Functional & Fabulous Feline Furniture

{Images from Square Cat Habitat}

Owning a cat can be a real pain - they scratch furniture, demand attention when they want it, ignore you when they don't want attention, and eliminate the need to own an alarm clock (Oliver goes insane around 5am - ugh). Still, perhaps the most difficult part about owning a cat is finding a scratching post or cat tree that does not completely offend one's personal aesthetic. Enter Square Cat Habitat, a Portland-based company devoted to creating cat furniture that "would accent existing modern decor rather than distract from it." The company offers a variety of modern cat products fashioned from renewable or recycled materials. Prices range from $30 to $550 - meaning we can all afford something. Yay!

Pet Pillows

{Image from Workshop}

Most of us are familiar with the Boston Terrier pillow by Fauna, but not all of us own Bostons. For instance, I've got a Walter and I have no idea what breed he is. Now, thanks to the Screen and Sew: Pet Pillows class at Workshop in San Francisco, we can all have pillows that look like our pets. The class costs a mere $34 and no supplies are needed. Simply sign up for the class and send them a digital image or rendering of your favorite fur ball. Basic sewing skills are required. Hurry, there are only 6 slots left in the May 15th class. If you don't make it this go around, don't fret, I'm sure they'll offer the class again. If anyone from Sac is interested in going, let me know - we could carpool down for the day!

Flat, Fuss-Free Feline

I am so tired of vet bills. I mean, I love Walter and Ollie, but this is getting out of hand. I think it might be time to fork over $15 for the Cat Flat Pet, a screen-printed, cardboard cut-out of an adorable feline - hold the vet bills.

Kitty Condo

On my recent trip to Oakland, my friend and I stopped in on Red Hound, a pet store for stylish four-legged friends located on College Avenue. In the window was this very modern cat tower by the Union City-based pet product company Otis and Claude. Available in two color palettes - warm (pictured above) and cool - the tower comes with five stack-able boxes constructed of wood and cotton fabric. When stacked on top of one another, the tower is 73.6 inches high and way more stylish than those cat-tree eyesores you find at your average pet store. They range from $290-$325, depending on what store you buy them at.

Purrrrrfectly Fabulous

I just back from the River City Cat Clinic, where I had to dole out $195 in vet fees, shots and flea prevention for my cat Oliver (aka Ollie). It's really too bad because my co-worker just sent me a link to these fabulous modern cat beds by Etsy seller likekittysville. They're fashioned from vintage fabrics and wood, and at $74 they're not even that expensive. Oh, well. Guess Ollie will have to go without.

Check out photos of some happy kitty (and small pup) customers here.

Pampered Pets Travel in Style

Sleepypod mobile pet beds/carriers are quite impressive. They feature a nylon bed with plush padding and a washable liner and have a removable dome top that can be added when you and your pet are on the go. The carriers have both shoulder and hand straps, for easy carrying. Oh, and when you're in the car, simply strap a seat belt around the carrier so your pet can travel in safety. The carriers are available in six colors and two sizes, and are suitable for cats and dogs under 15lbs. Damn, my boy Walter is too big!