Cat Craze: A Couple's Furry Friends Inspire a New Business
An American couple with first one, then two, now three cats turn their love of felines into their livelihood
Business beginnings
The couple wanted the cats to have their own spaces and furniture in the apartment. They shopped around but couldn’t find anything they really liked, so they started building their own.
Wilson has a design background and had always been interested in architecture, but before the cat furniture venture, “neither of us had picked up a saw more than a handful of times,” he says. Three years later, cat furniture is the couple’s full-time job at their company, Catastrophic Creations.
The company no longer operates out of the couple’s apartment. Instead, they have an office and warehouse in Michigan, where they also now live.
The couple wanted the cats to have their own spaces and furniture in the apartment. They shopped around but couldn’t find anything they really liked, so they started building their own.
Wilson has a design background and had always been interested in architecture, but before the cat furniture venture, “neither of us had picked up a saw more than a handful of times,” he says. Three years later, cat furniture is the couple’s full-time job at their company, Catastrophic Creations.
The company no longer operates out of the couple’s apartment. Instead, they have an office and warehouse in Michigan, where they also now live.
Building materials
The couple have experimented with different woods and ropes and found that pine and thicker sisal rope are both sturdy and well-liked by the cats.
“The wood is real and soft enough for the cats to dig their claws into,” says Wilson. “We also don’t put a polyurethane coat on it, which gives the cats more traction.”
The couple have experimented with different woods and ropes and found that pine and thicker sisal rope are both sturdy and well-liked by the cats.
“The wood is real and soft enough for the cats to dig their claws into,” says Wilson. “We also don’t put a polyurethane coat on it, which gives the cats more traction.”
The wood pieces can be connected with heavyweight canvas. “The cats can actually walk on it,” says Wilson. “It’s not super stretchy, so they don’t look all awkward on it.” The couple tested out a few options before landing on this one.
For the Love of Felines: Our Fearless Furry Friends
For the Love of Felines: Our Fearless Furry Friends
Cat-tested
The couple’s three cats have climbed, pawed and slept on every design they’ve created.
When Wilson and Hanneman lived in their Portland apartment, this wall would see new features every month, such as this Pac-Man-themed installation.
“We are lucky to have the cats at home,” says Wilson. “We mount things and see how the cats respond. Then we make changes based on how they use it or how much time they spend on it.”
The couple’s three cats have climbed, pawed and slept on every design they’ve created.
When Wilson and Hanneman lived in their Portland apartment, this wall would see new features every month, such as this Pac-Man-themed installation.
“We are lucky to have the cats at home,” says Wilson. “We mount things and see how the cats respond. Then we make changes based on how they use it or how much time they spend on it.”
The rope bridge shown here was one of the first products the couple made and sold. It’s also Ickle’s favorite.
This setup exists in the couple’s new single-family home, and it’s more permanent because they have room here to leave the cat furniture up.
Ickle is up on the cat bridge as usual. The other cats also climb up there to bat at Wilson’s and Hanneman’s heads when they pass beneath. “We are both pretty short,” says Wilson, “so it hangs a few centimetres above our heads. We liked having the bridge in the doorway in our apartment and wanted to have that playful feature in our new home too.”
Lylah can be seen reclining on the other bridge in the corner above the fish tank. “She’s obsessed with watching the fish,” says Wilson.
Ickle is up on the cat bridge as usual. The other cats also climb up there to bat at Wilson’s and Hanneman’s heads when they pass beneath. “We are both pretty short,” says Wilson, “so it hangs a few centimetres above our heads. We liked having the bridge in the doorway in our apartment and wanted to have that playful feature in our new home too.”
Lylah can be seen reclining on the other bridge in the corner above the fish tank. “She’s obsessed with watching the fish,” says Wilson.
Heisenberg is less stationary. He’s more likely to be seen bouncing from post to post.
How Bringing a New Kitten Home Changed Our Lives
How Bringing a New Kitten Home Changed Our Lives
On the job
The cats not only test the furniture, they also model for product shots, which usually occur on the two days Wilson works from home.
Payment method
“At this point,” says Wilson, “if we crack open wet food or turkey, they will run up onto the furniture. They know it’s photo time.” The tricky part is keeping them engaged after that.
To capture more photogenic moments, the couple installed cat food bowls on the shelves.
The cats not only test the furniture, they also model for product shots, which usually occur on the two days Wilson works from home.
Payment method
“At this point,” says Wilson, “if we crack open wet food or turkey, they will run up onto the furniture. They know it’s photo time.” The tricky part is keeping them engaged after that.
To capture more photogenic moments, the couple installed cat food bowls on the shelves.
Cat community
The company also gets tonnes of customer-submitted photos of cats climbing and playing on the furniture.
Here, Frosty follows little Amazon up the sisal post steps.
The company also gets tonnes of customer-submitted photos of cats climbing and playing on the furniture.
Here, Frosty follows little Amazon up the sisal post steps.
Many customers’ cats also spend time reclining on the shelves. Here, Achilles has a shelf up high that’s perfect for watching the goings-on outside.
Installation
The pieces allow customers to create a unique setup. Here, a cat named Babou has multiple shelves and fabric lounging areas.
“About 90 per cent of the time,” says Wilson, “people can install it themselves,” using the step-by-step instructions provided by the company.
Most of the pieces require only a small screw, which doesn’t leave a huge hole, he says. “You can definitely patch these small holes and get your [rental] deposit back. We got our deposit back in Portland, and we installed a lot of different things on that wall.” It’s always a good idea to check with your landlord or agency first, however.
Read more pet stories on Houzz
The pieces allow customers to create a unique setup. Here, a cat named Babou has multiple shelves and fabric lounging areas.
“About 90 per cent of the time,” says Wilson, “people can install it themselves,” using the step-by-step instructions provided by the company.
Most of the pieces require only a small screw, which doesn’t leave a huge hole, he says. “You can definitely patch these small holes and get your [rental] deposit back. We got our deposit back in Portland, and we installed a lot of different things on that wall.” It’s always a good idea to check with your landlord or agency first, however.
Read more pet stories on Houzz
Furniture options
A customer can start small and build up using the company’s options. A typical customer spends about US$100 to $200 to get started, says Wilson.
You won’t find all the options on the company’s website, as some pieces are still in testing mode and exist only in the couple’s house.
A customer can start small and build up using the company’s options. A typical customer spends about US$100 to $200 to get started, says Wilson.
You won’t find all the options on the company’s website, as some pieces are still in testing mode and exist only in the couple’s house.
Home, sweet home
“It’s nice getting back at the end of the day and having cats that want to see you and lay in the bed with you,” says Wilson. “We love that companionship, and seeing them evolve and get more confident every day.”
Tell us
Do you have pet furniture? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments. And don’t forget to like, save and share this story. Join the conversation.
More
Want more? See how Two Cockatiels Ensure This Nest is Never Empty
“It’s nice getting back at the end of the day and having cats that want to see you and lay in the bed with you,” says Wilson. “We love that companionship, and seeing them evolve and get more confident every day.”
Tell us
Do you have pet furniture? Tell us about it and share a photo in the Comments. And don’t forget to like, save and share this story. Join the conversation.
More
Want more? See how Two Cockatiels Ensure This Nest is Never Empty
Pets at a Glance
Pets: Ickle, a Desert Lynx; Heisenberg, a Bengal-Siamese mix; and Lylah, a calico
Ages: 3, 2-and-a-half and 1-and-a-half
Location: Michigan, USA
Owners: Mike Wilson and Megan Hanneman, founders of Catastrophic Creations
Meet the crew
About three years ago, Ickle moved into the Portland, Oregon, apartment of Mike Wilson and his girlfriend, Megan Hanneman. “Originally, I wasn’t really into getting cats,” says Wilson. “I’m actually even allergic to them.” But the cat moved in, and the couple routinely swept up cat hair to help with any allergy issues.
One cat led to three because they didn’t want Ickle to be lonely. So now, Heisenberg and Lylah keep Ickle company while Wilson and Hanneman work.