Catit assured me that all Vesper furniture is made from non-toxic materials and complies with the EPA’s formaldehyde emission standards for composite wood products (TSCA Title VI compliant).
runner-up
of Mau Cent Tree We get the most compliments on this piece of furniture we’ve ever owned. Not only is it beautiful to look at, but our cats love it too. We often find two cats fast asleep in each basket, or our little girl Eli asleep in her fluffy cave. They love jumping on and off, scratching in the designated scratching posts, and playing with the pom-poms. It’s very pricey, but the parts are replaceable.
Each piece of furniture is made from real wood (ethically sourced from trees that the company says “no longer bear fruit”), and the brand donates 5% of its profits to animal welfare and environmental organizations, and plants a tree with every order. Mau shared its test results with us that showed no detectable lead, cadmium, or formaldehyde in the products that were tested (which included plush bedding, sisal rope, metal frames, particle board, tree trunks, plywood, and other woods and fillers). Though the brand didn’t explicitly state that the furniture was non-toxic, we were happy to see this.
Cat bed
The cutest cat beds we’ve tried
My little cat Eli Lu sticks her head out Happy Camper Cat Bed Just in case you do disturb your sleep, the panel has wood plywood on one side and grey felt on the other. I assembled mine with the felt on the outside, but you can also assemble it the other way around. The top and bottom are completely open, and a super plush pillow doubles as a comfy bed. If I had the energy, I’d crawl into it. Like the Catit above, the Tuft and Paw is TSCA Title VI compliant.
Tuft & Paw products are great, so we’ll highlight a few here. They are expensive, though, and equipping your cat with an entire house full of Tuft & Paws can easily cost you over $1,000. The brand is focused on making high-quality products and works with cat behaviorists to design each item. It starts with an idea, which the designer conceptualizes into several options. The behaviorist is consulted throughout the rest of the process. Here’s what founder Jackson Cunningham had to say about the Happy Camper Bed: “It started out with just one entry hole, but after talking with our behaviorist, we decided to add a second opening and make the top open, because cats feel safer when they have a better view and more escape routes.”
Every product page has a drop-down menu that explains some of the costs it takes to bring a product to market. This doesn’t include employee salaries and other costs, but it at least gives you an idea of what the costs are. For this bed, materials are $87.15, labor and storage are $24.90, customs (i.e. import) is $14.94, and shipping is $37.35.
The most disappointing thing about Tuft and Paw is that they don’t accept returns on any products, even if they’ve only been used a little, if your cat doesn’t like them.
Soft cave
Catenary Moon Cave The soft bed comes in two options: if your cat prefers a small space for naps, leave it as it is as a cave; if he prefers headroom, you can push the top down to turn it into a regular pet bed. You can find plenty of 2-in-1 beds like this one for cheap, but we love how this neutral, soft design blends into a corner of your living room instead of standing out like a brightly colored toy. Maybe we were influenced by the photo on the website, but it looks super cozy to have under your Christmas tree this winter. The bouclé (loop yarn) is also machine washable.
Bed with window
Cats love to laze around in the sun, so a bed by the window is perfect. K&H Pet Products Kittysil Fleece I’ve had it on my bed for years, it’s not flashy but the beige fleece blends in nicely, and if you don’t have a sill to attach it to your window they also have an option with a suction cup that sticks directly to the glass.
Suction cup cat seats always make me nervous, especially since I have some heavy boys in my house. Tuft & Poe Cloud Nine Window Hammock As long as you thoroughly clean the window and allow the cup enough time to stick securely, you should be safe. Kittycot ($45)which isn’t as pretty but is more affordable. I’d recommend adding something soft to either one. They both offer blankets or padding for an extra fee, but I think it would be nice if they could be attached with snaps or even Velcro to keep your cat from sliding off if they jump on it.
Scratcher
The best scratcher
Not all great cat furniture needs to cost hundreds of dollars. I have a few PetFusions Lounger It has held up really well to my cat’s vicious claws, it looks cool, it’s strong enough to support my weight (when I need to reach things up high), and if my cat scratches badly on one side, I can just flip it over to the perfectly clean side.
Better Corrugated Board
Cardboard scratching posts are convenient because most cats love them and they’re easy to replace. With the exception of the large PetFusion Lounger shown above, most are thin rectangles that, while functional, don’t look anything special. Catenary Broom ScratcherUse pet-safe dyes to create beautiful natural designs that mimic plants and animals. It doesn’t affect whether my cat scratches (he does). And honestly, Nice They are on my floor. For $60 you get a set of three, each reversible.
Don’t have that much space? Boots & Berkley Wave Scratcher ($15) The ones from Target aren’t as cute, but my cats love them.
Beautiful Side Table Scratcher
Sometimes you find something on Kickstarter and count down the days until it’s released. I did that too. Hilde & Phil Cat-E-CornerUse it as a real wood side table, cat scratching post or furniture arm protection. The sisal scratching mat is replaceable and attaches to wood with durable velcro, making it a long-term investment for you and your pet.
Depending on the height of your furniture, you may need to add risers. The website has exact measurements, but if it’s over 25″ tall, you’ll need 2″ risers. If it’s over 27″ tall, get the 4″ risers. With risers, when you change your furniture, you can replace the riser instead of buying the whole table new. I love that the brand is named after the founder’s cat. It’s my dream to start a business named after a dear friend.
A scratch pad or a sofa with cushions
of Cat sofa in progress is adorable and can be used as a scratching post, a bed, or both. The base price includes a cardboard scratching post that you can flip over and replace (you can recycle the old one), or you can get a super cute cushion for an extra $110. One of my cats immediately scratched and relaxed on it. Cats often lounge directly on the cardboard scratching post, so you don’t need a pillow right away.
Like other products on this list, I think it’s pricey considering its simplicity. However, Work in Progress (WIP) is a small business. If you can afford it, it’s good to support small businesses like this instead of big corporations like Petco or Walmart. The Cat Couch is manufactured in Arizona from Baltic birch wood. The finish and sealing are Greenguard low-emission certified, so it should be safe for your pet. The cushions are filled with polyester and the cover is a linen and cotton blend.
Luxury Carrier/Bed Combo
I have tried many carriers at various price ranges. Taft & Paw Polto Cat Carrier (8/10, WIRED RECOMMENDED). It’s soft yet durable and won’t get crushed under the weight of your cat. It’s helped keep my cats comfortable when taking them to the vet and in the car when we moved cross country. Some cats will fall asleep in any carrier when left outside, but I like this carrier because you can unzip one side and unfold the faux shearling padding to transform it into a little bed. The entire zip closure allows you to convert it from a structured carrier to completely flat, giving you more options for getting your finicky cat in and out.
Litter boxes and enclosures
Great basic toilets
My cat has no problem with a regular litter box, and I’m sure yours will too. You could add a little more flair with a litter box disguised as a plant or hidden in a side table, but… Tuft and Paws Cove restrooms Place a simple trash can high up.
It’s heavy, so it won’t budge even if your cat kicks it. Speaking of kicking, the removable shelter keeps litter and pee contained, in case your cat has a lot of waste. The box has a dedicated space for the included scoop and dustpan; we wish the shelter could be purchased separately, though. Oddly, the box doesn’t fit into the brand’s litter box enclosures, but the brand has released a new Cubby version ($69), which can be used with their modern Haven Enclosure ($699). We haven’t tried the Haven, but we’ve been coveting it from afar.
The best litter box
Placing your cat’s litter box inside furniture that conceals it can give your cat privacy, mask odors, and hide tiny droppings from visitors.
Tuft & Paw cat litter boxes are some of the most beautiful furniture I’ve ever seen, but they’re not affordable for many people. WIRED reviewer Lauryn Strumpf Have I tried this Lena Litter Box Enclosure However, you can find them on Wayfair for around $120 (usually less), and while they’re not as pretty as the Tuft and Paw ones, they don’t look like a poop container either, and there’s plenty of space on top for decorations so they blend in with your home.
