A Castle for Every Cat

Listen to this article

Whether your crepuscular cat prefers to stretch out in the sun, hide out in an enclosed area or nestle into the comfort of a luxury bed to sleep away the day, there is a cat house available to meet his needs. These days, it’s all about our cats’ comfort and consumers are willing to pay plenty to ensure their pets can sleep the day away.

Safe retreats are especially important for multiple-cat households where bullying has the potential to occur. Retailers should educate customers on providing several cat houses or platforms for peace-seeking felines to retreat. Luckily, there are dozens of cat houses on the market that fit any decor and are designed to match any personality.

Cat Chateaus

When it comes to chic design, the new Neko Nappers from Nekochan fits perfectly with every consumer’s idea of an indoor cat house.

“Our houses offer many benefits, but most of all they are versatile, unique and compatible with any home design,” said Ellen Tsuyuki, owner of Nekochan Enterprises. “I think cats enjoy places where they can have a hiding spot to view what is going on, feel protected as they sleep and still stalk prey passing in front of the opening.”

For the homeowner who prefers a modern look, there is an eclectic collection of unique cat furniture available throughout the industry.

“Finding a cat enclosure that fits in with your modern home decor can be challenging,” said Tom Davies, owner/designer of Davies Decor. “Now you can give your cat its own private space to sleep, groom or just hang out without compromising style. The Post and Beam Cat House uses classic post and beam principles, horizontal lines and a beautiful combination of natural materials.”

Choosing a cat house should be focused on more than just looks, they should be functional and appealing to a cat.

“The Cat’s Trapeze is one of the most unique cat products I’ve seen,” said Kate Benjamin, cat style expert and founder of Hauspanther LLC. “It’s a cat bed and climber in one and it hangs from the ceiling or wall, freeing up floor space. It’s perfect for hanging in front of a window to create a cozy, elevated spot for cats to rest and bird-watch.”

For a more conservative style that meshes with any decor, there is the new Kathy Ireland collection from Worldwise.

“The line includes a collection of stylish, modular cat furniture that satisfies your cat’s natural needs by providing places for them to scratch, play, groom, stretch and rest,” said Aimee Diskin, director of innovation product development for Worldwise. “With innovative designs inspired by home décor trends, these elegant pieces work perfectly on their own but can also be combined to create a stylish activity center for your cat.”

Nature Meets Nurture

For cats that prefer a more natural look and feel, Pet Tree Houses recently introduced a new version of their popular trees. Their popular lifelike trees make the perfect addition to any luxury home and offer not only a private cat house but multiple platforms that cats can nap on while adopters can view each cat in a more natural habitat.

“The KIT-TY Trees are crafted with the exact same highest quality materials as our most expensive Trees, which can run in the thousands of dollars,” said Joe DelRocco, owner of Pet Tree Houses. “We wanted to significantly reduce the cost to the consumer and ease the fear of assembly. The new KIT-TY Trees are just as heavy, stable and beautiful as our famous Sycamore Tree but at a fraction of the cost.”

For cats who are fortunate enough to have an outdoor enclosure or for those who care for feral cats, there are dozens of fresh new designs available.

“For owners that have indoor/outdoor cats, a bed that offers protection from the elements outside is going to be best for them,” said Pascale Duffieux-Pierce, executive vice president of Brinsea. “We’re seeing a lot more demand for versatility, like the scratching post and bed in one as well as aesthetics. People aren’t just throwing a blanket or dog bed on the floor for kitty to cuddle up in anymore; they want structure, design and adaptability. Our consumers love that the KatKabin can be used inside and out as well, without worry about rain or snow.”

A wide variety of designs is the earmark of ecoFLEX from New Age Pet. A blend of recycled polymers and wood byproducts, ecoFLEX is durable, naturally insect- and rot-resistant and very easy to clean material. Not only do they make wonderful cat houses, they help the environment by utilizing recycled materials. Their new ThermoCore technology utilizes the body heat from your cat to keep them warm with no electricity, batteries or harmful chemicals.

Don’t forget to stock soft beds that hold up both indoors and out.

“P.L.A.Y., Pet Lifestyle and You, manufactures eco-friendly pet beds that are stylish for owners, safe for pets and better for our planet,” said Natalie Hennessy, public relations and integrated marketing manager at Warm Bellies.

“Designed to fit any home, our award-winning beds are made with the finest fabrics and feature durable construction,” said Hennessy. “Overstuffed with our in-house PlanetFill filler made of certified-safe, 100 percent post-consumer recycled products, these designer beds are easy to clean and 100 percent machine washable and dryer friendly. We understand the needs of today’s pet owners, since we are pet parents ourselves, deriving inspiration for our products from our office dogs and cats. It is with this inspiration and passion for animals that we are successful in creating pet products that are unique and tailored to the modern pet owner.”

As our feline friends gain a larger section of the pet market, it’s more important than ever for retailers to carry a selection of cat houses for both indoor housecats and outdoor enclosures. They will find that high quality cat houses, beautifully designed and sourced from environmentally friendly materials are in high demand.