The new Wedge scratcher from Cat Livin’ is now available for purchase. This sleek and modern vertical scratcher comes in either white or tiger stripe laminate with your choice of four different scratch pad colors: chocolate, grass, ice blue, or stripe. The two panels slide together easily and have apparently been “cat tested” for sturdiness.

The Wedge scratcher can be ordered from Cat Livin’ for $90 US. A higher-end version is also available with walnut veneer and sisal scratch pad for $120 US.

If you’re at work today, you can forget about getting anything done after reading this. I came across this simple — and incredibly addictive — web-based game called Chat Noir. You simply click on the light green circles to turn them dark green. Each time you click, the little black cat jumps to another circle. The goal is to encircle the cat with dark green circles before he reaches the edge and scurries away. It’s really tricky! Try it for yourself.

For those of you in the US, you just found your Fourth of July weekend activity.

Just a few more days left to vote for Moderncat in the “Best Eye Candy Blog” category of the 2009 BlogLuxe Awards. Thank you so much to everyone who has already voted. This is a great opportunity to share Moderncat with other readers who might like to join our little (well, not so little!) online community.

The last day to vote is July 6 and you can vote once everyday until then. Moderncat needs to be in the top five to make it into the finals. Thanks again for voting!

Cast your vote for Moderncat!

This month’s giveaway is for a product that I’ve been a fan of for quite some time — the CatVantage modular cat climbing tree. I first wrote about CatVantage back in March 2008 after seeing it at the Global Pet Expo, where it won second place in the New Product Showcase for its category.

CatVantage is a streamlined climbing tree that uses minimal floorspace. The modular design and spring mechanism allow for easy installation with ceilings up to 10 feet. The center post is made from 100% recycled PVC and the steps are carpet covered birch.

To be eligible to win a CatVantage climbing tree, make sure you’re signed-up to receive Moderncat email updates. If you don’t receive the email updates, or if you do and you want an EXTRA chance to win this month, you can also leave a comment on this post to enter.

Congratulations to Laurel from Woodside, NY, winner of the Platform C Cat Tower from DKcat. Laurel’s three cats Shai Ming, Akira, and Bailey will love this beautiful handmade climbing tower. I’m sure they will make good use of it!

Thanks to Dani at DKcat for this awesome giveaway!

No, these aren’t photos, they are colored pencil drawings by artist Johnnie Scouten of The Illustrated Cat. Johnnie’s remarkable images are available as matted prints and on note cards. There are several different designs to choose from, each one equally amazing.

BONUS GIVEAWAY! ENTER TO WIN A SET OF NOTE CARDS

Not one, but FOUR lucky Moderncat readers will each win a set of 8 assorted note cards from The Illustrated Cat. Just leave a comment on this post to enter. One entry per person. The winners will be chosen in a random drawing on July 8. This giveaway is open to readers everywhere!

Congratulations to Kerri (comment # 611), winner of the BOLT automatic laser toy for cats! Kerri’s cats will get the workout of a lifetime and they might even shed a pound or two.

This intriguing form appears to be a concept for a cat carrier that attaches to a bicycle. It is from French product designer Olivier Gregoire. There is limited information on his website, leading me to believe it’s just a prototype, but I think it’s an interesting concept.

Thanks to Mette for the link.

Moderncat wants to hear from you! Announcing the first ever Moderncat Reader Survey. Please take a few minutes to answer some questions about yourself and your cats and tell us what you like and don’t like about Moderncat. We’re hoping to fine-tune the site to make it an even better resource for you, our loyal Moderncat readers.

And as a thank you for completing the survey, you will be entered to win a $150 gift certificate that you can use at MyThreeCats.com! Survey responses will be collected through July 31, 2009. Once the survey has been closed, one winner will be chosen in a random drawing to receive a $150 gift certificate to MyThreeCats.com*. One entry per person, please. International readers are welcome to enter. MyThreeCats.com will happily ship orders to international locations** (with appropriate shipping charges applied).

>> Click here to take the survey now!

Thank you for sharing your information with us!

* The gift certificate will be valid for one year from the date it is issued. The gift certificate must be used for product purchases; shipping and handling is not included and will be paid by the customer. No portion of the gift certificate will be redeemed for cash; product purchase must be equal to or greater than the value of the gift certificate.

** There are certain items not available for international shipment, and MyThreeCats.com will advise the customer at the time the order is placed if an item is not available for shipment to their location.

Congratulations to Debbie (comment #289), winner of the fab Red Tango giveaway package! Debbie will be stylin’ with her new Red Tango purse, mirror compact, and pill box. Thanks again to Cynthia Petrovic for another great giveaway! Don’t forget to visit her at Comic-Con 2009, July 22 - 26 in San Diego.

I’m guessing that almost everyone knows who Sockington is, but in case you don’t, he’s the famous Twittering cat who currently has almost three-quarters of a million followers. Sockington, or Socks, is a rambunctious grey and white guy with a penchant for Twittering. And he’s very good at it! I think his tweets are hysterical! Equally funny, but in her own sophisticated way, Socks’ sister Penny, or Pennysylvania, also has her own Twitter page, plus she maintains their website sockington.org.

Sockington was recently immortalized on a t-shirt, which will no doubt become a collector’s item (I just purchased mine). The fabulous illustration was created by artist Megan Hopkins.

But even more importantly, since Socks has been receiving so much media attention, he started getting requests from all sorts of animal rescue organizations in hopes that he would Twitter about them to help raise awareness. So he created a special new Twitter page, SocksArmy, where all of these requests can be posted. Now that’s a great use of Twitter! Good job, Socks!

Sockington & Penny Links:

• Sockington on Twitter
• Penny on Twitter
• Socks Army on Twitter
  
• sockington.org
• Sockington t-shirt

The Hunde Hus is a modern pet den that doubles as a bedside table. It is the creation of Danish artist craftsman Mads of MadsHome on Etsy. Mads now lives in the US and he handcrafts Danish-style furniture using quality materials and classic techniques. The Hunde Hus is perfect for cats, providing a cozy hiding spot inside and a little terrace outside. Each one is handmade, so you can choose whatever color you like, plus it can be configured for either the left or the right side of the bed.

Available at MadsHome Etsy shop. $500 plus $100 shipping.

Check out the guest post that I wrote over at the interior design resource blog The Design File. The post includes a summary of my top ten Moderncat must-haves of the moment.

Thanks so much to Lesley for asking me to contribute to her awesome blog!

My cats love laser toys, so when we had the chance to test out the new BOLT automatic laser toy for cats from FroliCat I knew it would be a hit. This cool little device sits on the floor or on a table and automatically shines the laser beam in random patterns that keep kitty on the move. Other automatic laser toys I’ve tried just rotate the light in a repetitive pattern, but BOLT varies the pattern and the speed of the light to keep things interesting.

It has an automatic shutoff function that turns off the light after 15 minutes. You can adjust the slider on the top to project the light on nearby surfaces or farther away. The laser light can also be operated manually for more interaction with your cat while playing. Here’s a little video we made with our BOLT (make sure you have the sound on!):

(If you can’t see the video above in your email, click here to view it on the site.)

As with all laser toys, be careful not to aim the laser light directly into your cat’s eyes. BOLT can be purchased at the FroliCat website or at Amazon for $19.95. Requires 4 AA batteries, not included.

We have a BOLT laser toy to give away to one lucky moderncat who needs some exercise! Please leave a comment on this post to enter. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing on June 29. Sorry, but this one can only be shipped to addresses in the US.

Moderncat is doing well, but we need to be in the top five to make it into the finals for the 2009 Blog Luxe Awards. You can vote once every day from now through July 6! We’ve been nominated in the “Best Eye Candy Blog” category.

Please vote now!

The fabulous Cynthia Petrovic, creator of everyone’s favorite moderncat Red Tango, is offering another fab giveaway for Moderncat readers. This time you get to put your name in the hat for this sweet patent vinyl purse with front pocket and black and white striped interior. The bag has its own metal Red Tango badge plus Cynthia is throwing in a Red Tango mirror compact and pill box.

To enter, please leave a comment on this post. One lucky winner will be chosen in a random drawing on June 27.

Cynthia will be exhibiting at Comic-Con 2009 to be held at the San Diego Convention Center July 22 - 26. This is your chance to meet her in person! If you’re in San Diego stop by and show her some Moderncat love! Check out all her other creations at tangoland.com.

Making interesting use of materials as well as a play on positive and negative space, Fill In the Cat is a project by designer Oscar Nunez, presented at the website Industrial Design Served. There isn’t much information about it, other than the following project description:

Three characters disappear from large, solid white blocks, and their absence suddenly makes them important. The resulting emptiness is filled with the user’s belongings and through this action the silhouettes’ meaning shifts. The pieces suggest a continuous play between interaction and representation, where daily use generates a continuously changing story: a cat that reads Italo Calvino, a book filled with coins, a living room where birds come to eat the cake’s crumbles…

Um, okay. That’s some serious design-speak. I just think it’s cool.

Thanks to Angela & Jeremy for the find.

Congratulations to Ivonne (comment #41), winner of the Sassy Maddie notecards! Have fun sending sassy little notes to all your friends.

Thanks to Sassy Maddie’s mom Lydia for this fun giveaway!

One of my favorite design blogs, Remodelista, recently posted a collection of natural fiber “poufs” which are meant to be used as footstools or low seating, but you better believe that any moderncat would take a liking to these great forms and natural materials. I actually have the banana leaf stool from IKEA, which I purchased just for the cats. I assumed they would scratch on it and that I would have to throw it out eventually, but they actually treat it like their most prized possession! They all take turns sitting on it, occasionally knocking each other off for a turn. It’s the perfect size and shape and they seem to love the texture. We call it “the tuffet.”

Shown above (clockwise from top left)

• Rattan pouf from Urban Outfitters $88.00
• Alseda banana fiber stool from IKEA $29.99
• Cotton & jute stripe rope floor cushion from West Elm
  regularly $79.00, now on sale for $39.99
• Rattan pouf from Pier 1 $99.95

Here are some of my kids enjoying their precious IKEA stool.

via Remodelista | Thanks to Moderncat reader Maia Cybelle for the tip

I was quite pleased to see a decent selection of natural cat litter at my local Super Target the other day! So far they are carrying SwheatScoop, Arm & Hammer Essentials, Feline Pine (both scoopable and pellets), and Yesterday’s News. Didn’t see any World’s Best Cat Litter at Target, but I have seen it at the grocery store. This is good news!

Simple, natural materials make the best cat trees, and that’s exactly what the folks at Mountain Cat Trees use to create their products. Made from real trees with the bark removed and natural sisal rope, these are some of the most eco-friendly cat trees and scratchers I’ve ever seen.

All products are handmade in the North Quabbin region of Central Massachusetts. The trees used for production are locally harvested from downed trees or timber cutting and forest management. Absolutely no carpet is used on any of the Mountain Cat Trees scratchers or cat trees.

If your aesthetic is more treehugger-modern, then make sure you check out these beautiful, earth-friendly and cat-friendly products.

I think deceptive marketing is a terrible thing, especially when it can have a detrimental effect on the health and well being of cats. As a result of the research I have done, I am against using clay cat litter for a number of reasons. Here’s the summary:

BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

1. Clay is strip mined to produce clay cat litter.
2. Used clumping clay cat litter NEVER biodegrades in the landfill.

BAD FOR CAT’S HEALTH & HUMAN HEALTH

1. Clay litter contains silica, which is a known carcinogen when inhaled.
2. Clumping clay litter contains sodium bentonite which expands to 15 times its volume and forms an INSOLUBLE mass when it contacts liquid. It does the same thing when cats ingest it as they groom themselves after using the litter box.

The alternative is to use a “natural” litter, one made from corn, soy, pine, paper and other natural, renewable resources. Here’s the deceptive part, CLAY IS NATURAL! So of course the manufacturers are printing that on their packages and using the term “natural” in all their marketing. Clay litters can also claim to be “chemical-free” and “naturally occurring.” Don’t be fooled! The fact is, it’s still clay!

PLEASE consider switching to a natural litter for your health and the health of your cats. I used clay litter for years before I learned about this issue, and I will admit, the natural litters just don’t work like the clay litter does, so switching can be frustrating. Plus, the natural litters can be pricey, but if you’re committed, you can find some great natural litters that will do the trick. You just have to be dedicated to stopping the use of clay litter.

(I guess this means that none of the clay litter manufacturers will be asking to advertise on Moderncat.)

When a German architect and industrial designer who lives and works in Los Angeles decides he needs a climbing tower to accommodate his three cats and fit into his ultra modern home, the carpeted monstrosities are absolutely out of the question. So what does he do? Well, in this case Peter Sehorsch went to IKEA for inspiration and then took his project far beyond an average DIY undertaking.

The result: The Hollywood Franklin Cat Tower. Named after the designer’s cat Frank, the Hollywood Franklin Tower is a unique combination of off-the-shelf modular structure and custom design. The tower is based on the IKEA Stolmen system, using the post and mounting fixtures. Peter and his design team created two different size platforms that attach to the post. The platforms come in three finishes and four carpet tile options. You get the IKEA parts then custom order the platforms to create the perfect climbing tower for your needs.

One of the big advantages to using this system is that it is easily moveable, so you can change things up for kitty when she gets bored with her tower in its current location. You can also change the position of the platforms, combining the small steps with the large platforms in either a clockwise or counter clockwise pattern.

Take a look at the incredibly cool presentation and be sure to click the navigation in the upper left corner for product specifications and ordering info.

These mysterious and captivating little sculptures are actually lights that can sit on the table or hang on the wall. Made from plaster, they are the creations of French designer Loïc Beuchet. I can find only minimal information at Atelier Sedap, and it is all in French, so please leave a comment if you know anything else about these.

Thanks to Moderncat reader Estelle for the find.

Moderncat reader Lydia created this cool little kitty graphic based on her sassy moderncat Maddie. You can get Sassy Maddie on a T-shirt or on some notecards. Lydia even created a Sassy Maddie rubber stamp and 100% of the profits go to raise funds to finish off the cat house at Tenessee-based rescue organization, A Place to Bark and Meow.

You can win a set of six Sassy Maddie notecards! Just leave a comment on this post to enter. One lucky winner will be chosen in a random drawing on June 21.