Hey,

I'm already on my second post

One of the reasons that I'm choosing a Bengal cat, besides their really desirable athleticity and strong personalities is their beautiful aesthetics. That's really one of the characteristics I like about cats in general - they have an almost self-conscious concern for appearance.

So, this is the problem. I have found a bunch of really well-built cat furniture available in Europe on the web. I have no doubt it's quality product, the problem is, the design leaves something to be desirable. I really want to provide a nice area for my new kitten to enjoy himself, but I want to incorporate this organically with my living space, not have a segmented "this is the cats, this is the persons" type space. Of course, it's really difficult to incorporate the normal carpeted and sisal wrapped furniture with the rest of your stuff

I found a few American based websites that have really attractive furniture of apparent quality (they're expensive too, but no more than a quality carpet and sisal run of the mill type thing). Here are a few of them:

http://www.trendycatdesign.com/index.htm
http://www.postmodernpets.com/
http://catsplay.com/ (on CatsPlay, look at that Lotus Tree, fun!)

Unfortunately, most of these offerings are not available in Europe. But, I noticed there are some United Kingdom-ers on here and I thought maybe they had access to things I haven't found. Any suggestions?

Btw, related but not on topic, is double and triple wall corrugated cardboard really a long lasting material? I can see a Bengal shredding something like that in a matter of months (and certainly having a lot of fun doing so, but, I want to buy pieces that last not disposable stuff).

Thanks!

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"Never compromising with public taste."

You're thinking very much along the same lines as I am!
We've decided to build our own cat tree/gym though, primarily because we've designed the base as a large box for the litter tray. Luckily we'll have just renovated our living and dining rooms before our cats arrive so co-ordinating everything from scratch will be that much easier.
Sorry I can't be of more precise help.

Welcome to the forum BTW!

Carmen

You should look into a Lotus tree, the bottom cubby top removes so it conceals a little box well (if your Bengal doesn't mind their little in a closed housing). They've got them on the CatsPlay website and come in a variety of wood stains. The sisal weave that the platforms are lined with are replaceable and everything - it's so well designed.

Maybe if we write enough angry emails they'll start some European distribution.

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"Never compromising with public taste."

I did see that, but I think I'd like the base a little bigger...
It is a very clever design though

Some nice things on those websites, nothiing really like that available in the UK unfortunately.

But you may have just given my other half a project

Naomi

Tell your OH to keep the prices down though. Those prices are a horrendous.

Some of this stuff is really expensive, but I've always been of a sort of less is more type person. A lot of this stuff is "in my dreams" type things - I figure to start out I'll get some very basic scratching posts and improvise some staggered shelves covered in a cut up 70s shag rug or some sisal weave (probably a bit of both). The apartment has concrete walls, so if I get some long screws and use nice power drill, they'll support upwards of 30 kilos (so even if a full grown cat jumps onto it, it won't shake or feel unstable to him).

But, I found another good design website:

http://www.epsdesign.com/

She's an artist/industrial designer who makes these guys:

http://www.kittypod.com/kittypodtitle.html

My only concern with this is the durability of the corrugated cardboard. Does anyone have any experience with it? I just can't imagine it's as durable as something like a bamboo composite plyboard or regular old wood, not to mention I bet it could retain some nasty odors if kitty got upset and decided to "scent" it.

EPSDesign has some European outlets as well so this could be a real option for some of us...anyone good with Norwegian?

http://www.petshopgirls.no/

And this might be a really really boneheaded question - what does OH stand for?

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"Never compromising with public taste."

I'd scrap the idea of cardboard altogether!

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"Never compromising with public taste."

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Martin

Oska likes to wreck cardboard boxes, doesn't take him long to destroy one of these



Naomi

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Martin

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"Never compromising with public taste."