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Many of us may never get the chance to live in a paradise quite like the one Peter Cohen has built for his 24 cats. Over the past 30 years, Cohen—a home builder and founder of the nonprofit ZenbyCat—has spent a great deal of time and money catifying his Santa Barbara, California, abode into a feline utopia. Mostly made up of colorful catwalks, ramps, tunnels, and hideaways, the house is an intricate and vibrant display of one man’s love for his feline family. As Cohen explains, “Cats let me survive the human world.”
Starting in 1995, he put his first catwalk in one room. “The cats loved it,” he says. Much like the walkways and passages that now cover the home, Cohen’s interest in a feline-friendly house quickly expanded. Little by little, he added more walks, steps, and wall perches to his space, connecting every room into an accessible maze fit specifically for felines. He says, “When I have money and time, we look at a place in the house that doesn’t have some catwalks and try to do something interesting.”
Whether you’re looking to catify your entire house, one room, or just hoping to add some cat furniture into your space, DIYing the project like Cohen may be the way to go—especially if you want something unique to both your cats and you.
With a DIY creation, you won’t have to sacrifice form or function: You can have the look you want, and the space your cat needs. AD spoke with designers and feline experts who offer advice for building your own fashionable cat furniture and feline-first decor, because as Cohen says, “You should enjoy your house as much as your cats.”
Cat trees
For many people, cat trees are the first things that come to mind when thinking about cat furniture. Cats like vertical space, cat behavior specialist and consultant Jennifer Van de Kieft explains. “It makes them feel safe,” and cats like to view the room from a high perch, Van de Kieft says. So building a cat tree is not only a fun project, but a useful undertaking for your pet too.
To start, Lora Lombardi—owner and designer at Cat Haus—advises that you “think of a shape that you can make yourself.” It could be as simple as some scrap lumber with a dowel rod, or a 4 x 4 post drilled into it. As Lombardi explains, “It doesn’t have to be super complicated.”
Alternatively, you could adapt other furniture. Zoe Garred, a designer and director of product at Tuft + Paw, suggests starting with something as simple as an IKEA piece. “Maybe there’s a way to cut some holes and use some shelves to make an internal climbing path for your cat,” she says.
Of course, your cat’s safety should be top of mind. “If you can lightly push on it, and it tips,” Lombardi says, “don’t trust it with your cat.” Try weighting the bottom, mounting it to the wall, or building a base that’s of equal dimension to the height to keep the structure as sturdy as possible.
You’ll also want to consider the materials used on the tower. Most of Lombardi’s creations use soft fabrics and carpets, but she never uses anything that’s looped that could catch the cat’s claws. She also attaches everything with staples instead of glue or other adhesives to minimize the chances of cats consuming dangerous chemicals like those used in polyurethane and isocyanate- based adhesives. “Make sure that each staple is fully submerged so there’s no ability to clip a fingernail,” she says. If you want to add a scratching area to the design, try sisal rope—according to Van de Kieft, it’s what most cats prefer anyway.
Knowing what to cover the base in—or what to leave bare—could come down to your cat’s preference. As Garred explains, do some R&D and observe your cat. She says, “Pick a few materials that you think your cat might like and see which ones they gravitate towards.”
Catwalks and wall perches
Like those found in Cohen’s home, catwalks and wall perches are another great way to use vertical space to your cat’s benefit. But they should make you as happy as they make your cat. “I built my catwalks because I like the way they look,” Cohen says, “Pick the colors you like, the style you like.” It can be as easy as purchasing a few shelves at your local hardware store. “That’s all the cat needs,” Cohen adds.
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To make sure the perch is secure, you’ll want to drill it into studs. “You don’t want to use drywall hangers because even if the walk will hold a cat, if they’re jumping, the forces multiply,” Cohen says. “So drill into those studs, and then the sky is the limit.”
Regardless of how you organize the walks and shelves, Van de Kieft says, “You just want to make sure there is not a dead-end.” This is especially important in a multi-cat home so no pet feels cornered or trapped. She also encourages you to make sure the contraptions are big enough to accommodate your cat in a sleeping position. “Cats do like it cozy, so not too big either,” she says.
Beds
Though cats tend to like to be higher up, you still may want to have a bed for them in your home. “Beds are really great projects,” Garred says. “Cats love all sorts of tactile and cozy materials.”
This is a prime opportunity for owners to be really creative with the design. Any material for the bed is pretty fair game, though it might be helpful to choose something that’s machine-washable.
“You could take it in so many directions,” Garred says. Whether it is a wooden base with a plush topper or a bean bag-esque poof, there are countless ways to build the perfect resting spot for your pet. Garred notes, however, that cats tend to like more concave shapes. Cats enjoy “something they can put their backs up against, where they feel contained inside,” Garred says.
Merging human and cat design
When catifying your home, the ultimate goal should be to create a space that both you and your pet enjoy. “The key is to think about how you can integrate your cat’s life into your own life,” Garred says. If you have an established color palette, design something that fits that scheme. The same would go for the style of your furniture and decor. Design your cat’s furniture to be midcentury, Art Deco, Scandinavian, boho, or whatever style you love.
Lombardi insists that it can help to think of it as your cat’s room. “This is their place in your home,” she says. “Make [their decor] a statement instead of something you want to hide or push in the corner.”
