You usually only look for cat-friendly interior inspiration when the couch has a new scratch or when you notice your cat lounging on the same windowsill all day because there’s nothing else to do. Recognizable. We at Catz’n Wood think about this daily, simply because we live with cats ourselves and have been working with wood for years that needs to fit in a living room, not stand next to it. In this article, we go thru what a cat really needs in a home, and what we pay attention to when building a scratching post that is not only functional but also looks good.

What actually makes an interior cat-friendly?

Behavioral experts have been using a fairly simple framework for years to determine whether a house is suitable for a cat: the five pillars of a healthy feline environment, established by the American Association of Feline Practitioners and now adopted by, among others, the RSPCA. In short: a safe place to retreat, enough personal space for food, water, and the litter box, the opportunity to hunt and play, predictable contact with the people in the house, and respect for your cat’s nose. Simple on paper. In practice, this often fades into the background as soon as the interior is considered more important than the animal that lives there.

A cat-friendly interior doesn’t have to become a pet store. It’s mainly about choices: where you place things and what materials you use.

Vertical space: let your cat go up high

A cat that can sit high feels safer. Research on groups of cats shows that an extra climbing spot in a space measurably reduces the number of tense moments between cats—more space to share means fewer reasons to clash. That’s why we build our scratching posts with platforms at different heights. Not because it looks nice, but because a cat can then choose: observe from the top shelf, or just take a nap on the platform below.

If you have a large-built tomcat at home, like a Maine Coon for example, then our Baron in teak wood is a logical choice: 180 cm high, with platforms wide enough for a heavier cat to comfortably turn around on. For breeds that are just a bit broader, with rectangular instead of round platforms, you should look at Hugo. And if you just want it all — height, a wide base, and the freedom to choose your own color, cushion, and rope — then Jumbo is our largest and fully customizable model. If you prefer a rougher, more natural look, then George, made from teak root wood, is a sturdy alternative available in 1.80 m and 2 m — currently available for pre-order, but worth keeping an eye on.

The Baron in teak — platforms up to 180 cm, built for sturdy breeds.

Hiding spots: not every cat wants to be seen

Not every cat likes to crawl to the highest shelf. Some cats feel safer close to the ground, half hidden. Research from Utrecht University on shelter cats, published in PLOS ONE, shows that cats with a hiding place noticeably calm down faster than cats without that option. A cardboard box already does the trick, but a wooden pole with a partially enclosed platform does exactly the same and looks much better next to your seating area.

Our Katrien, with its hand-carved, twisted trunk, has platforms that are partially sheltered — enough to give your cat the feeling that it can retreat without having to leave the room.

The Katrien — hand-carved, twisted trunk with sheltered platforms.

Scratching is not problematic behavior, it is a basic need.

A scratching post is not just for filing nails. Cats mark their territory with them, both visually and thru scent glands in their paws, and it’s a way to stretch their muscles after a nap. If you don’t provide a suitable scratching post, your cat will find a solution on its own, and that usually means the corner of your couch.

With us, you choose between solid suar wood and teak wood. Suar has a wilder, more pronounced grain and is slightly lighter in weight. Teak is more finely finished, heavier, and the only one of the two that we recommend for outdoor use. For a medium-sized breed, think of a British Shorthair or European Shorthair, our Babette fits well: five platforms at 35 x 40 cm, built for one cat. For a Maine Coon or Ragdoll, Babette is not the right size — for that, you better look at Hugo, Baron, or Jumbo. View the complete overview in our teak scratching posts or scratching posts in suar wood.

Solid suar wood, close-up at the Hugo — every wood grain is unique.

Food and drink: peace, and not next to the litter box

Cats prefer not to eat near their litter box, and in a house with multiple cats, each cat prefers its own eating and drinking spot, not in direct sight of the others. Practically, this means: spread the bowls around the room, or even across floors, instead of placing everything next to each other because it’s easier to clean up that way.

Our Wabi Sabi elevated ceramic food bowl ensures that your cat doesn’t have to eat with a bent neck, which is comfortable for older cats or breeds with flatter faces. Combine with the Wabi Sabi drinking fountain and you have a calm, well-kept corner that doesn’t smell like a plastic food bowl from the supermarket.

The Wabi Sabi food bowl — elevated and ceramic, for a natural eating posture.

The matching Wabi Sabi drinking fountain.

The litter box: not a design question, but a math problem

We don’t sell litter boxes ourselves, but the rule of thumb is known by every veterinarian: one box per cat, plus one extra. Two cats, three litter boxes. Place them in a quiet spot, not next to the washing machine or under the stairs where it is always noisy, and clean them daily. A clean litter box is simply used more often.

Game and hunting pleasure: boredom is the greatest enemy

Cats remain hunters, even after ten years on the couch.Cats remain hunters, even after ten years on the couch. Play puzzles, a wand with feathers, or simply kibble hidden in a ball keep the hunting instinct active and prevent boredom.Play puzzles, a wand with feathers, or simply kibble hidden in a ball keep the hunting instinct active and prevent boredom. Rotate toys to keep it interesting.

Our MeowBook Pro, a cardboard “laptop” for scratching and playing, is one of those typical gift shop items that contributes more seriously to your cat’s playtime than it seems at first glance.

Scent and personal territory: why “just adding” doesn’t work

Cats communicate thru scent, not just thru body language. They rub against furniture to leave scent glands and scratch to make themselves visible to their peers. In a house with multiple cats, this means that each cat is best off with its own core territory: a personal sleeping spot, a personal scratching post, not necessarily shared with the other cat in the house.

Practically, this translates to: one large pole in the living room is nice, but a second, smaller model in another room prevents your cats from competing for the same spot. Our suar wood stool with cushion option is a compact, affordable addition alongside a larger main model.

The suar wooden stool — a compact second spot for a second cat or another room.

Safety and material: sturdy enough not to tip over

Cats jump, climb, and wrestle, and furniture needs to be able to handle that.Cats jump, climb, and wrestle, and furniture needs to be able to handle that. Many mass-produced cat trees made of pressed particle board and a thin leg wobble as soon as an adult cat lands on them, and that is exactly what makes a cat insecure.Many mass-produced cat trees with pressed particle board and a thin leg wobble as soon as an adult cat lands on them, and that is exactly what makes a cat insecure. Our posts have a wide base, typically 55 to 65 cm, and are made of solid wood instead of particle board.Our posts have a wide base, typically 55 to 65 cm, and are made of solid wood instead of sheet material. No wobble, no surprise.

Also, watch out for loose wires, toxic houseplants within jumping distance, and slippery floors around the pole where a cat could slip while jumping.

Multiple cats in the house? Think in “one spot per cat, plus one”

The same rule of thumb as with the litter box actually applies to almost everything in the house: count per cat, plus one extra shared spot. For climbing and scratching, this concretely means: a main model in the living room, and a second, smaller one somewhere else in the house, so that not every cat has to go to the same corner whenever they feel like scratching or climbing.

In conclusion

We work by hand in our workshop in Westerlo, in limited series per model.We work by hand in our workshop in Westerlo, in limited series per model. Our George model, for example, with its characteristic teak root wood, is currently available for pre-order: the current series is scheduled, and the next one is on the way.Our George model, for example, with its characteristic teak root wood, is currently available for pre-order: the current series is scheduled, and the next one is on the way. So don’t hesitate too long if you spot a specific model, and keep an eye on the product page if something is just sold out — collections change regularly.

A cat-friendly interior doesn’t have to look like a pet store. With the right choices in climbing space, materials, and placement, you can create a home where you feel comfortable and your cat feels at home, and that’s exactly what we at Catz’n Wood aim for with every post we make. Check out the full range of our wooden scratching posts or take a look in the gift shop for smaller accessories.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much space do I need for a cat-friendly interior? Less than you think. It’s not about square meters, but about distribution: height in at least one room, a hiding spot, and separate eating and drinking areas. Even in an apartment, you can easily achieve this with one well-placed scratching post.

Is suar or teak better for indoors? Both are suitable for indoors. Suar has a more pronounced grain and more color contrast, teak is tighter and heavier. For outdoor use, we always choose teak because that wood is better at resisting moisture.

Can I also put a scratching post outside? With teak, that’s possible, provided you take normal maintenance into account: teak can develop some green deposits over time due to moisture and needs to be cleaned occasionally. We do not recommend Suar wood for outdoor use.

How many scratching posts do I need with multiple cats? Count on at least one per cat, plus one extra shared spot, spread out over different places in the house so that the cats don’t have to compete.

Sources

• American Association of Feline Practitioners & ISFM, Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines (2013)
• RSPCA Australia, Cat-friendly households — kb.rspca.org.au
• Van der Leij, W.J.R. et al., The effect of a hiding box on stress levels and body weight in Dutch shelter cats, PLOS ONE (2019) — doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223492
• Desforges, E. et al., Effect of a shelf-furnished screen on space use by cats, Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2016) — sciencedirect.com
• Ohio State University Indoor Pet Initiative, Basic Indoor Cat Needs: Litter Boxes — indoorpet.osu.edu