IKEA pet accessories collection is the minimalist vibe for fur babies

The past years we’ve seen the growth of “fur parents” so this means there’s also a significant spike in products that will appeal to this market. There are a lot of options out there when it comes to accessories for dogs, cats, and all other pets that may need different kinds of habitats, toys, etc. But when a big name brand puts a lot of effort into research and product development for our fur babies, then they immediately catch our attention.

Designer: IKEA

Swedish brand IKEA is getting into the pet world craze with their UTSÅDD collection that is meant to bring joy not just to the cats and dogs but to their “parents” as well. The brand came up with this 29-piece collection by consulting with veterinarians and pet product specialists and also testing it out on those who will actually be using the products, the cats and dogs themselves.

This means that the products are not just well-designed but also are dishwasher-safe, water-repellant, machine-washable, durable, and of course safe and gentle for the pets. The collection has some items for playtime like the soft toys for dogs and the play tunnel for cats but also has functional ones like pet bowls, beds, and houses. The habitats in particular, like the dog bed and the cat house can both be fun and useful.

The collection will be available globally starting this April. And like with a lot of IKEA products, there is a wide range when it comes to affordability with items ranging between USD $2-70. Also as with most items with the Swedish brand, expect a clean and minimalist vibe.

The post IKEA pet accessories collection is the minimalist vibe for fur babies first appeared on Yanko Design.

Minimalist desk concept has a special place for your cat to sleep in

Our parents told us how keeping pets is a huge responsibility, and many of us probably took that advice for granted. Even as adults, we might sometimes have love-hate relationships with the furry members of our family, especially when they get in the way of work. That seems to be especially true for cats, who have a bewildering knack for sleeping on our desks when we need to get things done, even going as far as sleeping on top of keyboards while we’re still typing. Every feline owner knows there’s really no stopping these masters of flexibility when they put their minds to something, but it also helps to give them something more comfortable to lie on than your hands. That’s what this desk concept aims to offer, giving your cat some space to still be near you when you work but also some privacy to keep to itself, like what most cats often to do.

Designer: Liam de la Bedoyere

This wooden desk is minimalist almost in the extreme sense. It’s pretty much just a bent plank of wood standing U-shaped bent metal for legs. There are no compartments, hidden or otherwise; just a flat and open surface to put your things on. It forces you to be extra neat, or at least creative in how you decorate and place accessories to hold your work tools. Or perhaps it’s best to actually leave it bare without anything that your cat might topple over.

Of course, the signature feature of this concept is the small space or “cubby” designed especially for a cat. One side of the table bends inward to create a hook shape that’s probably just big enough for your average cat. That cubby has a pillow for their comfort, though the material for that cushion might be questionable. After all, cats are known to scratch so that pillow might not last that long.

The Cat Cubby Desk tries to offer a comfy place for your cat to lie on without getting in the way of your work. Or at least that’s the goal. Whether or not your furry feline friend prefers to take that spot or, more likely, still lie on your keyboard will be totally up to your training and its mood. Given cats’ inclination to cram themselves in tight spaces, this does look like a very tempting location for them. And if your pet ends up ignoring it, you can always repurpose the cubby for other things, like as a space for books and folders. Hopefully, your cat won’t suddenly decide to jump in and knock all those off.

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Top 10 Cat-Friendly Designs To Keep Your Feline Friends Content, Cozy & Occupied

I love spending time and canoodling with my cats, but as much as I love being around them, cats are pretty quick-witted creatures, and they require constant entertainment and stimulation, which often times can be pretty difficult to keep up with. If you’re pretty much in the same precarious situation as me and are always looking for new ways to keep your pet entertained, productive, and happy, then this collection of pet products promises to come to your rescue! From a modular pet-friendly sofa to a pet-friendly console – these product designs will take good care of your pet, and keep them active and content. You can take a little breather, while they wrestle around with these newfound fun products! These are the cat-friendly products you need in your home!

1. CONNECT Tree

Dubbed the CONNECT Tree, this sophisticated and functional cat tree is a literal haven for the kitties. Designed by Vazken Karageozian, the tree was inspired by the needs and requirements of his two cats – Gray and Ella. The CONNET Collection takes a modular and innovative approach to constructing and designing a cat tree.

Why is it noteworthy?

The cat tree is designed to be a multi-level system that can be customized using attachable accessories. It creates a cozy, comfy, and fun recreational activity for your cats, allowing them to engage in unique activities besides scratching and climbing your couch. The tree is the centerpiece of the multi-accessory system.

What we like

  • Supported by elements such as a scratching pad, cushion, tray platform, and hanging toy
  • Great replacement for cheaply-made cat furniture

What we dislike

  • No option for customization in material and color

2. Quarter Sofa

Called the Quarter Sofa, this modular and pet-friendly sofa is made using wood and fabrics, including various circular and square modules. The various modules can be assembled and disassembled and moved around to build different configurations. It’s a furniture design that meets the needs of both humans and cats!

Why is it noteworthy?

The innovative configurations you can make using the modules serve as a cat playground. They can jump around, and move enabling them to play together, even if you have multiple cats.

What we like

  • The various modules can be arranged to accommodate different numbers of people
  • The empty spaces can be used to store and display items such as books, magazines, and tidbits

What we dislike

  • If your cat poops or pees in the hollow spaces, it could be difficult to clean them up, or even reach those corners

3. The Mocats Multifunctional Cat Furniture

The Mocats Multifunctional Cat Furniture allows indoor cats to experience the outside world, without stepping out of their home. The cat furniture is shaped like a city skyline, and it is quite adaptable and modular, providing cats with their own apartments, buildings, and roofs to explore.

Why is it noteworthy?

This modular and interesting design lets you build the sort of toy that will perfectly fit your home. It features undulating rooftops, which add a nice touch to your home, and interior design, while also functioning as a unique piece of furniture for your cat to explore, and pass time in.

What we like

  • Functions as an adaptable space that meets the ever-changing needs of cats
  • Assembling the modules also creates a bonding experience between cats and their owners

What we dislike

4. Tesla Cybertruck Corrugated Cat House

On the Chinese version of the Tesla website, you may come across a $13 Tesla Cybertruck Corrugated Cat House, and this little invention certainly took the internet by storm. It got everyone wondering if  Tesla has really decided to get into the pet product industry, and is the Cat House just the start of a whole new onslaught of pet products?!

Why is it noteworthy?

The unique-looking cat tray is inspired by the angular shape of Tesla’s electric pickup truck. It measures 56x41x25cm and has a futuristic shape, unlike typical cat trays on the market. It is embedded with thick corrugated paper, and it is designed to be a multifunctional product.

What we like

  • Serves as a multifunctional space for your cat
  • It can support up to 15kgs, so it accommodates cats of different breeds and sizes

What we dislike

  • Essentially it is a simple cardboard box, there’s nothing really cyber/techy about it
  • The real utility of the tray is still unknown, and people can’t decipher whether it is a cat bed or litter box

5. Cat Box

This adorable little box-shaped shelter looks like a shipping container home for cats! It is made using stiff paper boards, building lightweight yet durable boxes for kitties to play in, rest in, paw at, or engage with. It is made using sustainable materials, and the boxes stack up one on top of the other, creating the ultimate haven for cats.

Why is it noteworthy?

The shelter has multiple entry points to elevated vantage points, as well as a hanging toy to keep the kitties entertained. What makes the Cat Box unique, is the use of honeycomb board – a sturdy material that merges a core and honeycomb structure between plywood layers. Using a honeycomb board is an environmentally friendly decision, which also takes into consideration the well-being of our pets.

What we like

  • Features elevated viewpoints in vertical spaces which is quite important for cats

What we dislike

  • There doesn’t seem to be any scope for customization

6. Triangle Toy

Dubbed the Triangle Toy, this unique pet toy entertains your furry friends, while also doubling up as a work of art. This one-of-a-kind pet toy isn’t just about play, it’s also about providing a visual experience that is inspired by the beauty of nature.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Triangle Toy shows how pet products can be made super creative. It functions as a canvas for the motifs of clouds, the sun, and the mountains. The huge mountains are represented by the triangular structure, while the gentle flow of the clouds is shown by the rolling ball.

What we like

  • Seems more like an objet d’art that seamlessly integrates into any space, than a pet toy

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept, so we don’t know how well it will translate into an actual product

7. Choo Choo Console

Named the Choo Choo, this console is a rather unique and innovative creation in the arena of pet-friendly furniture. The Choo Cho console is a dedicated space built from natural materials like wood and cane webbing, and it attempts to build a solid connection between cats and humans.

Why is it noteworthy?

When you look at the console, you are reminded of a bullet train, and it has a contemporary vibe to it that also represents a sense of speed and efficiency. The Choo Choo console perfectly encapsulates the concept of high-speed transportation with the utility of a pet-friendly design.

What we like

  • Features a discreet compartment that hides a litter box for your cat
  • Perfectly marries aesthetics with functionality and practicality

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming design that will occupy a substantial amount of space in your home
  • The interior section of the console looks tough to reach and clean

8. Snowhouse Sofa

The Snowhouse Sofa perfectly captures the pretty image of snow falling daintily and leaving an impression on whatever it falls upon. The Snowhouse Sofa is what a wooden sofa would look like if it experienced some snowfall! And, what makes the furniture design even more unique is that it perfectly caters to the needs of humans and pets.

Why is it noteworthy?

The wooden sofa is covered with cushy white cushions that give the idyllic impression of fallen snow. The edges of the Snowhouse Sofa are rounded, which adds a depth of softness to the furniture piece, while the ends are hollow with empty spaces inside for your pets to lounge about in.

What we like

  • The empty spaces on top function as passages for your cats, where they can play or rest

What we dislike

  • It’s currently a concept, so we don’t know how the actual product will turn out to be
  • The empty spaces seem difficult to reach and clean

9. Lift Stool

Dubbed the Lift Stool, this furniture design has a stunning translucent texture that will completely mesmerize you. It also has two lifted ends that truly make the entire design, and as you peep into the two lifted ends you can see empty space for your cats! It is truly unlike any stool I’ve ever come across.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool is hollow from within, which makes it an excellent lounging spot for your cat. If your cat doesn’t want to sit inside, you can slide in your favorite books and other souvenirs, allowing you to store them away, concealing them from curious eyes.

What we like

  • Features a second little entrance/exit at the back of the stool, so your pet has an exit strategy in place if they want to sneakily away

What we dislike

  • It could be difficult to get your pet out if they decide to hide before visits to the vet or at feeding times

10. Travel Habitat Carrier

Called the Travel Habitat Carrier, this adorable cat shelter is like a mini RV for your pet. You can carry it around on your back wherever you go, letting your pet chill and relax with you, as you move about and complete your tasks.

Why is it noteworthy?

The carrier doubles up in size when taken off your shoulders, making it a unique and expandable product. It can transform into a large and spacious home for your cat with an integrated litter box, ample ventilation, and a space for a kibble and water bowl.

What we like

  • Functions as a modular tent for your furry friend, allowing them to move around comfortable
  • Has a clear window for viewing and breathable meshed walls that provide comfort to your pet while being transported

What we dislike

  • Pets of larger sizes may feel uncomfortable in this design, better suited for smaller cats

The post Top 10 Cat-Friendly Designs To Keep Your Feline Friends Content, Cozy & Occupied first appeared on Yanko Design.

AI-powered cat door stops your feline companion from bringing home dead gifts

Cats are notorious for many things, with curiosity at the top of that list. They can and will pounce on small critters, sometimes with undesirable consequences. If that wasn’t bad enough, cats that have owners have a tendency to bring home the spoils of war, whether for themselves or as a gift to their humans. Either way, those unwanted and unmoving critters are sure to create unhealthy and unsavory circumstances at home, often discovered only after the fact. At CES 2024, a rather curious solution is being presented, utilizing those hot AI powers to stop your cat from entering your abode until they finally let go of their lifeless package.

Designer: Flappie

Flappie wouldn’t be the first smart pet door to grace the market, but it is probably the first to be so laser-focused on a very specific use case. The fact that it needs to only pay attention to cats and a very specific scenario means its designers and developers can also pour resources only into things that matter. In this case, that means it’s only concerned about recognizing cats and whether they have prey in their mouths before entering your house.

Like other smart doors, Flappie has sensors, specifically a camera, facing the outside world. When your cat approaches, it uses AI to identify whether it’s bringing home prey or just some other inanimate object. If it indeed carrying some previously living thing, the smart door will won’t open up and prevent your cat from entering. Only when the cat has figured out that it can’t go in without dropping its payload first will the AI door finally let it have access and resume living in the safety and comfort of its indoor abode.

The idea for this kind of specialized security system is to hopefully train the cat to not bring in dead things (or other things) and drop them off at the door before coming in. It’s not a foolproof method, but one that the designers believe is more effective than manually monitoring the cat. They are confident that the AI has a 90% accuracy in identifying dead prey like mice, birds, and even snakes, and it will only get better as it learns over time.

Flappie also has other functions besides training your cat to be respectful when coming back home. Those same cameras can be used to capture your feline’s precious moments and even share them on social media. You could control it remotely via an app, but there are also manual controls in case things get a little out of hand. The smart door can also be connected to your cat’s chip, presuming it has one, so that it will only let your own cat in and keep curious strangers out.

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Top 10 ultimate products for pets and pet lovers

As much as I love spending time with my own cats, I’m honestly running out of ways to keep them entertained and prevent them from knocking down an item or two in my home, out of sheer boredom. If you’re pretty much in the same precarious situation as me and are always looking for new ways to keep your pet entertained, productive, and happy, then this collection of pet products promises to come to your rescue! From a modular pet-friendly sofa to an adorable pet-feeder designed like a sushi tray – these product designs will take good care of your pet, and keep them active and content. You can take a little breather, while they wrestle around with these newfound fun products! These are the pet products you need in your home.

1. Quarter Sofa

Built using a mixture of wood and fabric (the fabric isn’t specified), the Quarter Sofa has two major characteristics – it is modular, and pet-friendly. The various modules of the sofa are in the shape of circles and squares, and they can be assembled, disassembled, and moved around to create a configuration that works perfectly for you, your home, and your cat.

Why is it noteworthy?

The unique configurations that you can make using the modules serve as a playground for cats! They can move and jump around them, even allowing them to play together, if you have multiple cats. Cats are curious creatures that love new adventures and mysteries, and I do believe the Quarter sofa could be a great one for them.

What we like

  • You can rearrange the modules to accommodate different numbers of people, and create an arrangement that best meets your seating requirements
  • You can use the hollow spaces to store and display items such as magazines, books, and other tidbits

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept
  • If your cat poops or pees in the hollow spaces, they could be difficult to clean

2. Sharing Joy

Rather aptly titled ‘Sharing Joy’, this award-winning chair comes with a side table for humans to place their books and cups of tea/coffee on, and a crawl space for cats to casually lounge in (complete with a suspended toy for them to play with).

Why is it noteworthy?

What I personally love about Sharing Joy is that it subscribes to a broader vision of what lounging is and who can ‘lounge’. Designed for humans and cats to cozy up in, the chair comes with a hollow, oblong backrest that’s perfectly sized for an adult cat (or a tiny dog) to crawl into and laze around in. Moreover, having the human and pet lounging together against each other sounds like absolute perfection. 10/10 will give you the happiness hormones.

What we like

  • Sports a minimalist aesthetic that fits in most contemporary homes
  • Comes with a soft design language that’s inviting to humans and cats alike

What we dislike

  • There is no option to adjust or close the opening when not in use

3. The Bowowhaus

Designed by Conran and Partners, the Bowowhaus is a mobile hut doghouse meant to help dogs live a nomadic lifestyle. It features pencil-thin slabs of light wood and dark gray-hued panels and shades, providing doggos with a cushy and comfy traveler ambiance.

Why is it noteworthy?

A flight of stairs welcomes the dogs into the hut, while a space for food containers and bowls is propped up behind the house, to ensure that no food and water is spilled within the little home. It features a triangular shape, which provides a generous amount of space, for dogs of all sizes and shapes to enter and lounge about in the hut comfortably.

What we like

  • The roof of the dog house has been topped with solar panels, and the wheels are battery-operated, allowing the home to be easily transported and moved from one place to another

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure whether dogs would actually feel comfortable and safe traveling in the mobile doghouse

4. OurPets’ Pet Feeders

This series of Pet Feeders from OurPets has a wonderfully tongue-in-cheek way of bridging the visual gap between pet treats and what humans consider treats.

Why is it noteworthy?

The feeders come in two styles – a sushi tray and a plate of waffles (with maple syrup and butter on top), with sliding and rotating compartments to hide pet treats in. Getting to these hidden treats requires a fair bit of problem-solving, including figuring out how components move to reveal the food hidden inside.

What we like

  • Gives pets their mental stimulation, making them work for their food as their wild counterparts would have by scouting, strategizing, and hunting

What we dislike

  • May lead to agitation in pets who fail to solve for treats

5. Chang’s Walking Aid

There are definitely plenty of walking aid designs, some even serving multiple functions. Some are just a step above crutches that you have to lift to move forward, while others come with wheels that increase mobility at the expense of some stability. Some come with small seats for the user, and others have baskets to hold their things. This particular walker concept combines some of these to present a more agile yet safe aid that has room for your pet when you go out.

Why is it noteworthy?

The most conspicuous part of this walker is the large box that serves as your pet’s mobile home. You can simply slide the door on top to let the little furry friend in or out, or you can keep it close so that they don’t jump out suddenly. Of course, there are vents that allow the pet to breathe easily while comfortably confined in there.

What we like

  • The handle travels in almost all directions, giving the user the freedom to grip it any way they prefer

What we dislike

  • There is no visible brake to control the walker in case their pet makes a sudden move

6. The Flow Single Sofa

SUNRUI designed this rather minimal and chic-looking armchair as a part of the FLOW Collection. As the name of the collection hints, the armchair is called the Flow Single Sofa. If you look closely at the chair, it quite literally looks like a Queen’s Chair.

Why is it noteworthy?

The sofa has a rather bulky and space-consuming form, although its structure has been designed quite elegantly and smartly, which somehow downplays the stoicness of the sofa. What also imparts the single sofa with sophisticated air are its spiral armrests. The spiral armrests add an interesting and artistic element to the sofa, and also quite amusingly resemble the Ionic Order.

What we like

  • Meets the needs of humans and pets alike
  • Creates a shared space, where the owner and cat, can spend some quality time together

What we dislike

  • If your pet pees or poops inside the armrests, it could be difficult to clean up
  • Scratching of the hollow furniture could cause sizeable damage to the chair body

7. The PawMate Beacon

This concept for a pet tracker may help ease those worries and make sure that your pets are well and safe while you’re away during the day or for a longer period of time.

Why is it noteworthy?

It looks pretty much like a regular dog or cat collar but is able to do more than just be an identification for your fur baby. It’s more like an activity tracker but instead of telling you how many steps you’ve taken, it gives you insight into your pet’s activity. It is partnered with the PawMate Beacon which you place in certain areas to help in the activity tracking.

What we like

  • There’s an accompanying app that lets you enter your pet details and gives you stats and insights as well as real-time data

What we dislike

  • Without real-world testing, it is difficult to verify how well and how much distance the tracker covers

8. Swelltone

Eating time can sometimes be stressful both for pets who can’t help spill food out of their bowls as well as for the humans who need to clean up afterward. Attempting to return dinnertime to its original atmosphere, this fine-looking food bowl for furry friends brings something that’s not only beautiful but also functional, utilizing human creativity and craftsmanship to make a pet bowl that delivers a pleasant experience for everyone at home.

Why is it noteworthy?

It makes “ease of eating” the focus of its design, and it does so in a simple yet effective way. The stainless steel bowl that holds the food can tilt up to an angle of 20 degrees, which makes it easy for pets to slurp every last bit without spilling their food.

What we like

  • We don’t need to clean up after our pets after meal time, owing to the bowl titling at 20 degrees
  • Posh + sleek aesthetics

What we dislike

  • The product might be difficult to integrate into the lives of pets who are used to a certain mealtime routine, and particular products

9. Petpartment

Petpartment is a concept for a space for both the cat and the cat owner so you can have a “beautiful life with your beloved pets”. What differentiates it from the usual cat trees is that it doesn’t just let your cat be like Obi-Wan Kenobi and have the higher ground. It’s meant to be decorative and functional for both of you and hide those interiors you don’t want them to harm while they’re playing or going about their day.

Why is it noteworthy?

The architecture of this pet apartment is well thought out and actually has four different angles with different functions as well. The front view is a showcase of the material used which is red oak and stainless steel. It looks like a bookshelf, and you can fill it up with your books and cats!

What we like

  • Nice piece of furniture to have, even if you don’t have pets
  • Works well for humans and felines

What we dislike

  • Don’t know if we can trust cats to be around books since they have a tendency to scratch things

10. Solar

MyZoo, a cat goods company, designs modern cat furniture that caters to your cat’s every need, while not disrupting your interior design. Solar, one of their more recent designs, is a wall-mountable floating cat bed that mounts onto any vertical surface so cats rest midair in their own designated space.

Why is it noteworthy?

Shaped like the sun, Solar is a small, but sturdy floating cat bed that’s built from pinewood. In a similar fashion to their other pieces of cat furniture, MyZoo lined Solar with a slotted resting platform for safe jumping. Ideal for small spaces, Solar provides a resting spot and jumping platform for your cat and saves space in the meantime.

What we like

  • Solar doesn’t take up any ground space and easily mounts to any wall where there’s room
  • Easy to assemble

What we dislike

  • There’s no cushioning on the bed, which would make it comfier

The post Top 10 ultimate products for pets and pet lovers first appeared on Yanko Design.

This super cute cat cafe in Shanghai is the perfect hangout spot for your kitty and you

Nestled in Tianzifang, Shanghai is ‘Tristy of the CATS’, a cute and cozy cat cafe that serves as a warm sanctuary for our feline friends. A couple of years ago Chinese design studio Parallect Design transformed an otherwise rundown and disused building into a haven for cats and cat lovers. The cafe is marked by wooden ladders, cat houses, and little pathways, which the cats use to scamper and play around throughout the day. Watching little kitties bounce around through this intertwining network is truly heartwarming to watch!

Designer: Parallect Design

As you peep into the cafe, you are welcomed by a unique kitty land with cats running around and scattering about on ladders and various diagonal structures. The intricate network of structures connects the second and third floor of the cafe, as well as holes on the floors.“The hole on the third floor [has] become the most favorite space for the cats. Cats climbing the ladders [has] also become an interesting scene in the café,” said Parallect Design.

The cafe features European ashwood structures, and white walls, giving the entire space a rather minimal and free-flowing aesthetic. Geometric windows allow generous amounts of sunlight to stream into the space, making it feel quite light and airy. Wallpapers have been added, so visitors have interesting backdrops to take selfies and pictures with the kitties. The building had a rather steep staircase, which was revamped and redone to make it safer for visitors to climb. Hand sanitizers and flip-flops are also provided at the entrance, to keep the kitties safe from contamination. The house-shaped outline of the cafe gives it a rather unique touch, allowing it to stand out from the other stores located nearby.

Resting spaces have also been added to the third floor, with back-to-back seating and tables, that serve as spots to hang out once visitors are done playing with the cats. Round holes have been carved out between the wooden blocks, allowing the cats to jump and move through them. Parallect Design said the place was designed to have, “Cats are the owners of the space, and people become passersby”. Watching cats jump through the various levels or napping in the shelters is the best thing any cat lover could ask for! Don’t miss this super cute cat cafe if you’re ever in Shanghai.

The post This super cute cat cafe in Shanghai is the perfect hangout spot for your kitty and you first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dodecahedron Cat Litter Box: for Polyhedral Pooping

Litter boxes: they’re generally unattractive. Plus, they smell. That’s two strikes against them already. Looking to change that, the Pet Object Litter Box on Kickstarter is a cat litter box in the shape of a dodecahedron to compliment the rest of your tasteful geometric home decor. You do have other tasetful geometric home decor, right? I hope it isn’t just milk crates and pizza boxes like my place.

The Pet Object Litter Box features a front entry cats have to step up and out of to help prevent rogue litter from tracking into your house. It has a removable top with a charcoal filter, integrated storage on the back for its litter scoop, and an optional litter mat. The entire top half comes off for easy scooping, which is good because the last thing you want from a litter box is difficult scooping.

The Pet Object Litter Box comes in three colors: Sand, Wimbledon White, and Translucent Amber. Personally, I’m going to go with the translucent amber one. That way, I can pretend the cat poops inside are really mosquitos trapped there hundreds of million years ago, carrying the DNA necessary to clone dinosaurs. Scooping just got a whole lot more fun!

A Cat Collar with an Integrated Laser Pointer: Hours of Feline Fun

Because there are few things in life a cat loves more than chasing lasers, the KiTiDOT Collar (affiliate link) is a cat collar with an integrated laser pointer that points down at the floor in front of your cat so they can chase that little red dot to their heart’s content. Or, if they’re my cats, just close their eyes and fall asleep. They aren’t into playing childish games.

The USB-rechargeable collar features an adjustable-angle laser so you can determine just how far in front of your cat it points and three different lighting modes (low, high, and flickering). Hopefully, none of which will blind another cat who comes to inspect the collar. It also automatically turns off after a half hour of use, so your cat doesn’t pass out from exhaustion.

Cats: for whatever reason, they go nuts for laser pointers. I wonder what they think the red dot is – a firefly? Is it even red to them? I don’t know how cat eyes work. I mean, except well enough to see my leg dangling over the side of the bed in pitch black and claw at it.

[via DudeIWantThat]

CAT-CAT: A Star Wars AT-AT Inspired Cat Condo

Because most people’s cats live better lives than I do, do-it-yourselfer Whitney Fabre constructed the CAT-CAT, an AT-AT-inspired cat condo. She built the condo for her feline friend, Captain Jack Harkness, who was named after the Doctor Who character. Why she didn’t build a TARDIS cat house instead is anybody’s guess.

For those of you interesting in building your own CAT-CAT, Whitney was kind enough to create an Instructable, so you can follow the directions and, provided you have the skills and supplies, wind up with something similar and not just a dangerous pile of wood scrap and nails like I did. But you know what they say: The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. And the worst-laid plans like mine almost always go awry.

There’s no question it’s a fine-looking cat condo. But even if I was able to successfully construct one, would my cat play in it or purposefully ignore it to spite me for all the time and effort I put into building it? Here, let me give you a hint: We named him Spiteful Bill for a reason.

[via Instructables]

Arcade Cabinet Cat Playhouse: Pew, Pew, Mew, Mew

The Arcade Cabinet Cat House from MeWooFun is just that: a cat house that looks like an arcade cabinet. Available on Amazon (affiliate link), the house comes in four colors (green, grey, pink, and orange), includes a removable scratching mat, and is the perfect addition to the video game and cat lover’s home. This will look awesome next to my Street Fighter II arcade game. You know, the one in my imagination.

The arcade cat house measures approximately 19″ x 15″ x 19″ and features a joystick, as well as “interactive holes,” presumably for putting toys and catnip in. Although based on the look of the cats in these product photos, I’m not sure they need any more catnip. Like, ever again.

Now my cat can play video games while I play video games! Of course, it won’t actually be playing video games, it’ll be licking itself in a tiny wooden arcade cabinet replica while I curse dying to the same boss in Elden Ring for the twentieth time, but you get the picture.

[via DudeIWantThat]