My Design's Dreamy!: PS Gullholmen Scratcher

Design: PS Gullholmen Scratcher
Price: Sisal rope: $5, PS Gullholmen chair from Ikea originally $60

Name: Darlyn
Location: Chicago
Pet's Names: Coco & Chanel
Size & Type: Domestic Longhaired Cats about 12 lbs. each

Pitch:
I've had the PS Gullholmen chair for 3 years, and the cats immediately adopted it. The back has an opening which makes the interior the perfect "cat pod." They also, unfortunately love the material it is made of and after a while the chair turned into one big scratching post... (More pics below the jump.)

After three years, it was pretty ripped up (but for those of you who can afford those expensive modern scratchers, buying a new chair every 3 years is no big deal). As for me, I've decided to completely catify the chair. A little sisal rope officially makes it the perfect scratcher. Plus, it is stll fully functional as extra seating! (For those of you who use regular litter boxes, buy a pair of these chairs...one as a cat den and one to hide the litter box).

EXTRA! Pet design you covet most or what would you buy for your pet if you had all the money in the world: If I had all the money in the world I'd likely get a custom made cabinet that would fit the litter robot on one side, and my TV on the other, hopefully hiding both. In the real world, I'm currently lusting over the Alessi Tigrito Cat Bowl and the Itchyknee Faux Fur-lined Wall Barrel.

Thanks, Darlyn!

Comments (14)

first of all. GORGEOUS cats. second, great use of IKEA.

posted by bbt on 2006-07-21 14:09:30

Very clever.

posted by Joan A. on 2006-07-21 14:18:01

Thanks, I actually found them at a shelter very skinny and scared (they had been abused and had been abandoned by their previous owners). They sure hav eplumped up though, and I think they're just adorable. They still tend to hide when other people come over - one of the reasons they like the chair.. they can hide under it while still peeking out through the bottom to see what is going on in the living room. There are more pictures linked if you click my name (also there are pictures of a cat bed I made out of a pillow sham, and of my litter robot).

posted by darlyn on 2006-07-21 15:31:51

That is one of the most clever use of Ikea I've ever seen... A cat scratch post that doesn't look nasty! Excellant work Darlyn!

posted by Martini Slayer on 2006-07-24 16:42:46

Fantastic! We might have to steal this idea; my Thai Shan misses his big scratcher--had to get rid of it when I moved, but if we could create a chair that was also his own...

Your babies are gorgeous, too. What beautiful puffballs!

-Eileen

posted by Eileen on 2006-07-25 07:57:57

Absolutely love this! I love the little cubby underneath and the fact that it's also a chair. Your cats seem to be very fond of it. I also like the little bed you made in the pix you linked. I never thought of using bubble wrap for cats--great idea! They really love crackly things.

posted by Pixie on 2006-07-25 11:06:24

Brilliant! The best looking cat scratcher ever. I'm doing this for my cats, and throwing out the nasty pet-store scratching post.

posted by Ona on 2006-07-25 12:22:46

I have been wanting to buy that chair from Ikea, but I don't becasue I am afraid the cats will detstroy it. Purr-fect solution for all!

posted by patricia on 2006-07-25 12:27:58

Thank you for sharing this! I am going to do this! I don't have enough room for one chair for each of the two cats, but something is better than nothing!

posted by Jean on 2006-07-25 13:33:09

HA! Great entry.

posted by bob in SF on 2006-07-25 21:04:54

What a wonderful idea! I am headed for Ikea in Vancouver next week! I can't wait to make mine..Hey are your cats Turkish Angoras?

Thanks
TA mommy.

posted by Blue_Cat on 2006-07-26 13:02:14

I actually have no idea what my cats are, since I found them at a shelter and have never really asked the Vet. :) But I'll have to look that up!

posted by darlyn on 2006-07-28 00:08:13

Great idea Darlyn! I can see that your beautiful cats enjoy it.

If you're looking to enclose your LitterRobot (LR) Ikea has another product. The Markor TV cabinet is the right size to hide the LR. I read about this idea on Litterbox-central.com. I have not purchased one yet for my LR. It is bigger than your table idea (which I love) but you could put your TV on top of the cabinet and the LitterRobot inside.

posted by MaryAnn on 2006-07-29 08:35:26

This is just t'riffic! Followed up link to Ikea item but discover the thing rocks, consequently is not stable. Is this a different model or something? I'd very much like to get one (not rocking model) set up for our little "monster" who was also found on street an abused, abandoned, medium sized kitten.

He now rules the roost and has his "parents" dashing all over the net in search of cat gifts with which to shower him!

Thanks for any reply Thanks too for this manifestation of outright ingenuity!

posted by reddawn on May 15th 2007 at 1:37am
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