New from the U.K. comes a unique approach to indoor climbing — the Hicat climbing system. Designed with a cat’s natural climbing instincts in mind, this system of products includes vertical climbing elements that extend from floor to ceiling.

The clean contemporary forms are available in a variety of configurations and textures. The larger vertical element can include access holes and internal shelves, kind of like a tree hole for napping or surveying the living room.

Hicat is not yet available, but it can be pre-ordered now and is expected to ship in the U.K. sometime around August 2008. The manufacturer is currently seeking U.S. distribution.

Have you ever wished for furniture that is both beautiful and durable — durable enough for kitty? Your wish has been granted! Introducing a new line of living room furniture from Cat Livin’. Covered in high-quality sisal, these pieces are designed to withstand feline abuse while maintaining their good looks. In collaboration with furniture manufacturer Viesso, Cat Livin’ has created a completely customizable collection, starting with this attractive ottoman. Available in 17 colors with a variety of leg designs, you can create one to match your decor perfectly. And you won’t have to wait a lifetime to receive your custom order, you will have it just three weeks after you place an order.

Industrial Designer Sandy Lam took notice of how cats love to play with curtains and used it as inspiration for her new product concept, Catain, a curtain for cats. The modular curtain is made from square panels that attach with Velcro. Assemble the squares however you like and use Catain as a curtain or room divider.

Panel designs include:

1. Chain panel that lets cats walk through from one side to the other
2. Domed panel where cats can hide or nap
3. Burlap and felt combo for a texture sensation
4. Dangling catnip mice for hours of entertainment
5. Pockets with refillable catnip pouches
6. Woven panel for scratching and rubbing

Entertainment for kitty and art for you! However, kitty may think that all the curtains are fair game after getting a taste of this idea.

See Sandy’s complete portfolio here.

I obviously don’t have one of everything that I write about–otherwise there would be no room for human furniture in my rather small condo–but I do have a few select items, including the Moderncritter bent wood scratcher. I have to say, it is one of the most beautiful pieces of furniture that I own. The quality was immediately obvious the minute I opened the box. This is not a toy or another throw-away cat item. It is actually a piece of furniture that will last for many, many years.

When I ordered it, it was unclear exactly how it attaches to the wall. It turns out that the mechanism is fabulous! It has a unique wall mounting system with a two-part bracket that is incredibly easy to install and even comes with its own level to help you hang it perfectly. It’s brilliant!

As you can see above, Mackenzie has claimed the scratcher. He likes to hop up on it whenever I’m sitting on the sofa–precisely why I positioned it there. The craftsmanship is excellent and I love that you can replace the FLOR carpet tiles if they get worn or just to change the color and pattern to match your decor. If you’re looking for a very special item that your cats will love–and you will, too–the Moderncritter scratcher is the perfect thing.

Available directly from Moderncritter.

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.)

I made it through 240,000 square feet of pet products at the Global Pet Expo in San Diego this week and I found several brand new items that I am very excited to share with you. First, we have the new Craftsman Series Feline Furniture from Mr. Herzher’s. These pieces caught my eye because of the simple, clean lines inspired by the American Craftsman style. Not necessarily modern, but definitely a style that can be incorporated into a modern or contemporary interior.

Made of solid wood construction, this line of quality cat furniture will come in two finishes, the brown shown above and also a more contemporary ebony finish. There are three styles, the single seat, the double seat, and the deluxe double seat that includes a premium sisal scratching surface. The seating areas are upholstered in durable, soft micro-suede.

The Craftsman Series Feline Furniture will be available this spring. I will be posting more great finds from the Pet Expo throughout the week.

This is a very exciting time to be into stylish cat products! There are lots of new companies appearing and I’d like to introduce you to the latest — Cat Livin. Just launching today, this brand new company has a hip vibe and some cool looking products. One of their first releases will be a door-mounted sisal climber. It easily attaches to any door, making it a great space saver. The simple, clean design is perfect for an urban loft or modern home.

And for a little play time, Cat Livin gives you “The Rat,” a streamlined, oversized wool toy stuffed with organic catnip. Design that both you and your cat can appreciate.

Also included in the initial launch are some fun feeding and snacking items like “The Garden” organic grass and a stylish feeding mat.

Cat Livin is based in southern California and was started by Angela & Jeremy Moser. It looks like they plan to expand their offerings to include more great products for living, eating, playing and cleaning (stylish and functional litter gear I hope!) Products will start shipping in April. Pre-order now directly from Cat Livin. And when you visit their site you will be treated to some awesome music by Los Angeles artists Evolve (great stuff!)

I just found this very attractive cat condo from a new company called Modern Cat Designs (no relation to Moderncat.net). The tower stands 40 inches tall and has a sturdy steel frame. Attached to the frame are padded foam slats covered with durable fabric, that supposedly withstands scratching. It is available in chocolate brown or tan. Great start for a new company! I’m looking forward to seeing what else they do in the future.

Introducing the brand new modern cat scratcher from moderncritter. This elegant bent plywood form stands three feet tall and can be configured in a variety of ways — hang it on the wall to create a raised perching shelf, lean it against the wall requiring minimal floor space, or lay it on the floor for cats who prefer horizontal scratching. Made of molded plywood with walnut veneer and finished with a clear matte lacquer, the moderncritter scratcher is designed using FLOR carpet tiles as the scratching surface. Carpet tiles are easy to change when carpet becomes worn or just to customize your scratcher to match your decor.

Completely made and assembled in the USA. Available directly from moderncritter.

Something new from IKEA, this is the Bastis Blond scratching post and climbing tree. This is a large item, standing almost 71 inches tall. Made of rattan on a steel frame, the tree mounts to the wall with the shelves hidden behind the large scratching surface. You’ll have to make a trip to your closest IKEA to check it out in person, since it is only available in stores.

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.

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.

The moderncat household just received a Cheeky Chaise lounger from our friends at Marmalade Pet Care. As these photos show, everyone absolutely loves it. And I have to say, it is exquisite. First of all, the packaging it comes in is beautiful. The plain brown cardboard box, simply printed with black ink, is wonderfully designed with great graphics and typography. When you take the lounger out of the box it is immediately obvious that this is a handcrafted, high-quality piece–not just another cardboard scratcher. It truly is a work of art. And the cats were instantly drawn to it, rubbing and sniffing and generally checking it out. We are very happy with this new addition to our home.

This is Ando. He’s in charge.

I received the following message from Brandon at Marmalade Pets and wanted to share it:

“There are some really poetic qualities of the bed that we have enjoyed: The bed will first start off as a rich and generous scratching surface, an especially tempting starting point is the coved area of the chaise bed. In a span of about 1-2 years, the scratched surfaces of the bed will begin to soften and the bed will begin a ‘life cycle’ of its own. The hardboard end panels will insure the overall clean lines and curves of the bed will be retained and its use as a sculptural furniture piece will last indefinitely. At the end of the bed’s life cycle, the entire piece is 100% recyclable, returning itself into the overall life cycle of materials!”

Designer Warren Lieu of One Form Design has followed-up his Cat Cocoon with this avant-garde pet platform called The Leading Edge. Made from wood and Plexiglas with a carpeted interior, The Leading Edge provides a lounging area and scratching surface suitable for cats looking to stay ahead of the crowd.

This sleek reinterpretation of the cat tower from The Refined Feline brings a touch of Zen into the modern home while satisfying several of kitty’s needs–all in one piece of furniture. The Lotus Cat Tower stands almost six feet tall and includes multiple surfaces for climbing and lounging, a vertical sisal panel for scratching, a padded cushion for sitting, and a cubby for napping or hiding the litter box. With so many features it is sure to become a popular hangout.

Available at Amazon

At long last, Danish pet product designer and manufacturer The Pet Project has updated their web site and included a list of US retailers, plus more information about the company and their six beautiful, modern pet products. The designs first appeared back in 2005, but the company web site contained minimal information until now.

The line includes two pet caves (the wood veneer Eddie’s Room shown above and the geometric Lulu’s Hideaway pictured below), two beds (one made from acrylic and another from chrome and what looks like felt), a scratching board, and a gorgeous china and wood feeding dish. The line will be making an appearance at the New York International Gift Fair in February.

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.

These funky geometric forms provide a great scratching surface for kitty without being an eyesore for you. Everyday Studio added these designer cardboard scratchers to their line of other fabulous modern pet products. Choose from three styles, the inclined Claw, the C-shaped Nap, and the larger sculptural Pounce. Handmade in San Francisco using heavy-duty corrugated cardboard and non-toxic paint on the edges.