Cats in the cradle
- Source: Global Times
- [10:35 August 04 2010]
- Comments
Feline groovy. Photo: Courtesy of Catsweet
By Liu Mengyue
Every animal lover will tell you that a pet is more than just a pastime, and should always be treated as a valued companion.
And perhaps the best way of respecting this elevated status is to treat your pet to its own custom-built furniture and furnishings.
Not usually being the outdoor type like dogs, cats are perhaps the pets that most benefit from home comforts. With this in mind, Sha Tian, a graduate of London's University of Westminster decided to start her own line of cat furniture which she now sells online at http://www.catsweet.com/.
"All of my designs are made from wood, and are water proof, durable and easily cleaned," Sha told the Global Times.
The 26-year-old is now preparing to launch what she terms the second phase of her business, using scratch-resistant, environmentally-friendly melamine. Sha mainly works in white, but she is happy to customize her products according to clients' wishes. Similarly she will design her products to complement the existing decor and furnishings of her clients' living spaces.
"I think most of the cat furniture on the market today is too obvious, cartoon-like and childish," said Sha. "It's not really suitable for an elegant home."
As an example, Sha points to an inconspicuous looking cabinet which she explains doubles as a discreet cat litter box. "Everyone knows that this is what you need to keep a cat indoors. But the trouble with most cat trays is that the litter gets tramped all over the house once it has been used." Sha's solution has been to combine a regular litter tray with a steel-pipe grid that automatically cleans the cat's paws before it leaves the cabinet.
Sha admits the cabinet isn't suitable for all cats; because of the height of the entrance, newborn kittens are unable to climb in or out, she says.
Another of Sha's products is a cat tree, for which she has been granted a patent. In appearance, the trees look like toy bricks overlapping one another, but with a hole in each one for the cat to pass through.
"Cats like to climb, so there are already some cat trees on the market. But they are basically just a stand with steel branches attached. Cats are curious animals and they like to explore, chase other cats, and burrow into small spaces. This is why I added the holes to create an interior space.
