This giveaway includes free shipping to all addresses.

In keeping with our scratching theme, I’d like to share with you these elegantly simple and unique scratching posts that offer some different materials for scratching. Natural Scratch is a line of handcrafted scratching posts made of solid natural cork or solid white cedar wood. As we saw in the photos last week, lots of cats like to scratch on wood, so this may be the perfect solution.

Both the cork and the cedar scratchers have incredibly sturdy bases made of red cedar. The cedar post measures 32″ tall and the cork post comes in both 24″ and 32″. These posts have some really great details, designed to entice your cat to scratch, including the antenna toy made of stretchy string, and a “mouse hole” at the top. You can poke the antenna toy through the hole or hide treats or other toys so kitty will reach up to investigate and then dig her claws into the post.

The wood post is made with Wisconsin-grow Northern white cedar. This wood has a nice rough texture that cats love, plus it is very soft, so they can really sink their claws in. The company says that in all the years they’ve been making these posts, no one has ever reported a cat getting a sliver in a paw.

They sent us one of the cork posts to test, and as you can see, it is a big hit. It took a while for them to get used to the new material, but the toy at the top really helped attract them to the post. It gets a lot of use now, and although some crumbs flake off each time it gets clawed, you can barely see any wear. A little vacuuming cleans-up the cork bits. I think we will get many, many years of use out of this scratcher. And the cats especially love how tall it is, they can really get in a good stretch, as Ando and Theo are both demonstrating above.

Natural Scratch just came out with a line of horizontal scratchers, too, in both cork and cedar. They also have the string toy attached, as well as some holes that you can fill with catnip.

All Natural Scratch products come with a booklet with lots of helpful tips for training your cat to use the scratching post.

BONUS GIVEAWAY!

Natural Scratch is offering a 32-inch cork post for one lucky winner! To enter, please leave a comment on this post with your thoughts about the Natural Scratch products. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on May 16. One entry per person. This giveaway includes free shipping to the lower 48 states. Readers outside this region may enter if they are willing to pay the extra shipping charges.

These solid cardboard scratchers from CardboardDesign are the perfect way to add a little fun to your living room while giving kitty a place to take out her frustrations, instead of on the sofa. Choose from Standing Dog, Bunny, or Alligator. Each one comes with a cardboard carrying case and some catnip to sprinkle on the scratcher to get kitty’s attention, but I’m sure the cardboard will be a cat magnet right away.

$49 US. Available at CardboardDesign.com.

I’m very excited to share with you the first in a new line of products from my very own Moderncat Studio! Introducing Wave, a modern door-hanging cardboard cat scratcher. This scratcher, along with several other products that will be unveiled in the coming weeks, was designed in collaboration with the team at Juggernaut Design. I’ve been working closely with them to come-up with some unique concepts for cat products that are both modern and functional. We really thought about materials and craftsmanship as well as what would make the products irresistible to cats.

Wave is a sleek door-hanging cardboard scratcher that looks more like modern art than a cat product. In addition to being stylish, Wave is also eco-friendly and cat-friendly. Unlike most cardboard scratchers that are constructed with glue, Wave is held together with compression, eliminating the need for any adhesive. This also allows you to easily replace the cardboard when it becomes worn. Simply remove the used cardboard pieces from the reusable aluminum frame and replace with a new cardboard refill. The anodized aluminum frame hangs from all styles of doorknobs and has a silicone doorknob protector. Overall, Wave measures 17.25″ x 3.5″ x 1.125″ and the cardboard scratch pad is 14.25″ x 3.25″.

Wave is available from the Moderncat Studio Etsy shop for $45 US and replacement cardboard can be ordered for $20. These scratchers are completely fabricated in Phoenix, Arizona and assembled by hand by yours truly. International shipping is available, see the Etsy listing for pricing.

This month we have another great giveaway from our new eco-conscious friends at Purr Post! For the May monthly giveaway, one lucky reader will receive a Purr Post deluxe Perch. At 24″ inches tall, the Purr Post Perch gives kitty plenty of room to stretch and scratch on the supporting column and a nice high perch, perfect for lounging and playing. The stainless aluminum platform and base are both covered with natural wool carpeting, much better than the formaldehyde-filled carpeting on low-quality perches, plus the round shape distributes weight more evenly than square or odd-shaped platforms, making the Purr Post Perch more stable. The bottom has non-skid natural cork padding to protect floors and the central column is made from sturdy, 100% post-consumer paperboard tube covered in natural sisal. And of course, the adhesives used are zero to less than 1% VOC.

EXTRA CHANCE TO WIN!

To enter the monthly giveaway, make sure you’re signed-up to receive Moderncat updates via email. If you’re already getting the updates but you’d like an EXTRA chance to win this month, please leave a comment on this post. Complete details on the monthly giveaway here. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on May 31. This giveaway is open to addresses in the US only.

If you want to be really green this Earth Day, you could try toilet training your cat and kicking the litter habit altogether! I still have yet to try this, but I’ve read so many testimonials saying that it’s the best thing ever, I have to see if it works.

One of the best resources out there for helping you teach your cats how to use the toilet is Kick Litter, the entertaining little guidebook from Moxie and Cooper who both kicked litter themselves. The book comes with a free poster outlining the easy-to-follow “nine step intervention program” for toilet training your cat.

. . .

Note: Toilet training cats can be controversial because some research has shown that there may be a link between a parasite sometimes found in cat feces and harm being caused to sea otters on the West coast of the US. However, further research shows that if you are able to verify that your cat does not have the parasite, that flushing cat feces is not a problem. For more info, please read this post.

Enter to Win! Nine Winners!

We have enough copies of Kick Litter for nine lucky winners, one for each of the nine-steps! These books will not only be signed by the author, Perre DiCarlo, but they will be accompanied by a very special certificate of completion designed just for Moderncat readers! To enter, please leave a comment on this post. The winners will be chosen in a random drawing on April 29. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere.

I had to post this in anticipation of Earth Day! This serious piece of cat climbing furniture comes from the eco-friendly folks at The Sustainability Workshop in Ithaca, NY. “Part sculpture, part cat gym, part contribution to a green and sustainable future,” this unique cat tower is made from re-purposed cardboard (originally used to ship solar panels), diverting a huge amount of cardboard from the landfill.

You can purchase a kit that you construct using your own central pole cut to the right height. The kit includes the components and cardboard sections, which can be rotated around the pole in any configuration.

The kit sells for $375 US on the Sustainability Workshop’s Etsy shop. They say that the cardboard is the highest quality and will last for years. This tower would be quite the conversation piece in an eco-conscious moderncat home, and I’m sure the cats would love it!

Thanks to Jenny for the find.

With Earth Day less than a week away, this is the perfect time to introduce a brand new company that may be producing some of the greenest cat products on the market. Introducing Purr Post, Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer of eco-friendly cat furniture including posts, perches, scratchers and more. All of the Purr Post products are made using organic and natural materials that have been carefully researched. Solid bamboo, stainless aluminum, and natural sisal are combined to create beautiful products that both you and your cat will love. All products are made in the USA.

I’m really impressed with the amount of research that has clearly gone into every aspect of the Purr Post products, including the finishes and adhesives used. This company is obviously dedicated to being environmentally-friendly and cat-friendly. They pay attention to details, right down to the office paper they use!

BONUS GIVEAWAY! Enter to Win A Purr Post Scratcher!

Purr Post is offering one of their bamboo and sisal scratchers for a special Earth Day giveaway! These scratchers are made of solid bamboo with water-based varnish and a natural sisal scratching surface. The scratchers are backed with non-skid natural cork to protect floors. The winner will get to choose either the darker caramel finish or the lighter natural finish.

To enter the giveaway, please visit the Purr Post website to read a little more about the company, then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling us what you think. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on Earth Day, April 22. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to addresses in the US and Canada.

The folks at The Organic Farm Store are celebrating Earth Day by announcing their brand new biodegradable packaging! Not only is their Close To Naturenow cat litter organic, now even the packaging is green.

This completely biodegradable natural litter is made from soybean meal and potato starch. It provides excellent odor control, low tracking, and superior clumping. Unlike clay litters — which are devastating to the environment and can cause horrible health problems in cats and kittens (read more here) — Close To Naturenow is a healthy, environmentally-friendly choice for cat litter.

PLEDGE TO GO GREEN AND ENTER TO WIN!

From biodiesel-fueled mobile clinics to facilities built using green design, there are lots of animal shelters worldwide that are going green! The Organic Farm Store has put together a list of some eco-friendly animal shelters in the US and Canada. Check it out, then come back here and leave a comment on this post with info about what your animal shelter is doing to go green, or let us know what you plan to do this year in honor of Earth Day (maybe it’s time to pledge to stop using that clay litter!)

Two winners will be selected in a random drawing on Earth Day, April 22. Each winner will receive an 18 lb. bag of Close To Naturenow Organic Cat Litter in the new biodegradable bag. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to addresses in the US and Canada.

West Paw Design just released several fresh new colors of their Eco Nap Mat. This pet bed is not only stylish, but it’s very earth-friendly. 85% of the fabric is from recycled plastic water bottles, but you’d never know it because it is incredibly soft! Available in several sizes, machine washable and made in the USA.

Check out all the other eco-friendly cat products at West Paw Design.

I love this new scratcher/lounger from DKcat! It’s so sleek and modern, plus, like all DKcat products, it uses reclaimed, eco-friendly, and healthy materials. The craftsmanship is exquisite and the tan and grey carpet tile would look great in a modern interior. Very nice!

Available from the DKcat Etsy shop or directly from the DKcat website for $89 US.

A while back I showed you the Banana Leaf Cat Cave. Here are two more additions to the banana leaf line, this time raised up high on a sisal wrapped pedestal that can be used as a scratching post. Lots of kitties love to perch up high and these beds can be moved anywhere to accommodate an afternoon nap.

The Banana Leaf Pedestal Cave Cat Bedsells for $89.99 US and the Banana Leaf Pedestal Cat Bedis on sale right now for $63.74 US (regularly $74.99), both at Meijer.com.

What moderncat doesn’t love a nice homemade toy that helps reduce the impact on the landfill? Well, as soon as your cat reads this, he’ll be asking you for one of these toys from Etsy seller Marvelous Melissa. She makes two different kinds of eco-friendly cats toys: Three Blind Mice and darn!socks, both of which are extremely popular with the eco-conscious feline crowd.

Three Blind Mice are made with felted scraps of old wool sweaters rolled into little mice with organic catnip inside. Perfect for carrying and batting around. Darn!Socks are made from holey old socks, bound for the trash, but instead reincarnated as adorable mice, just the right size for bunny kicking. These guys are filled with organic catnip, a bit of recycled crinkly plastic, a few pistachio shells (for a good crunch), and recycled wool sweater lint. It doesn’t get any more eco-friendly than that!

Enter to Win! Bonus Giveaway, Five Winners, Winner’s Choice!

Marvelous Melissa is offering five winners each their choice of either a set of Three Blind Mice or a darn!socks cat toy. Please leave a comment on this post to enter. The five winners will be chosen in a random drawing on November 17 and notified via email. One entry per person. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere. Now that’s marvelous!

One of the new products that I found at the the SuperZoo Pet Expo last month is the new eco-friendly pulp scratch lounger from Bergan Pet Products. As you can see, Ando is enjoying the lounger that Bergan sent us to test out. He approves.

This unique scratcher/lounger is made from paper pulp, like the kind of material egg crates are made of. It’s no wonder Ando loves the lounger, egg crates are one of his most favorite things! He loves to chew them to bits and shoot little pieces all over the place. Because of that, I was worried that he would immediately destroy the Bergan lounger, but he only took one little bite (he has to taste everything), then settled down to enjoy the curvy lounging surface. I think he has a little more respect for it that he would have for a plain old egg crate.

So there are some really exciting things about this product. First, it is the perfect size for the cats to sit on (as Ando demostrates) and the textures seem to be really attractive to cats. Second, it is an extremely eco-friendly product. The paper pulp is made from 100% postconsumer waste, which, according to Bergan, is “fiber from paper that has been used for its intended end purpose, including office waste paper, magazines, and newsprint.” Did you know that forty percent of garbage is paper? That’s a lot of material that can be diverted from the landfill to make these scratchers! And Bergan assures us that the scratcher/lounger is made using no harmful glues or chemicals. And finally, another super-terrific thing about this product — it’s $9.99! I’m not sure they are going to be able to make these fast enough.

I think the natural eco-friendly texture of paper pulp and the simple lines of the scratcher/lounger would fit in nicely with any decorating style, especially an eco-chic mod interior. At this price, even if the cats shred the thing in a couple of months, it’s easy to toss it in the recycling bin and get a replacement.

UPDATE: Now available from Amazon for just $9.99.

ENTER TO WIN! 5 WINNERS!

But have no fear, I’ve got not one, but FIVE Bergan pulp scratch loungers to giveaway! Please leave a comment on this post with your thoughts on the new pulp lounger and you’ll be entered to win. Five winners will be chosen in a random drawing on October 19 and notified via email. This giveaway is limited to addresses in the US and Canada.

If you appreciate a fine wine as much as you do a fabulous feline, then check out these pet feeders and beds from Whiner & Diner. Each one is handcrafted from authentic wooden wine crates. The raised feeders come in single-, double-, and triple-bowl styles, each with removable dishwasher-safe stainless steel bowls. Choose from six different color finishes.

The beds are outfitted with a fluffy pillow and also come in a variety of finishes. What a stylish way to show your passion for vino and help reduce contributions to the landfill!

Moderncat reader Stephanie sent in these photos of her cats with some truly eco-friendly cat toys. Stephanie recently purchased a FURminator and gave her kitties Miko and Rodney a good grooming, resulting in lots of loose fur. Instead of throwing it out, Stephanie rolled the fur into tight little balls that have the texture of felt, and voila! free, recycled cat toys that are not only durable and fun to play with, but they match each cat perfectly! Miko and Rodney love them!

Stephanie says that if the kitties give the hairballs too many bunny kicks, all you have to do is roll each toy in your hands to re-form the ball. You can even add a little catnip in the middle of the ball for extra fun.