Although cats are mostly docile, their destructive power can be astonishing when they get mischievous. They like to scratch things, and if their owners aren't careful, their homes can easily become a mess. They may even defecate or urinate anywhere, making a huge fuss. Therefore, those who currently live with cats or are planning to live with them need to carefully consider their home layout. 
Things to note when renovating for families with cats:
1. Use smooth-surfaced wooden furniture and buy a scratching post for your cat so they can use their claws.
2. Glass ornaments should never be displayed on cabinets without any obstruction; they must be covered by a glass door or stored away.
3. For cats with a sweet tooth, the kitchen must be enclosed. Condiment bottles, bowls, chopsticks, cups, and saucers should be promptly stored in cabinets to prevent the tableware from becoming soiled and unhygienic.
4. It is best to choose a bed without legs and with built-in cabinets. This kind of bed can prevent the kitten from playing hide-and-seek with you, and also prevent the kitten from using the space under the bed as a place to relieve itself.
5. Make sure to hide the pull cords of your blackout curtains to prevent them from becoming toys for your cat, who might jump around and mistake the decorative pom-poms at the end of the cord for mice.
6. Find a place away from water and in an open area to place the cat's litter box, because cat litter is difficult to clean when it gets wet and is not easy to clean up after it is scattered.
Furniture types that should be avoided as much as possible:
1. Wallpaper
A curious scratch or a nasty urination can ruin the beauty of your wallpaper. Should you remove the wallpaper, leave the stains on it to affect the visual appeal, or do you have unlimited manpower, resources, and money to keep replacing the wallpaper?
2. Velvet cushion
In autumn and winter, static electricity is common. Be careful that your cushions don't get covered in your cat's fur, and watch out for your cat's curious paws that might tear the cushions and send feathers flying all over the room, making your return home both romantic and miserable.
3. Leather sofas and fabric sofas
Cats love fluffy things, and some fabric sofas are already fluffy, perfectly satisfying their scratching instincts. Therefore, leather and fabric sofas are more likely to suffer damage. Imagine how many times a soft leather sofa can withstand their torment. If you don't want your sofas scratched or to wash the covers every two or three days, get rid of leather and fabric sofas in your home.
4. Wooden flooring
Don't underestimate those seemingly cute kittens. They not only have sharp claws but also sharp teeth. At any time, your floor will be scratched by their sharp claws, and they might even pry your cat out and put it in their mouth to bite. The latter is less common, but scratches are very likely, just like the scratching board after being tortured by them.
Suitable furniture types:
1. Rattan chairs, imitation rattan chairs
Rattan chairs are more durable, and cats don't particularly like the feel of them. Compared to materials like fabric, leather, and suede, they are a better choice due to their superior durability and higher survival rate under a cat's sharp claws. Of course, genuine rattan chairs are relatively expensive. You can also choose more affordable imitation rattan chairs, but they certainly won't be as comfortable for the owner as fabric or leather sofas.
2. Chair cover
There are very few chair leg protectors on the market specifically designed to prevent cats from scratching them. Most are only 12cm long and primarily designed to prevent the chair from rubbing against the floor; they don't really prevent cats from scratching at all. Therefore, it's best to have them custom-made, or you can DIY them yourself. This way, your solid wood sofa, or even a valuable mahogany sofa, can be protected from cat scratches.
To prevent cats from scratching the walls, leaving marks, or urinating on them, it's essential to build a ceramic wall at the base of the existing wall. This prevents the clean walls from having those pesky cat marks and also adds a touch of aesthetic appeal to the house.
Catable cat table
In addition, we can design some novel things for cats, adding elements that attract them and make their living environment more comfortable. For example, the Catalana table, designed by architect Ruan Hao of Hong Kong's Zero One Urban Architecture Firm, was exhibited at this year's Milan Design Week and received widespread attention and praise from cat lovers. This table is incredibly creative; both the design of the legs and the tabletop are unique. The designer created a complex network of tunnels and holes beneath the flat tabletop, providing a space for cats to play freely, perfectly catering to their natural curiosity.
Because splicing would compromise the aesthetics, the designer used a single piece of wood to create the tabletop. After selecting the wood, the designer meticulously excavated intricate tunnels by hand, ensuring that no mistakes were made during the hollowing process, otherwise the entire tabletop would be ruined. After the rough shape was completed, it underwent careful sanding, painting, and waxing, making the production process quite lengthy.
But as the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race, and this hard work results in a positive space for interaction between cats and humans. For cat lovers, such a unique table is simply perfect. Previously, it was difficult to keep an eye on cats while working; the cats could only watch and wait, perhaps bothering you or walking away. Cats are very shy and aloof animals, so this table provides a play area for them near you while you work, making it easier for people and cats to bond.
