Connect

Cat Furniture for Papuk

The Connect Collection, Papuk's flagship line, was designed with the belief that humans and cats can live together without sacrificing a home's aesthetic for their cats comfort. This human friendly modular cat tree allows for personalization with a series of attachable accessories such as cushion, toy, scratch pad and food tray, creating an experience as unique as your feline friend. The customization extends to product materials and finishes, providing cat owners with the ability to match their own personal style.

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Connect by Papuk

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Cat Furniture by Papuk

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Papuk Connect

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Papuk Cat Furniture

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Papuk Design Team Photo

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PapukBrand Logo

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Unique Properties

Connect Collection was driven by the belief that humans and cats can live together without sacrificing the beauty of our home, for the comfort of theirs. Our modular design approach allows for the personalization of our furniture with a series of attachable accessories such as cushion, toy, scratch pad and food tray, creating a customizable experience as unique as your feline friend. The customization extends to product materials and finishes, providing our customers with the ability to match their own personal style. Unlike many other cat trees on the market, the Connect Collection is built with durability in mind to stand the test of playtime for cats of varying energy levels, with easy replacement of parts and accessories to reduce waste and creating much needed consistency for cats.

Tags

Cat Tree, Cat Furniture, Pet Furniture, Modular Cat Tree, Contemporary Cat Tree

Production Technology

The structure is made of solid Ash dowels with Ash veneered plywood. The cushion cover is made of cotton & polyester with foam insert and leather straps. The ring of the toy is made of wood with leather strap and pompom made of faux fur with rattle insert.

Design Challenge

The hardest part of the design process has been and continues to be an ingrained societal perception that cat products be cheaply made, serving just function without aesthetic consideration. Some cat owners balk at the sight of a cat tree that lacks the carpeting and sisal rope they're used to seeing. They've become hyper aware of their cat's needs while having lost sight of their human aesthetic needs. Paradoxically, they want to have their cat on full display, comfortable on a cat tree that's on full display as well, degrading the appearance of their home. Our marketing efforts have honed in on re-education for this market segment to demonstrate that cat furniture is furniture like a table, couch or lamp and the same aesthetic considerations that go into those furniture pieces need to go into furniture for their cat as well.

Project Duration

This project was first conceived in April 2020 in Toronto, Canada. Following several design prototypes, The Connect Collection was made available in North America for purchase in December 2022.

Operation Flow

The no-tools-required assembly of The Connect Cat Tree requires the twisting of adjoining dowels together between ascending platforms. The double width nature of the platforms and varying dowel lengths enable its modular design approach allowing for personalization in its structure - taller or shorter, skinny or wide to accommodate any sized space. The attachable accessories can be affixed to any platform throughout the structure. Should a cat prefer a higher or lower platform, the cushion with it's leather straps can accommodate varying feline preferences. Similarly, the toy can be affixed between any dowel and platform, creating the opportunity for independent play, while its removable wooden ring becomes a handle for cats and their owners to play together. With the attachable food tray and scratch pad, any platform can be designated as a place to eat or a place to scratch and stretch.

Research

Starting with our own cats as test subjects, The Connect Cat Tree was prototyped with safety and durability at it's core. Following our first prototype, it became clear that the increased weight of natural wood materials would allow for a thinner, more refined dowel system. Internal reinforcements were then introduced within the platforms to to ensure when dowels were twisted into place, they wouldn't become loose over time. The second prototype was then tested by different cats with varying levels of energy. The structural integrity of the cat tree remained consistent. Feedback from participants living in condos with less room encouraged us to embrace the customization of it's footprint to accommodate varying sized living spaces. During this development phase we also learned from participating cat owners that the cat cushion was becoming their cats favorite place to dig their nails into. We then reinforced the durability of the fabric materials used for the cushion to ensure it didn't quickly become shredded with use and could be machine washed as necessary. The cat toy was later introduced and went through several stages of development to ensure the pom of the toy attracted the interest of cats, while standing up to their play. Through trial and error, a custom-made pom proved to be the clear winner. Following our testing phase, the insights we gleaned from both cats and their owners informed our final design approach. Our fanbase of customers continues to share their insights as we further refine the design of The Connect Cat Tree and it's series of accessories.

Inspiration

Humans have shared their homes with cats for a long time, providing everything they could to accommodate for their comfort. However, few options were available for cat furniture that considered both function and aesthetics. Clearly there was a hole in the market ready to be filled by a design solution for cat owners who care about the look of their home. Our starting point was the Scandinavian design principles of beauty in simplicity and minimalism. While also paying careful attention to a cat's functional needs, we created a cat tree that benefited both cats and owners.

Image Credits

All Images: Dion Lin

Project Overview

Connect Cat Furniture has been a Bronze winner in the Pet Care, Toys, Supplies and Products for Animals Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.

Bronze Recognition

Papuk was recognized with the coveted Bronze A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Connect Cat Furniture.

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