Crazy about your cat? Love unique interior design and decorating? Combine these two passions by designing your new home around your cat! There are many great, trendy ways to incorporate your kitty’s needs into your new home that will both be aesthetically pleasing and enriching to your feline friend. We’ve listed a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
Cat Shelves
One of the most common ways to build your home around your cat is to install special shelving units. These might be built-in bookcases (don’t want to risk a stand-alone bookshelf topping over from an overzealous jump) or narrow, individual shelves installed along the walls like a ladder, allowing cats to travel from shelf to shelf across your home. If you live in a two-story house, these shelves can even go from floor to floor, providing your cat with easy access to all areas of your house – away from small hands that pull tails, or other, barking fur babies. When you work with your builder to install shelves during the building process, you can guarantee they’ll blend seamlessly into the rest of your home’s aesthetic.
Add More Windows
It’s no secret – cats absolutely love windows. From watching birds and people to sunning themselves, cats are drawn to windows like magnets. To encourage your cat’s curiosity, look for home designs that include large windows that offer great views of the outdoors, or ask your builder if you can customize the number and size of your windows. Why not opt for a high window paired with one of the aforementioned shelves? Plus, not only will your cat be happy, but more windows will also allow you to enjoy more natural lighting in your home. If you want to really drive your cat wild, include a bird feeder or two outside the windows!
Cat Hammock
Not all cat-friendly interior design needs to be extravagant or expensive. One great, easy way to make your space more cat-friendly is to install a small hammock-type cat bed on your windows. These are relatively inexpensive; many high quality cat hammocks can be purchased for $25 or less. Kitties will love to have a soft bed that allows them to overlook a window, and you’ll love the price, easy setup, and the floor space you save.
Outdoor Enclosure for Cats
Domesticated cats should be kept indoors as much as possible, for a multitude of reasons. A cat’s lifespan increases if they are indoor-only, and they won’t prey upon local wildlife or run away, plus you lower the risk of fleas and other pests.
Many cats enjoy being outside, though. How do you balance your need to protect your cat while letting it enjoy nature? With a closed off, outdoor cat enclosure! Ask your builder if it’s possible to build an enclosure that blends with the look of your home, or if it’s possible for them to install a cat flap or window that will eventually open into a cat enclosure that you purchase yourself.
Cat Trees
Most cat owners already own some kind of scratching post or soft cat tree for their kitties to climb and jump. Take the common cat tree a step further by incorporating a real tree into the design! Just like the outdoor enclosure idea, there are many ways to DIY this, or you can purchase one online.
Using natural branches and wood to create the main post of the cat tree will delight your cat’s senses, especially cats who have a taste for the outdoors. Additionally, you can add rocks and other scenic decor to make the tree look more like a house decoration than a pet accessory.
Cat Litter Box Cabinet
Cat owners often struggle with finding the perfect place to store their cat’s litter box. This task can be especially difficult if you live in a small space where there aren’t many places to stow a litter box out of view. But out of sight is the best place for a litter box. For one thing, cats prefer a private place to do their business; for another, nothing screams “eyesore” like a large litter box sitting in the middle of an otherwise elegant room.
One creative solution is to turn a cabinet or other similar form of furniture into a litter box. The side of the cabinet can be cut out to act as a door, and the litter box can then be placed inside the cabinet walls. This will provide your cat privacy while allowing the litter box to blend in with the rest of your interior design.
Create a Cat Room
If you have an extra room in your house, why not turn it into a cat room? This can combine all the ideas above into one, or include other cat-friendly designs! Picture this: a room that cats can access through a small cat door, while the main door is closed to keep children or large dogs out. Toys and food dishes on the floor, windows with bird feeders dangling outside of them, hammocks and ladders for reclining and climbing – and all for your cat! To encourage your feline to spend time with you, you can even add in a sofa or desk to act as your personal study space or reading nook; there are few things cats love more than a warm lap (and a warmer laptop), so they’ll feel right at home.
Chances are, your cat already considers themselves the rulers of your house. Going the extra mile by incorporating some of the ideas above into your home design will satisfy your cat, as well as bring personal joy to anyone who wants to show off their love for their furry friend. With many different options to fit all kinds of houses and budgets, try one of these home design tips today!
Sarah graduated from Trinity University in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science. She writes blogs on new homes, decor, communities, and more for NewHomeSource. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her three cats.
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