Torn cushions, scuffed up carpets, and scratched furniture—many cat owners know this sight all too well. For some pet parents, this is simply seen as their beloved cat’s claw maintenance. It can’t be helped! Still, there seems to be a better outlet for your kitty to file their claws—with a chance of you even celebrating what they’ve done. Luckily, industrial designer Zhenyang Yan of Shanghai-based company Livelyhood LTD. has designed Catvas, a scratching pad for cats to claw at and express themselves on, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece of art you can actually hang on your wall.
Catvas challenges the idea that cat scratching posts and pads are lowly consumables bound for the trash can once they’ve been used throughly. Instead, they can be mementos of your cat’s life in a way that a photograph could never capture. After all, cats leave pheromones while scratching, creating a sense of territory and emotional connection with the object they’ve scratched. It is also what keeps them healthy as it not only removes the outer layer of their nails, but also helps them vent their emotions.
To make this idea work, Catvas has a double layer of fabric that results in colorful designs as cats scratch to their heart’s content. When enough time (and scratching) has passed, the color underneath will begin to show in a unique pattern. The L-shaped structure is designed to fit the natural stretching habits of cats, with the removable panels allowing for easy replacement. Once done, you can frame the panels and be proud of what your cat has made.
What’s best, Catvas is constructed from mostly recyclable materials, including wood, aluminum, and fabric made from old cloth and mycorrhiza. To make it easier for cats to scratch it and for you to get a cool design, the top layer is thinner than the bottom one. It also has easy-to-assemble components, significantly reducing packaging costs and waste.
This clever conception has been awarded the 2024 Iron A’ Design Award in Pet Care, Toys, Supplies and Products for Animals Design. “Catvas is a new pet product that reshapes scratching from a destructive behavior into a creative process,” writes A’ Design Award. “It gives both people and cats the chance to co-create their living spaces together.”
Catvas is a scratching pad you can easily turn in into wall art once your cat has left its marks on it.
Rather than being seen as consumables, Catvas proposes that scratching posts can be mementos of your cat’s life in a way that a photograph could never capture.
To make this idea work, Catvas has a double layer of fabric that results in colored “brushstrokes” as cats scratch to their heart’s content.
When enough time (and scratching) has passed, the color underneath will begin to show in a unique pattern.
Zhenyang Yan: Behance | LinkedIn
h/t: [Yanko Design]
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