Friends and readers will know that I am a cat lover. Not to the point where I subscribe to Cat Fancy and tour the country from show to show with my constant companion Bella, but they are an important part of my life. Also, I can tell you the difference between a Maine Coon and a Norwegian Forest cat, so I suppose that counts as some degree of fanaticism.
Also, the fact that I am duly impressed by these pictures and this article about a house in Japan that has specifically been designed to facilitate the cohabitation of felines and their slaves masters:
Features include open air cat walks, climbing steps, nooks throughout the house for cat hide-outs, cat doors in every door, extra space in the bathroom designed especially for a litter box, an enclosed deck area, and special fences to prevent cats from escaping.
They have even gone so far as to use pet-friendly construction materials that resist scratching and are easy to clean.
Though the design may be a bit extreme for me, it appears to be a rather pleasing mix of aesthetics and functionality. Given that my cat Bella has taken to trying to literally climb up my walls, perhaps I could take some hints from this design.
