Pet’s Place: Cat Furniture Creations Take Over the House
Owners get creative with furniture for their cats, and the ideas lead to a business
Business beginnings. The couple wanted the cats to have their own spaces and furniture in the apartment. They shopped around but couldn’t find anything they really liked, so they started building their own.
Wilson has a design background and had always been interested in architecture, but before the cat furniture venture, “neither of us had picked up a saw more than a handful of times,” Wilson says. Three years later, cat furniture is the couple’s full-time job at their company, Catastrophic Creations.
The company no longer operates out of the couple’s apartment. Instead, they have an office and warehouse in Michigan, where they also now live.
Wilson has a design background and had always been interested in architecture, but before the cat furniture venture, “neither of us had picked up a saw more than a handful of times,” Wilson says. Three years later, cat furniture is the couple’s full-time job at their company, Catastrophic Creations.
The company no longer operates out of the couple’s apartment. Instead, they have an office and warehouse in Michigan, where they also now live.
Building materials. The couple have experimented with different woods and ropes and found that pine and thicker sisal rope are both sturdy and well-liked by the cats.
“The wood is real and soft enough for the cats to dig their claws into,” Wilson says. “We also don’t put a polyurethane coat on it, which gives the cats more traction.”
“The wood is real and soft enough for the cats to dig their claws into,” Wilson says. “We also don’t put a polyurethane coat on it, which gives the cats more traction.”
The wood pieces can be connected with heavyweight canvas. “The cats can actually walk on it,” Wilson says. “It’s not super stretchy, so they don’t look all awkward on it.” The couple tested out a few options before landing on this one.
Room of the Week: A Cat-Centric Living Room
Room of the Week: A Cat-Centric Living Room
Cat-tested. The couple’s three cats have climbed, pawed and slept on every design they’ve created.
When Wilson and Hanneman lived in their Portland apartment, this wall would see new features every month, such as this Pac-Man-themed installation.
“We are lucky to have the cats at home,” Wilson says. “We mount things and see how the cats respond. Then we make changes based on how they use it or how much time they spend on it.”
When Wilson and Hanneman lived in their Portland apartment, this wall would see new features every month, such as this Pac-Man-themed installation.
“We are lucky to have the cats at home,” Wilson says. “We mount things and see how the cats respond. Then we make changes based on how they use it or how much time they spend on it.”
The rope bridge shown here was one of the first products the couple made and sold. It’s also Ickle’s favorite.
This setup exists in the couple’s new single-family home, and it’s more permanent because they have room here to leave the cat furniture up.
Ickle is up on the cat bridge as usual. The other cats also climb up there to bat at Wilson’s and Hanneman’s heads when they pass beneath. “We are both pretty short,” Wilson says, “so it hangs a few inches above our heads. We liked having the bridge in the doorway in our apartment and wanted to have that playful feature in our new home too.”
Lylah can be seen reclining on the other bridge in the corner above the fish tank. “She’s obsessed with watching the fish,” Wilson says.
Ickle is up on the cat bridge as usual. The other cats also climb up there to bat at Wilson’s and Hanneman’s heads when they pass beneath. “We are both pretty short,” Wilson says, “so it hangs a few inches above our heads. We liked having the bridge in the doorway in our apartment and wanted to have that playful feature in our new home too.”
Lylah can be seen reclining on the other bridge in the corner above the fish tank. “She’s obsessed with watching the fish,” Wilson says.
Heisenberg is less stationary. He’s more likely to be seen bouncing from post to post.
Lessons from 5 Homes Where Cats Rule
Lessons from 5 Homes Where Cats Rule
On the job. The cats not only test the furniture, they also model for product shots, which usually occur on the two days Wilson works from home.
Payment method. “At this point,” Wilson says, “if we crack open wet food or turkey, they will run up onto the furniture. They know it’s photo time.” The tricky part is keeping them engaged after that.
To capture more photogenic moments, the couple installed cat food bowls on the shelves.
Payment method. “At this point,” Wilson says, “if we crack open wet food or turkey, they will run up onto the furniture. They know it’s photo time.” The tricky part is keeping them engaged after that.
To capture more photogenic moments, the couple installed cat food bowls on the shelves.
Cat community. The company also gets tons of customer-submitted photos of cats climbing and playing on the furniture.
Here, Frosty follows little Amazon up the sisal post steps.
Here, Frosty follows little Amazon up the sisal post steps.
Many customers’ cats also spend time reclining on the shelves. Here, Achilles has a shelf up high that’s perfect for watching the goings-on outside.
Installation. The pieces allow customers to create a unique setup. Here, a cat named Babou has multiple shelves and fabric lounging areas.
“About 90 percent of the time,” Wilson says, “people can install it themselves,” using the step-by-step instructions provided by the company.
Most of the pieces require only a No. 8 screw, which doesn’t leave a huge hole, he says. “You can definitely patch these small holes and get your [rental] deposit back. We got our deposit back in Portland, and we installed a lot of different things on that wall.”
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“About 90 percent of the time,” Wilson says, “people can install it themselves,” using the step-by-step instructions provided by the company.
Most of the pieces require only a No. 8 screw, which doesn’t leave a huge hole, he says. “You can definitely patch these small holes and get your [rental] deposit back. We got our deposit back in Portland, and we installed a lot of different things on that wall.”
Houzz Tour: A Hip and Modern Update For A Cat-Friendly Home
Furniture options. A customer can start small and build up using the company’s options. A typical customer spends about US$100 to $200 to get started, Wilson says.
You won’t find all the options on the company’s website, as some pieces are still in testing mode and exist only in the couple’s house.
You won’t find all the options on the company’s website, as some pieces are still in testing mode and exist only in the couple’s house.
Home, sweet home. “It’s nice getting back at the end of the day and having cats that want to see you and lay in the bed with you,” Wilson says. “We love that companionship, and seeing them evolve and get more confident every day.”
Tell us
Do you have pet furniture? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments.
Tell us
Do you have pet furniture? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments.
Pets at a Glance
Pets: Ickle, a Desert Lynx; Heisenberg, a Bengal-Siamese mix; and Lylah, a calico; and
Ages: 3, 2½ and 1½
Location: Byron Center, Michigan
Owners: Mike Wilson and Megan Hanneman, founders of Catastrophic Creations
Meet the crew. About three years ago, Ickle moved into the Portland, Oregon, apartment of Mike Wilson and his girlfriend, Megan Hanneman. “Originally, I wasn’t really into getting cats,” Wilson says. “I’m actually even allergic to them.” But the cat moved in, and the couple routinely swept up cat hair to help with any allergy issues.
One cat led to three because they didn’t want Ickle to be lonely. So now, Heisenberg and Lylah keep Ickle company while Wilson and Hanneman work.