I’m very excited to share this special sneak peek into a stunningly Catified interior! Join me as we take a tour around the 650 sq ft studio loft of Hauspanther reader Karen who lives with her gorgeous — and very lucky — Abyssinian cats in San Diego.
Karen has very carefully selected every design element in her home to fit her personal style and meet the needs of the cats. Living is such a small space can be quite challenging, especially with cats, but Karen has really made the most of every square inch.
Karen added several elements to take advantage of the vertical space in the room. She had a handyman install climbing shelves in one corner and a bridge leading across the entry way. This allows the cats to traverse the space without touching the floor, an important concept in Catification.
Karen has also added many beautiful cat-friendly pieces throughout the space, including the following:
- Lotus Cat Tower from The Refined Feline
- Sebastian Modern Cat Tree from Designer Pet Products
- Baobab Cat Tree from Square Cat Habitat
- KittyPod Mini by Elizabeth Paige Smith
- KittyPod Couchette also by Elizabeth Paige Smith
- and a whole stack of Kittyblocks
Karen also creatively uses surfaces throughout the space. The cats navigate their way around the room by jumping from the top of the armoire to the window perch to the top of the decorative columns. I encourage you to do the same and look for existing surfaces that can be incorporated into your Catification plan.
I love all the little touches that celebrate living with cats, like the oversized silver letters spelling out CAT. This is such a perfect example of how to consciously Catify your home to accommodate your cats’ needs while decorating with style and flair. A big thank you to Karen for inviting us into her home!
Love, Love LOVE this! Fantastic decorator, number one! And number two, she did it with her cats in mind! Amazing!!!
Thank you, very much!
This is marvelous!
Thank you, very much!
What a wonderful fantasy loft. Lucky cats; how many does she have? Would love to know where she hids litter boxes; where she feeds cats, etc. We have 6 cats, all but one were rescued and even in a large house, litter boxes, etc. can be quite a problem.
I have 10 (9 inside and 1 out) all rescues as well so I know what you mean about litter boxes. I like to see more comfy furniture for people that can withstand the shredding cats do..my furniture is in rags…maybe I should just through it all out and move onto the floor with them. 🙂
Great ideas here though.
I have two cats. I have one litter box in my bathroom and two on the balcony. San Diego has very mild weather and I can leave the door cracked almost everyday of the year. One of the photos shows a cat eating…I have a long narrow floor cloth against the far wall where I feed them.
OK obviously I need to have my MomKatt bookmark this page so that, when they move to Camano Island, WA, in two years, she can design a room like this for US kitties!!!!
Purrz!
Selina
It’s really easy to do…just steal all your ideas from Kate! 🙂
Unusual ideas. One thing I’ve often wondered is how difficult it is to manage the dirt on the walls when shelves are installed for the cats.
I have a question about the bridge across the entrance hallway. Was that self-created or components purchased? How was it balanced/secured? I have been looking to do something similar because I cannot put holes in my walls but need a way for one cat to escape another (Kitty highway as J Galaxy calls it). Is there a way we can find out? Thanks.
I had a handy man create it from just a rough sketch I gave him…when he mounted it he secured it with liquid nail and screws. The high point should be the 1/2 mark.
Very attractive and imaginative! I always enjoy seeing how others catify their space. I am working on a catification project in my own home. I have it planned, and am implementing as cash flow allows. Please keep posting the inspiration!
Thank you, very much!
What a gorgeous space! Lucky cats.
Thank you very much!
I’ve got to admit, white is my least favorite (total lack of all) color, but I like what she’s done with the space — and I LOVE those Abys 🙂
White can be bleached and dark surfaces show cat hair 🙂
What a fun space for kitties! My Derby would be swinging from that chandelier by the door if I put a bridge that close!
Actually, it is just a rainbow maker, not a chandelier 🙂
Mr Clean Magic Eraser makes taking a mark off the wall VERY easy. The truth is…there is VERY seldom a mark. These shelves have been up over 6 years and I’ve only had 2-3 marks on the wall.
Wow! I love what she’s done to make her cats happy and to keep them occupied and not bored. Also very chic and functional. Lucky cats!!
Thank you very much!
Take my breath away is right! Stunning design. Classy, beautiful, eclectic, boho, I am at a loss for words? Except to say, my cats & I SO wish that Karen was our friend & neighbor! Perfection!
WOW, Sherri….what a nice thing to say. Thank you so very much.
Amazing! If Fisher were still here on this plane, I hear her saying, “Yes. I want it all, I want it now, and I want if delivered.” Of course the two of us think alike.
I’m sorry Fisher is no longer with you 🙁
I am just LOVING that space! Karen has done a WONDERFUL job of catifying her place. I can tell she did it with lots of love and caring for her cats. I love her use of “white,” just so clean, crisp, and gorgeous! Bravo, girl! Don’t know what you do for a living but, I think you could help so many people with cats out that would love to do what you did! Beautiful, just beautiful!!
Thank you very much! I get my ideas from Kate!
This is amazing, LOVE the white kitty shelves!
The large CAT letters that run vertical down the wall are from ANTHROPOLOGIE…you’ll find them using the search “zinc letters” they are the large size. The horizontial letters on top of the cabinet are from BALLARD DESIGN…I will admit I covered these letters in silver leaf to give them a better shine…use the search “large letters”
I love what you did with your Lotus tower. Did you paint it? I have a dark brown one and would love to copy your design!! What kind of carpet did you use for the scratching pad and shelves?