Bringing a Cat Home: A Renovation Proposal for Cat-Friendly Living [3]

KEY1 Basic ——Fundamentals of a Cat-Friendly Home · Part 2

Designing Based on the Nature of Cats

Living in a bustling city, most modern people reside in high-rise buildings with limited outdoor space and smaller areas. As a result, when it comes to having pets, many people choose cats, as they are more suited to living indoors. Unlike the past, when pet care was more focused on “practicality,” today’s pet owners treat their cats like family. Their affection for cats has extended to their personal living spaces, incorporating designs like catwalks, tunnels, and climbing platforms into their homes. This not only enhances the cats’ activity levels but also adds enjoyment to daily life.

Using Design to Foster Activity and Engagement

When designing specifically for cats, the first step is to understand the personality of your own cat. Most cats have excellent jumping ability, but some are afraid of heights and may hesitate if the height is too high. Therefore, the height of jumping platforms should not be excessive, and the distance between them should not be too large to avoid reducing the cat’s willingness to use them. As the jumping platform leads into the catwalk, it’s important to consider the number of cats in the household. If there are two or more cats, the catwalk should be wide enough to allow two cats to pass each other comfortably. However, the final width should be carefully balanced with the overall spatial feel of the home, ensuring it doesn’t create a sense of crowding or disrupt the daily activities of the human inhabitants.

Although cats often appear lazy, they are far from lacking in energy. In addition to horizontal pathways, vertical movement routes should also be incorporated into the design. It’s best to create hidden corners at different heights where the cats can retreat, which not only encourages them to use the space and stay active, but also satisfies their instinct to hide in high places.

Overall, the goal of designing a home for cats is to ensure that they live comfortably and healthily. At the same time, the comfort of the human residents should not be overlooked. Only by balancing the needs of both can we create a truly harmonious home where both humans and cats are happy.

· Catwalk Width and Its Relation to the Number of Cats

The most common places for installing catwalks are on the walls or within a dedicated cat room. While cats are agile creatures, designing a catwalk is not as simple as just placing a wooden board; it should be designed with the comfort of the cat in mind. When walking on the catwalk, cats should not only be able to move forward but also have enough space to turn 360° comfortably. Therefore, the minimum width of the catwalk should be 20 cm.

However, if there is more than one cat in the household, it’s possible for multiple cats to be on the catwalk at the same time. In this case, the width of the catwalk should be wide enough to allow two cats to pass each other comfortably. Ideally, the width should be increased to about 25–30 cm to ensure smooth movement and avoid traffic jams on the catwalk.

· Careful Selection and Coordination of Materials

Cats are naturally clean animals, constantly grooming themselves with their tongues. Therefore, it’s important to pay special attention to the choice of materials used in the home. If possible, opt for natural materials to create a healthy, non-toxic environment, preventing the cat from licking harmful substances that could damage its health. Additionally, materials with a softer, cushioning effect, such as cork flooring, can help reduce the impact when cats jump down. However, if cleaning is a concern, it’s advisable to use materials like polished quartz tiles, which are easy to clean, sweep, and won’t retain odors.

· Proper Ventilation is Key for the Cat Room

Cat rooms are typically a necessity in multi-cat households. In addition to providing areas for sleeping and playing, the cat room often serves as a place to store the litter box and other cat supplies. To avoid lingering unpleasant odors and ensure proper airflow, it’s recommended to locate the cat room near a balcony or in a room with good ventilation, such as one with a window. If this is not possible, then the design should focus on improving ventilation, such as incorporating open grid designs with suitable gaps to allow odors to dissipate, ensuring smooth airflow. For doors or partitions, glass materials can be used to create a sense of openness, making it easier to check on the cats and interact with them at any time.

· Recommended Size for an Independent Cat House: At Least 180cm in Length

Sometimes, due to limited space, it’s not possible to dedicate an entire room as a cat room, so an independent cat house is designed instead. These are often placed in small spaces, such as under staircases or designed as cabinet-like structures. The size of the cat house or cat cabinet should ideally be 180-200 cm in length and about 90 cm in width. This size ensures that the cat house is comfortable for use, but it’s generally suitable for accommodating two cats. For multi-cat households, it’s recommended to plan multiple cat houses in different areas to avoid overcrowding and reduce the stress caused by limited space. Additionally, since cat houses are typically small, special attention should be given to the convenience of cleaning the litter box. Alternatively, the litter box can be placed elsewhere, leaving the cat house purely as a space for sleeping.