Top 10 pet-friendly product trends of 2022

Posted on 22/01/2022 by Srishti Mitra

I’m pretty sure our pets are enjoying this pandemic way more than us, I mean they get to have their hoomans all to themselves almost all the time! And 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, then this collection of pet products promises to come to your rescue! From a three-tiered cat tower to a dog leash with a smart tag design that tracks your pet’s emotions – 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!

1. CatLife

What could I do to make my bedroom my cat’s favorite place? The Gatrimonial bed frame, made by a company called CatLife, made this dream a reality. They make furniture that doubles as an adventurous cat’s dream. At first glance, the bed frame looks like a hollow base with circular entrances in each corner. It has plenty of space for your cat to stretch its limbs underneath your bed. When you lift the mattress, it reveals an elaborate maze to keep your feline entertained. The frame also has two sections with a splattering of tiny paw-sized holes that could either be peep-holes or a little trap for unsuspecting paw swipes. Your ankles will not appreciate it, but your cat will love the hunt.

2. PingPong

Comprising a dog collar smart tracker, a leash, charger, and hub; PingPong can pick up five different dog feelings and represent the same in as many color notifications. These feelings include comfort, joy, stress, loneliness, and fear. The color indications are displayed on the smart chip and leash handle. A yellow color ball bouncing high and fast displays joyfulness, the blue ball bouncing rhythmically shows comfort, the gray ball bouncing slowly is an indicator of loneliness in dogs, stress is shown by the red ball bouncing fast, while a fanatically bouncing purple ball is an indicator of fear!

3. The Renault Pet Communication Device

This is visioned as an electric vehicle that allows pets and their owners to share a space beyond the confines of their homes. The designer believes, that Gen-Z’s race to individualism and high dependence on smart devices will alienate them further in the future when maybe their pet is the only companion. In that scenario, leisure time with the cat or dog would be a relieving experience. Thus, this EV design is created to ensure that the owner and the pet can move in and out of the vehicle with ease. It would have a large WZ-GO-style door on the rear that would enable the pet to access her space in the back of the vehicle.

4. Invoxia

Announced at CES 2022, the Invoxia smart dog collar in addition to monitoring the vital stats also doubles as a GPS and activity tracker for your pooch and uses Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS, and LTE-M for connectivity. It can keep constant tabs on the dog’s activity levels such as walking, running, resting, scratching, and barking and even provide pet parents with data regarding their dog’s daily routine on the accompanying app. For constant heart and respiratory health readings, this smart dog collar features radar sensors. The radar, according to Invoxia, sends out a radio signal which is reflected by the dog’s first layer of skin on the neck.

5. Ara

Ara is defined by two sets of wraparound banisters that cradle three levels of cushioned resting areas. Walking through the center walkway, cats find the first resting level where they can make full use of its area. Then, accessible through a central cavity, cats can climb up to the second tier where they can perch high above the ground, to look out over their home space. On the station’s second level, cats are covered on all corners with a roof, floor, and walls, evoking a sense of privacy. Finally, cats can climb through another central cavity to reach Ara’s topmost, open-air level where cat owners can pet and show their cats some love while they sleep.

6. Three Poles Cat Tower

Originally developed for cats and humans to co-inhabit the same living spaces without compromising interior design, Three Poles Cat Tower maintains the same midcentury flair that defined its predecessor and strengthened the overall build of the tower for cats to play around without fear of falling. Speaking to the redesign of Three Poles Cat Tower’s earlier model, Kim notes, “The overall proportion was carefully redesigned, and the lower metal base was strengthened, so it could be harmonious alongside the normal type tower while being easier for short-legged cats to use.”

7. TOMO

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TOMO gives pet gear the upgrade it’s always needed, with minimalist aesthetics and beautifully engineered designs backed by high-quality materials. Putting basic plaid collars and harnesses with those fiddly carabiner clips in the rear-view mirror, TOMO’s pet gear comes in beautiful matte black, from the leash to collar to harness, and features a unique, robust metal clasp that’s minimal, durable, and easy to secure in a matter of seconds. All the products look like they’re a part of a wonderful ecosystem (unlike current pet gear where the leash, collar, and dog tag look different because they were all bought separately. The entire ecosystem of products draws a balance between functionality, comfort, and aesthetics, giving pet-gear a modern upgrade and making them complement each other when worn together, like a well-designed suit.

8. Solar

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. Unlike bulky cat towers and stringy scratching pads, Solar doesn’t take up any ground space and easily mounts to any wall where there’s room. Since cats love heights, MyZoo figured Solar was the best of both worlds–a space-saver for cat owners and an ideal resting spot for cats.

9. The Two Circles Cat Scratcher

Designed by Jiyoun Kim Studio for the Korean pet product brand Milliong, the Two Circles Cat Scratcher is a part of Milliong’s Cat Furniture Project. The product comprises of two circular scratchers crafted from fabric and birchwood. The scratchers seem to artfully overlap one another when viewed from the front. The base platform and a ledge above it hold both the scratchers together, while also creating a snug hollow space that makes for the ideal seating spot for your pet. Both the platform and ledge are covered with faux fur, making it a truly comfy corner to laze about in.

10. Float

Float is a flatpack cat tower with built-in scratching pads that can be assembled in just a few steps. Amounting four levels, Float is a flatpack cat tower with integrated features like scratching posts and movable seat rests. Following a client’s specifications and criteria, Teixeira designed Float so that it would blend into any modern home. Taking on a Scandinavian-inspired overall look, Float achieves a minimalist profile through natural, unstained wooden rods as well as cool, gray felt cushions.

The post Top 10 pet-friendly product trends of 2022 first appeared on Yanko Design.

Give your cat a companion with this adorable robot that follows them + keeps an eye on them!

Posted on 30/11/2021 by Srishti Mitra

Here’s a fact that all cat owners can completely attest to – our cats don’t really need us, in all honesty, we need them. I mean, where would I be, if I didn’t get to cuddle my two fluffy Persian cats almost ten times a day? Probably sulking away in some corner, completely unhappy and unfulfilled. Another thing I hate more than being unable to cuddle my kitties is leaving them home alone. Although cats are pretty self-sufficient and can take care of themselves (as long as they have their fair share of kibble and water), I still break out into stress hives just thinking of leaving my pets all by themselves! This is where MeowMate comes to the rescue! Designed by Joint Technology Co, MeowMate is the perfect companion for your cats when you’re away! The adorable little gadget basically follows your cat around all day (it simply replaces you), and helps you keep an eye on them!

It features a 1080p ultra-clear video quality and HD voice intercom, allowing you to watch and hear your pet clearly and sharply. It also boasts real-time delay monitoring compensation to ensure a high synchronization between images and sounds. You simply have to download the MeowMate app on your smartphone, switch on the MeowMate device, and scan the QR code at the bottom of it, to connect it to the app on your phone. You can then control MeowMate on your smartphone, and move it about as you please. It allows you to remotely interact with your pets, and help stay connected with them.

Amped with a built-in sensor, MeowMate can move around your home with ease, and sense and avoid any obstacles in its path. Its silicone side-wheels can never hurt your cat’s soft paws, and they also create almost no noise as the device moves. They provide more stability and support to the gadget as well. When MeowMate’s battery is low, it automatically recharges once it reaches the induction zone of the charging dock. Hence, you can move it towards the charging dock, and charge it, even if you aren’t physically present!

MeowMates’ ‘random mode’ enables the gadget to move freely, creating an interesting and playful interaction with your curious cat! The best part of MeowMate is that it keeps your agile cat busy! Its bionic structure makes it seem more approachable and encourages your cat to really interact with it while enabling you to keep one eye on your pet at all times. MeowMate is the ultimate boon for all cat lovers!

Designer: Joint Technology Co., Ltd.

The post Give your cat a companion with this adorable robot that follows them + keeps an eye on them! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This doghouse that doubles up as a modular sofa has been designed for millennials and their pets!

Posted on 10/06/2021 by Srishti Mitra

Our pets are a lot more than simply ‘our pets’, they’re our best friends, family, and constant companions. And my two fluffy Persian cats are like my babies! My ultimate aim in life is to keep them happy and satisfied, and I’m sure that’s the case with most pet owners. We want to give our pets the world, and sometimes the world comes in the form of fun and cosy pet products! One such product is the Playground by Ming-Wei Xiao.

The Playground is a doghouse that also alternates as a modular sofa! The various modules of the sofa can be arranged creating not only different sofa designs but also fun spaces wherein your doggo can hop, bounce and play about! The wooden doghouse on one side of the furniture piece seems super comfy and adorable! A little hole on its roof, allows your dog to pop his head out of the doghouse, and connect/interact with you while you lounge about on the sofa. It’s the perfect way to spend quality time! Xiao designed Playground, especially for millennial pet owners. The designer kept in mind that the homes of millennials often have space constraints, and nor do they have much free time on their hand. Hence, Playground is extremely easy to put together, and will not occupy much space in our modern-day cramped apartments. Since Playground was created for young target customers, Xiao tried to give it a trendy and cool appearance! Bright colors, minimal woodwork, and a little plant give the furniture design a modern appeal.

Playground is a fun and interactive product design, that helps pet owners and their pets connect better. Its minimal and attractive aesthetics also allow it to seamlessly merge with the interiors of any living space. Playground is the perfect pet product for millennials!

Designer: Ming-Wei Xiao

Pet-friendly products to keep your pet comfortable + safe on your next holiday!

Posted on 26/05/2021 by Srishti Mitra

Our pets are our lifelines, and we hate being apart from them! At least I do for sure. But taking our pets on our travels with us can be a bit of an issue! Traveling is never easy for our pets. It makes them anxious, and stressed, and often results in them falling sick. Hence, we have to ensure their comfort at all times and make sure they’re being well taken care of. In such scenarios, having handy and effective pet products with us can be extremely helpful! Cozy pet carriers, portable food/water containers, and beds are all travel products that can make transits comfier and safer for our pets. Hence, we’ve curated a collection of innovative and functional pet products that are perfect for those troublesome travel journeys with your pets! These products promise to make your trips not only fun for you, but for your beloved pet as well.

Talk about purrfect design execution! The Catzz kitty-bed is inspired directly by its feline occupant. Designed to be flat-packed, the Catzz is an icosahedral shelter for cats that comes with multiple triangular panels that come together to form the enclosed shelter. The clever bit, however, is the fact that the Catzz bed actually looks like a minimalist cat head, complete with two pointy ears! Made from individual felt panels, the flat-packed bed can easily be assembled in minutes. When put together, it forms the perfect haven for your kitten, being a combination of robust and sturdy yet fuzzy and comfortable. The Catzz bed even comes with a dangling toy that you can suspend from the bed’s ear (for the cat to periodically play with), and when the bed does get dirty, it can easily be disassembled and machine-washed. It’s perfect to carry with you when you’re traveling with your pets!

The Air Cage was designed specifically to make travel journeys easier for pets and their owners so that everyone can enjoy an emotional turbulence-free flight! Air Cage was created to ensure your pet’s safety and ease your mind when you’re traveling with them. The concept was designed to be a rent-as-you-go service but it can also be opened to buying. You get your carrier in advance so your pet can familiarize themselves with it and have lesser anxiety during the flight. On the day of departure, your pet will be comfortable in the Air Cage which you can then hand over to the attendants without any worry because you will be able to monitor your pet throughout the journey thanks to an in-built device. Apart from the real-time camera monitor, the carrier has many features to keep your pet comfortable – a water bottle, a pet bowl, and a bowel pad too!

This clever animal carrier was designed to prepare you and your furry companion for disasters by equipping you with emergency kits that work for your needs and the needs of your emotional service pet. While we love and care for them as we do for our own children, there is not enough being done in terms of disaster preparedness for them. Evacuating with animals needs a lot of advanced preparation and most people are unprepared due to a lack of information or kits that are made for this specific situation. As emotional support/companion animals are increasingly becoming a new norm, we need a kit like Base which ensures their safety while doubling up as an everyday pet furniture item in the house. In the event of a disaster, you can rely on the built-in emergency kit by using Base as a carrier for your pet.

If you’ve ever traveled anywhere with your pets, you know how difficult it can be to cater to their needs while you’re on the go! Making sure they are comfy and don’t get anxious, feeding them their fav meal and water, and ensuring they have their little bathroom breaks – the list of issues is endless. However, Miray Özlem ER’s Portable Food and Water Container can help us out with any feeding issues we may encounter! Miray designed this handy pet product, especially for dogs. The container is large enough to store and provide at least one or two meals for dogs weighing between 1 to 40 kgs. Not only does the portable container store food, but it also stores water. The interesting part is that the container comes along with a food and water bowl! And the bowls can be attached onto the container. The food bowl can be neatly fitted on top of the food section, whereas the water bowl can be fitted on top of the water section. So whenever you want to feed your pet, you can place the little bowls, and fill them up with food and water from the container!

Sunghoon Park’s ‘Carrio’ is quite versatile and modular as well! At first glance, it may look like an ordinary pet carrier, but once you dwell deeper, it has a bit of a surprise in store for you. At home, Carrio can be used as a bed or a quaint resting spot for your pet, a personal area for your pet to laze around in after a long day of play. When it comes to functioning as a carrier, it provides two modules, owing to two types of straps that can be customized. It can be used as a carrier backpack, slip it onto your shoulders effortlessly and take your pet alongside you wherever you please. Put on the second pair of straps, and it can be used as a travel carrier bag! You can hold it horizontally like a duffle bag, apt for your larger furry friends.

Most people avoid using pet houses in their homes because it takes up too much space and they can’t tuck it away like they can with the pet beds. But Accordio is here to solve that dilemma, it is a portable, flexible, accordion-like pet house that can be expanded for your pet’s use or flat-packed away if you want to carry it places with you! Accordio’s form drew inspiration from the designer’s niece who had a silicone bowl plate. “I was intrigued by its flexibility and portability. After some research, I found that silicone also has a fascinating collapsible feature, which was later adapted into a foldable house,” explains Seong. The unique pet house is a study in portable pet furniture. The silicone makes it super lightweight and gives it a distinct collapsible feature. Silicone not only makes it easy to carry along for outdoor activities or travel but is also very easy to clean. Accordio can be compressed into 1/6th of its full size by pushing both sides. The fabric cushion included conveniently fits into the collapsed form for portability

Passakorn Kulkliang designed PAWSPAL in order to help better facilitate the typically difficult task of traveling with animal companions. The product has three main functions: a fully integrated, chargeable air ventilation system, a bottom deck used to roll the carrying cases, and the individual crate’s inbuilt stackability. If the user were to choose to roll their pets through the airport, just like the common rolling suitcase, then the case or cases can be placed atop the removable base for easy maneuvering throughout any space or building. In addition to the stackable feature and the wheeled base, users can opt out to carry the case as it is. Lastly, inside the crate, you won’t have to worry about your pet overheating because each case comes equipped with an operating air ventilation system that keeps your animal cool at all times. Each crate from PAWSPAL includes a charging hole for USB C cables so that keeping your pet cool is a given.

Hyesung Yung designed PRODOGT, a refrigerator, especially for pets! PRODOGT is a green and grey-colored quirky little appliance! It almost looks like a portable fan, and it does mimic its dynamics in a certain way (more on that later). The center section of the fridge which looks like a portable fan actually stores the food. You can gain access to this section, by opening the little door of the fridge and sliding your pet’s food into it. When it’s time for your pet’s meal, the food slides from the storage section to the little platter attached to the bottom of the fridge. The platter slides out when it’s dinner time for your furry friend! PRODOGT not only stores and cools pet food, but it also serves it quite efficiently! Another interesting feature of PRODOGT is its portability! Also, not to mention, it is wireless as well. It’s unlike the hefty or heavy fridges we use for ourselves. PRODOGT is a light, easy-to-carry and portable fridge that you can carry around whenever you travel!

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For animal lovers, their pet can be their world and their pet’s comfort is quite often a top priority for them. One of the most stressful activities for animals is traveling due to the discomfort that it causes and the separation from their owner. The Aroma Pet Carrier aims to create a calmer environment through the introduction of clean, fresh air. A ventilation system allows purified, fresh air to be introduced into the carrier, instantly creating a more pleasant environment. This clean air is then infused with the fresh and calming scent that is peppermint; this aroma reduces the nauseating feeling that comes with motion sickness, something that pets are prone to getting. A second aroma also flows into the cabin, the scent of soil; this natural fragrance relaxes the animal and reduces tension.

The Terra Firma tailgates Bowlus Road Chief’s Endless Highways Performance Edition is complete with a 26-foot length body, reflective chrome exterior, in-floor heating system, and large lithium iron phosphate battery pack that allows for a week’s worth of off-grid traveling. On the inside, Terra Firma brings the elegance equal to that found in private jets and newer Tesla models equipped with plenty of high-tech features that meet the needs of even your furry travel companions. Whether you’d like to bring your cat or dog along for the trip, Terra Firma includes a built-in, personalized pet bed, along with pull-out food and water bowls. If your pup is ever too tired to join you at your side for a good hike, with Pet-Flex remote temperature monitoring, you can head up the mountain assured that sure your pets are safe and happy.

This portable pet refrigerator not only stores their food, but serves it to them as well!

Posted on 13/05/2021 by Srishti Mitra

If you have a pet, then you probably already know, that they are hungry almost ALL the time. No matter how much you feed them, they’ll come to you with little puppy eyes (quite literally in the case of doggos), pleading you for some treats! And most of the time…more like all the time, you’ll give in! As tricky as those situations can get, storing their food correctly is another matter altogether. When stored outside, it can often get stale, and that isn’t the best for your pet’s tummy. And our own personal refrigerators are overflowing with our leftovers, where’s the space for storing pet food? Hence, Hyesung Yung designed PRODOGT, a refrigerator, especially for pets! How cool is that? But this innovative fridge not only stores your pet’s food, but it also serves it!

PRODOGT is a green and grey-colored quirky little appliance! It almost looks like a portable fan, and it does mimic its dynamics in a certain way (more on that later). The center section of the fridge which looks like a portable fan actually stores the food. You can gain access to this section, by opening the little door of the fridge and sliding your pet’s food into it. When it’s time for your pet’s meal, the food slides from the storage section to the little platter attached to the bottom of the fridge. The platter slides out when it’s dinner time for your furry friend! Quite handy, no? PRODOGT not only stores and cools pet food, but it also serves it quite efficiently! All these features can be operated and handled via the menu panel. The panel is extremely user-centric and friendly, helping you easily control how much food your pet gets, and when he/she gets it. Now going back to the resemblance in the functionality of this fridge and a portable fan! The main storage section rotates exactly like the blades of a fan. This mixes and rotates all the food items evenly and periodically so that the perishable and older feed do not decay. The fridge also maintains an optimum and safe temperature, which retains moisture and ensures the food stays fresh.

Another interesting feature of PRODOGT is its portability! Also, not to mention, it is wireless as well. It’s unlike the hefty or heavy fridges we use for ourselves. PRODOGT is a light, easy-to-carry and portable fridge that you can carry around whenever you travel! You always have fresh food for your pet with PRODOGT by your side. This unique appliance for pets provides a smart solution to all our pet food problems. It functions as a storage unit, and as a nifty little waiter for your pets! I’m definitely getting one for my cats.

Designer: Hyesung Yun

This pet house is designed like an accordion with silicone and magnets so it can be flat-packed!

Posted on 10/05/2021 by Ruchi Thukral

Accordio’s form drew inspiration from the designer’s niece who had a silicone bowl plate. “I was intrigued by its flexibility and portability. After some research, I found that silicone also has a fascinating collapsible feature, which was later adapted into a foldable house,” explains Seong. The unique pet house is a study in portable pet furniture. The silicone makes it super lightweight and gives it a distinct collapsible feature. Silicone not only makes it easy to carry along for outdoor activities or travel but is also very easy to clean. Accordio can be compressed into 1/6th of its full size by pushing both sides. The fabric cushion included conveniently fits into the collapsed form for portability.

The biggest challenge was keeping the pet house in a flattened shape when it is collapsed. Seong explored several ways like as snap buttons, straps, and more. But amongst all of them, magnetic frames were chosen to be the ideal final solution because they provided structural stability as well as visual clarity. There are a total of eight magnetic frames in Accordio’s structure and each magnetic frame is reinforced for stability. When collapsed, these frames adhere to each other and keep it compact.

Accordio Pet House by Yongwook Seong is Winner in Pet Supplies and Products for Animals Design Category, 2020 – 2021.

Designer: Yongwook Seong

This portable food + water container with attached feeding bowls makes travels with your pet an ease!

Posted on 26/04/2021 by Srishti Mitra

The product features a double-sided design. The long cylinder in the center consists of two sections – one for storing food, and one for storing water. The water tank can store almost 0.5 liters of water. A metal lid prevents the food and water from falling or leaking out, and also allows you to easily pour them out. When you want to fill the container with food, you simply remove the lid, add in the food, and seal it shut. When you want to fill it with water, you turn the container around and pour the water into the other section. The interesting part is that the container comes along with a food and water bowl! And the bowls can be attached onto the container. The food bowl can be neatly fitted on top of the food section, whereas the water bowl can be fitted on top of the water section. So whenever you want to feed your pet, you can place the little bowls, and fill them up with food and water from the container!

The design is also really helpful for feeding stray dogs on the street! You can carry the container with you, and provide them with food and water in the attached bowls. This portable container is super functional, extremely easy to carry, and promises to make our travel plans a whole lot easier! These are the kind of smart pet products that can make a huge difference.

Designer: Miray Özlem ER

This furniture design is a functional piece for you and a playful landscape for your cat!

Posted on 20/02/2021 by Ruchi Thukral

Do your pets understand personal boundaries or are they normal? Sharing space has become more challenging post-pandemic as our work and non-work lives have merged into one home but we have also started spending a lot more time with our pets who may be thinking “why is this human taking over my favorite chair?” So Space International created catHAUS that encourages harmony between you and your cat when you are in the same space!

The angular furniture piece was envisioned to be a domestic retreat for an undomesticated species. It incorporates your needs and your pet’s needs too – two different functions but in the same piece of furniture. For you, catHAUS is a seating option and for your cat, it is a landscape of different textures. Playing off of the iconographic conventions of the familiar gable roof, catHAUS operates at the scale of both shelter and furniture.

Its exterior is abstract and neutral in its materiality while the plush interior is finished in synthetic turf and vertical supports wrapped in sisal rope. The design is highly engaging for your feline friend and keeps them from disturbing you while you read, work or watch Netflix!

Designer: Space International

This modular cat climber was designed to fit in with your existing furniture set!

Posted on 30/07/2020 by Ruchi Thukral

Furniture design has flourished during this pandemic as we all need something multifunctional, flexible, and space-saving – and it applies to pet furniture too. The latest piece to catch our eye has been the Kyali cat climber by MADE for its almost human furniture-like design because usually, a cat climber would stick out but this one just blends in like a cozy stool!

The climber has a warm inviting vibe because of the woody tones and the soft fabric cushioning that will instantly draw your cats in for a nap. It is a blend of a bed and a dynamic game for your pets. Featuring three shelves or levels, Kyali’s goal was to provide plenty of fun for your feline friends without taking up too much room. It has a modular structure that lets you adjust the shape to create more space for cats to explore or to make it more compact to store.

It keeps the space clutter-free while giving the cats enough surfaces to scratch and hole-some entertainment. The walnut and navy aesthetics give it an evergreen look that works for any interior style. Your cats would be happy and comfy with Kyali while letting you work from home in peace!

Designer: MADE

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This modular cat furniture is designed to be a lounge for you and your pet!

Posted on 19/07/2020 by Ruchi Thukral

Since everyone is staying home, a lot of our attention has been captured by the furniture around us which has got thinking about how it can be more multifunctional, space-saving, and aesthetic. Furniture design is moving towards a more flexible direction and CatYou in a Circle is a wonderful display of modular pieces that work for both humans and pets.

The set includes a floor sofa and a coffee table that aims to create a relaxing space for cats and their owners to have some downtime. Urban homes are only getting smaller and cat owners are faced with challenges to keep their pets entertained without taking up too much space. During quarantine, it has become more of a lesson as we share our space with them 24/7. The designer administered a questionnaire and after 233 responses it was found one-third of the cat owners living under 50 square meters. The four main problems that the design needed to solve based on their feedback were – not enough hiding space, cat furniture occupies too much living space, renovation is often not an option, and people want to have enough room to bond with their cats during playtime. The goal was to incorporate the behavior of people and cats in one design that worked to create a functional and playful space for both.

People in small living spaces use low furniture (such as rugs, floor chairs) to build intimate relaxing areas while cats prefer covert spaces, but due to the limited space, there are not many places to hide or play. CatYou in a Circle didn’t want to separate the pets from their owners so it is designed to cleverly bring them together while also maintaining boundaries. The hollow armrests and backrest offer cats a playground and hiding territory while the coffee table provides a place to sleep. The woven bamboo texture makes it possible for owners to see their cats even when they are hiding and play with through its holes. The size of holes is different in different parts of the furniture to adapt to the needs of the pet as well as humans. The backrest holes are smaller to make the cats feel more secure. But holes above are bigger so that when people lean on the sofa, they can see through the backrest and find their cats underneath. The armrest holes are bigger to offer more opportunities to interact. But holes above it are smaller to make resting your arms more comfortable. There are also two large holes on each side of armrests that allow the curious cats to pop their heads or hands out.

To make it more comfortable and cozy, fabric cushions are placed at the bottom of the armrests and the coffee table. They are skin-friendly and also absorb smell so it works especially well for smaller homes. The cushions are laundry-friendly and the armrests can be stretched out or pushed back in depending on the space and needs. The bamboo adds a touch of warmth and keeps it airy and visually light. Most cat furniture on the market is focused on either just the pet or just the interior aesthetic for the owners, it is rare to find pet furniture that works for the behavioral and spatial needs of both while still upholding the standards of style. CatYou in a Circle emphasizes the concept of “passive companion”, which leaves an autonomous space for cats. Flexible furniture should be extended to pets as well, after all, our house belongs more to them than it does to us!

Designer: Jack Dogson