scratching post – Green Little Cat

A Paw-sitively Creative Contest Where You Could Win $1,500

Source: www.tuftandpaw.com — Photo source: www.tuftandpaw.com

Do you love cats and have design chops or a flare for creative ideas? If so, Tuft + Paw has an amazing contest that’s right up your alley. They’re looking for feline furniture ideas that help cats, humans, and the planet.

If you think you’ve got a great idea for a sustainable cat bed, enter their contest, and you could win $1,500. Plus, your winning design will be produced in the U.S. and promoted as one of Tuft + Paw’s new flagship products. And your paw-some product will also be donated to animal shelters across the country.

There are only five simple guidelines for creating your original design:

Make it sustainable: As part of Tuft + Paw’s commitment to environmentally responsible products, your cat furniture design should be made from ethically sourced and produced materials that don’t harm the planet.
Make it affordable: Tuft + Paw want to keep costs down so that the final product is affordable for all cat lovers.
Make it beautiful: Don’t skimp on style. They want to see something that adds a “wow” factor to modern homes and looks more like it belongs to an interior designer than a Tabby cat.
Make it practical: Along with a physical prototype, you’re asked to include technical drawings that specify exact dimensions and instructions for how it will be produced.
Make it easy to ship: Your design should be lightweight and easy to ship. This will encourage Tuft + Paw customers to donate your product to animal shelters. You get bonus points for collapsible flat-pack shapes, so it’s like you’re coming up with an IKEA design for cat furniture!

So leap up to your drawing board today as the deadline for submissions is October 31st.

Tuft + Paw specializes in providing cats with the best possible environment—one that also protects and enhances the beauty of our world. Their modern products are designed for your cat’s enjoyment and comfort, and they’re also sustainable and ethically made.

This company with a heart has thought of everything your kitty needs to enjoy the lap of luxury, while also being eco-friendly. This includes an assortment of cozy sleep products, including cat beds, hammocks, houses, and teepees. You’ll also find cat trees and perches, cat toys, and some of the best looking eco-friendly litter box furniture that I’ve ever seen. They’re worthy of an entire blog post of their own (watch for it in a future blog article—they’re THAT gorgeous).

To learn more about the sustainable cat bed design contest, and get inspired by Tuft + Paw’s beautiful cat furniture, visit their website at www.tuftandpaw.com.

5 Luxurious Eco-friendly Gifts for Your Cat

If you’ve been on the lookout for an extra special gift for your cat, here are five fabulous finds for your feline. They’re eco-friendly, decadent, and the purrfect way to show your appreciation for your kitty’s loyal and loving companionship.

1. The Ripple Rug – Thermal Cat Activity Play Mat

The Ripple Rug is a giant hide-and-seek playground, scratch mat, and cozy cat cave. This fun and interactive “rug” has an assortment of flaps and slits that can be adjusted to create an endless assortment of tunnels, caves, and peekaboo holes for your cat’s head or paws. You customize the mat by simply lifting and releasing to create random shapes and configuration. This has got to be one of the coolest and most innovative ideas for cats.

Besides the great play value—and snuggle value after playtime, the Ripple Rug is also eco-friendly. It’s made in the USA from 100{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} recycled plastic bottles. The non-slip rubber bottom is insulated to help keep the mat in place, and eliminate static electricity. The rug is lightweight and folds up easily for storage. While it’s not cheap, it’s not as expensive as you might think. You can check out the latest pricing for the Ripple Rug on Amazon.

2. Catnip Star

For a little bit of festive luxury that won’t break the bank, the West Paw Catnip Star is a pawsome green cat toy. The star is green on one side (white on the other), and it’s also green on the inside because it’s filled with USDA-approved 100{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} organic catnip. Plus, it’s made in America, in Bozeman, Montana to be precise, by West Paw Design, a leader in the Sustainable Pet Coalition. This super-soft plush cat toy will surprise and delight your kitty and it’s available for under $10 at West Paw’s online shop.

3. ComfyCat Cave

The ComfyCat Cave is a cozy cat bed sustainably handcrafted in Nepal from 100{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} New Zealand merino wool that is responsibly sourced. This bed is super cute and can be popped open to create a warm and cozy cave for your kitty, or it can be pressed down for a more traditional cat bed.

When I first saw it, I have to admit I was a bit shocked at the price, but since my cat, Furball, has been a loyal and loving companion for over 15 years, I figured after 15 years, he totally deserved something nice to sleep in. The poor guy has been sleeping in assorted corners on the floor since we moved to a new home.

My biggest concern about the bed was whether it would be itchy, and whether my cat would actually go inside. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. The merino wool is super soft and not the least bit itchy, and the opening was big enough for my 15-pound cat to easily step inside. As soon as I set down the bed, Furball immediately went inside to check it out. However, he prefers the bed in its “flattened” state and now, his favorite spot to sleep. I won’t lie, this bed is pricey, but seeing Furball enjoy his new bed so much has been worth every penny. Check out Amazon to see the variety of cat cave beds.

4. Catty Stacks

It’s hard to beat the humble cardboard box when it comes to “recycle and reuse,” and nothing attracts a cat faster than an empty box. Catty Stacks are a way to up level the box, both literally and figuratively. These modular boxes can be stacked and joined together in multiple ways to create a kitty condo or impressive cat playground. Made from sturdy recycled cardboard, Catty Stacks are strong enough to support cats weighing up to 20lbs.

If you’ve been looking for a fun and attractive alternative to cardboard boxes, Catty Stacks look great in any home, and they come in an array of colors derived from vegetable-based inks. They’re super easy to assemble and set up, and 100{456796300b989ac2391159a2df073ed1ad38074dfcdb28494d5d1df8ab5972d8} recyclable too. To learn more about the story behind this product, check out this interview with Frank Callari, the inventor of Catty Stacks.

And if you want to get your paws on a set of these brilliant building blocks, you’ll find Catty Stacks online at Amazon.com. While it’s rather ironic that they’ll be delivered in a cardboard box, this will be one of those times where your cat will love what’s inside the box even more than the packaging it comes in.

5. Ultimate Cat Scratcher and Lounge

What makes PetFusion’s Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge so much better than other scratchers? Size, good looks, durability, and eco-friendliness. But with over 4,000 5-star reviews on Amazon, don’t just take our word for it.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is how big it is. At 34″ long, 10.5″ inches wide, and 10.5 inches high, there’s plenty of room for your cat to comfortably lounge and stretch out. And if you’ve got more than one cat, Petfusion offers a jumbo-sized cat scratcher and lounge.

With a cat scratcher this big, it’s not easy to hide it from sight. Luckily, you don’t have to because it’s so attractive, you’ll want people to see it. Its designed so that you can also mount it to the wall and you can trust it will hold up well because it’s made from a recycled corrugated cardboard that is denser and more durable than lower priced corrugated cardboard cat scratchers.

The scratcher’s symmetrical design doubles its use because when one side wears out, you can simply flip the lounge over for a new scratching surface. The Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is assembled with non-toxic cornstarch glue, comes with premium USA organic catnip, and is also the winner of the 2015 Eco-Excellence Award. If you’re looking to splurge on your BFF (best feline friend), this might be the ultimate gift for your cat to lounge, scratch, nap, and play. You’ll find the Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge on Amazon.

The Best Recycled Cardboard Cat Scratcher and Lounge

Here’s an eco-friendly long-lasting cat scratcher that’s big enough for your cat, and it looks good too! In the past, most corrugated cardboard scratchers were either flimsy, too small, ugly, not made from recycled cardboard, or all of the above. Well, those days are over now because PetFusion has completely revamped the humble cardboard cat scratcher.

The first thing you’ll notice about the Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is its size. It’s a gargantuan 34″ long, 10.5″ inches wide, and 10.5 inches high. Even the biggest kitties can comfortably recline on its surface. The scratcher is also a hefty 7.5 lbs helping it to stay put when your cat leaps on. And if you’ve got more than one cat, Petfusion offers a jumbo sized cat scratcher and lounge for multiple cat households.

When cat furniture is this big, you can’t discreetly hide it in a corner. The good news is that you don’t have to. This is one good looking cat scratcher that you want people to see. You can even mount it to the wall by following the simple instructions and using inexpensive brackets.

The modern design, balanced proportions, and walnut brown color of the Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge blends in harmoniously with almost any decor. If anything, it might make your furnishings seem shabby in comparison! But as cat people, we all know that kitty comes first :).

PetFusion uses a premium cardboard that is denser and more durable than lower priced corrugated cardboard cat scratchers. In addition, the symmetrical design doubles the life of the scratcher—when one side gets worn down, all you need to do is flip it over for a fresh surface. Some people even suggest cutting the scratcher in half when both sides wear out so that you can make two new scratchers. Your cat may have nine lives, but this scratcher has at least two or three!

The Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge is made of recycled corrugated cardboard and non-toxic corn starch glue. It also comes with premium USA organic catnip. With over four thousand 5-star Amazon reviews, it’s no surprise that this cat scratcher won the 2015 Eco-Excellence Award.

While the Petfusion cat scratcher does cost more than other scratchers, it’s better made, lasts longer, looks better, and it’s also made from recycled cardboard. You’ll find the Ultimate Cat Scratcher Lounge on Amazon.com.