That’s where the ‘Catification’ Facebook group (stylized as ‘CATifiCATion,’ which we utterly love) comes in. Run by John Lobban and Elizabeth Berndt, it’s a wholesome and supportive community that unites feline lovers from around the globe. Its friendly members share creative and interesting ideas to create environments that cats are going to enjoy. We’ve collected some of their best ones to share with you! Scroll down for some DIY design ‘cat-spiration,’ you'll find the credits under each photo, and don’t forget to join the group if you’ve become a fan.
Bored Panda got in touch with Lobban, a professional graphic designer and photographer by trade, and the founder of the group. He was kind enough to share some practical safety advice that new cat owners should keep in mind when designing their feline environments. You'll find his insights below.
More info: CATifiCATion | John Lobban Creative | Elizabeth Berndt Books
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During an earlier chat with Bored Panda, Vet Nurse Nina Downing from PDSA, the UK’s leading vet charity, walked us through what cats do for fun and spilled the beans about how we can tell that they’re enjoying themselves. She explained to us that cats are solitary and watchful creatures by nature.
“They love to watch the world go by from high places, and they also sleep a lot and do not appreciate being disturbed! While many do love to play, it needs to be on their terms and only when they’re in the right mood!” she told us.
The PDSA Vet Nurse pointed out that cats play in a way that tends to mimic their natural hunting behaviors, from chasing and pouncing to stalking, diving, hiding, and throwing.
“You can tell when cats are having fun, their faces light up and their eyes go wide and bright as they become excited and alert; their senses heighten and their pupils can widen. Their whole body language becomes animated and light,” Downing said.
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According to her, cat owners can tell that they’re doing well if their pets feel confident enough to have “a mad half-hour” where they “become full of fun and excitement, running around, chasing imaginary mice, sometimes whizzing up curtains, and being so full of fun that they can’t contain themselves.”
She continued: “If your cat is happy and confident enough to display this kind of behavior, you can congratulate yourself on being a great cat owner as your cat feels very comfortable in your company.”
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So, dear Pandas, which of the feline environment pics from ‘CATifiCATion’ impressed you the most? Which ideas do you think you’d like to replicate for your own pets? What advice would you give someone who’s completely new to owning a cat?
If you have a moment, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Oh, and tell your cat(s) we said ‘hi!’