Inhabitat » CARDBOARD FURNITURE: The Cat Cocoon

June 30, 2007

CARDBOARD FURNITURE: The Cat Cocoon

by Jorge Chapa

cat cocoon, cardboard, water glue, cat, cat furniture

While the world may be split between cat and dog lovers, we should all be able to agree on the merit of this very green feline design: The Cat Cocoon, a piece of cardboard furniture designed by Warren Lieu, allows even the most doting cat lover to bring good design to their pet’s world in eco-friendly and functional style.

The Cat Cocoon is a sculptural furniture piece made out of layers of laser-cut corrugated cardboard- all glued together to provide a nice playhouse for your cat. The rippled cardboard texture doubles as a scratching post. And finally, the glue used in the process is water-based, which is generally less toxic than standard glues. No word on a doggie version, so all you green pooch-lovers will have to wait- but we’ll keep you posted on further canine developments.

+ The Cat Cocoon

14 Responses to “CARDBOARD FURNITURE: The Cat Cocoon”

Peter Says:

June 30th, 2007 at 8:55 pm

Nice design…but $249.00 for pieces of glued together cardboard?!

Peter Hoh Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 12:24 am

I love the design, but what exactly qualifies it as eco-friendly? I doesn’t appear to be made of scrap cardboard. I suspect that it can be recycled, but that’s a pretty low bar for what qualifies as eco-friendly. And not to be snippy, but does the “water-based glue” happen to be Elmers?

rek Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 1:02 am

How green is it? Is all the cardboard nth-generation post-consumer, or at least excess from a cardboard factory?

Alex Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 4:29 am

Hmm, laser cut hey? Not exactly a green manufacturing process, what’s wrong with scissors?

And I hate to point this out, but is the designer actually a cat owner? Having a glue which is less toxic than standard glues is hardly confidence inspiring. If I put that down for my cats they’d have torn it to shreds within a few days.

If I want a cardboard nest for my cats I’ll go down the supermarket, get my shopping and put it in an old cardboard box, and then put the box down for the cats after. they’ll then shred it, and I’ll then put the shreddings in the compost heap. Much greener.

Methinks this is fine case of style over substance. Still, I’m sure it’ll sell well to the suckers.

Alex Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 4:31 am

OH, I just looked at the price $249 + $15 shipping. - you’d have to be a total sucker to buy it - get a box, it’s much, much cheaper.

Lynn Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 8:01 am

It is beautiful - but why does everything “green” cost more than “regular”?

vicki Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 5:45 pm

while i appreciate great design and am a proponent of anything “eco-friendly”, this is a perfect example of how the combination of the two usually means high prices for the consumer. i adore my cat but he’s still just a cat. i cant justify spending $249 for cardboard. its not even an issue of whether or not one has disposable income, as it is about spending money wisely and responsibly. to me, thats what eco friendly is about.

it seems that if the designer is really commited to being eco friendly, he’d think about using nth generation post consumer (what rek mentioned) cardboard and/or teach people how to build it themselves (with recylced cardboard).

i make art and would like to make a living from it but not at the expense of alienating my audience by limiting accessibility.

to his credit though, it is a beautiful sculpture.

Dominic Says:

July 1st, 2007 at 8:08 pm

Our Cat would destroy this in seconds.
250 bucks is 3 years supply of chicken necks for a cat.

If it was $24.95 i’d buy for entertainment value of watching the cat tear it appart.

Buy your cat a box, a blanket and give the 200 bucks you save to your local SPCA or cat shelter.

Nigel Says:

July 2nd, 2007 at 6:02 am

The cardboard used in these kinds of pieces tends to be about 40% recycled - or at least it is in the range we sell (see the shelves, chairs and http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/eco-furniture.html). Any more than that and the cardboard wouldn’t be strong enough - so our supplier tells us.
The advantage of caardboard is that it is part recycled, is recyclable, is light yet strong and can be made into original, interesting and contemporary designs - like these round shelves http://www.nigelsecostore.com/acatalog/rock-n-roll-shelves.html). It’s also a great alternative for MDF or chipboard (which can be made from a lot of glue.)
Cardboard furniture tends to be made by small design companies who make it all by hand - there’s quite a lot of cutting involved if you think about it, hence the higher than expected prices.

trix6 Says:

July 5th, 2007 at 7:01 am

I do not own this but I own a similar corrugated cardboard Kitty Pod by Elizabeth Paige Smith. While I cannot speak to it’s true eco-friendlienss I can assure you that it is not destructible. The multi-ply makes it very, very hard. I have two claw-weilding heavy scratchers in my home and I’ve had my kitty pod for 3 years now and it looks about the same as new. While you may disagree with the price, it sure is much better designed and looks nicer in the living room than a old box.

james Says:

September 12th, 2007 at 9:23 am

I call this BIO-INFLATABE. but not totally unrealiistic, i mean this ain’t wallmart. First your paying for the design, second your paying for the manufacturing and third, green is a “hot spin” at the moment so unfortunatlly your paying fo the “hot spin” factor. Lets just hope that green trend sticks and becomes the mainstream, less guilt, less money less hype. Cheers

soala Says:

October 11th, 2007 at 1:24 pm

I have the cat cocoon. It may seem expensive at $250 but it is a lot cheaper than replacing my even more expensive furniture. We’ve had it for almost 2 years, I have multiple cats and it has held up. I think it is a great product.

Ross Says:

November 19th, 2007 at 4:50 am

This isn’t as green as the original designer’s artwork produced as far back as 2000 in Australia. Google Tracy Luff or Ivy Hill Gallery and you will see examples of the work that may have inspired Warren Lieu. Tracy’s sculpture is award winning and her original idea, in fact the cat cocoon is almost identical in its structure but Tracy cuts all her genuine nth-generation post consumer cardboard by hand before assembly. Try this link: http://www.tafensw.edu.au/artsprize/2001/gallery/luff.shtml

linda Says:

January 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm

is this all you have? maybe five years ago, I bought a “kitty castle” that was colorful and had toys attached. Maybe you should into getting some more creative designers

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