If you’ve ever stood in the middle of your living room, surveying the wreckage of a once-beautiful sofa now shredded by tiny claws, or quietly mourned your sculptural vase knocked to the floor by a leaping furball, then you already know: living stylishly with cats is no easy feat. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Cats are family, and like any family member, they deserve a space that works for them—without requiring you to sacrifice all sense of design, comfort, or personality. There’s a middle ground. And believe it or not, it’s actually a pretty cozy and charming place once you get there.
Create Elevated Spaces That Invite, Not Just Decorate
You don’t have to give up having beautiful furniture or curated shelves—but you do have to rethink how those spaces work. Cats love to be up high. It’s in their nature to climb, perch, observe. So, instead of treating that instinct as something to work against, you can lean into it. Think about how you can make your home more vertical in a way that feels intentional and styled. Mounting floating shelves with staggered levels can give your cat a climbing route that doubles as wall art. Wide bookcases and console tables can become part of their play zone, especially if you blend function with form—maybe a sleek cubby here, a vintage wooden box there, all offering cozy nooks that look like design choices rather than pet accommodations.
The goal isn’t to hide the fact that a cat lives in your home. It’s to let that fact blend in with your taste. So when you think about redesigning, stop imagining ways to keep them off things—and start imagining where you’d want to go if you were a curious little creature with claws and a tail.
Feed Them Like Royalty, But Make It Match Your Style
Cats don’t ask for much. But the one thing that does matter more than almost anything else is what they eat. And yes, their feeding station can look better than a mismatched bowl next to a dust-covered mat. If you’re going to upgrade one thing that actually benefits both their health and your design sensibilities, make it their meals.
Choose high-quality, nutritious cat food with ingredients like rabbit, venison or kangaroo to support their natural diet and help them thrive. Healthier cats make for happier homes. Their coats shine brighter, their energy evens out, and they’re far more content—not knocking over water glasses or meowing at 3 a.m. with that wild look in their eye. And when it comes to the dishes themselves, you can absolutely choose ceramic or stainless steel bowls in neutral tones or subtle patterns that don’t scream “pet aisle.” Place them on a low wooden tray or tuck them into a corner of your kitchen that feels deliberate, not forgotten. Feeding your cat well doesn’t mean cluttering your kitchen—it can actually elevate the whole space.
Hide the Litter Box in Plain Sight—It Can Be Done
Let’s just say it: litter boxes are not cute. They’re the one thing most people struggle to deal with when trying to make a cat-friendly home look intentional or inviting. But the good news is, you don’t have to pretend they don’t exist. You just have to find a smart way to make them part of the design.
Start by rethinking your furniture. Could an old sideboard become a litter box enclosure? Could a cabinet near the laundry room be retrofitted with a discreet side entrance for your cat? If you live in a smaller space, there are coffee tables, benches, and even end tables that cleverly conceal litter boxes while still blending in with the rest of your decor. Just don’t fall for anything that looks overly bulky or screams “I’m trying to hide something.” The key is to choose pieces that you’d want in your home anyway—and then let them quietly serve a dual purpose.
The other part? Keep it clean. Your cat will thank you, and so will your guests. Because nothing ruins a beautifully designed room like an ignored litter box, no matter how sleek the furniture around it is. Clean daily, keep the area ventilated, and be mindful of where smells tend to linger. Oh, and keep that sweep broom nearby. Cats track stuff. You already know.
And while we’re being real—if you’re doing all this while also feeding bananas to dogs and managing the full circus of pet life under one roof, you’re not alone. You’re just a modern household figuring it out one day at a time.
Choose Materials That Actually Stand Up to Claws and Fur
We’re in an era where design doesn’t have to mean delicate. Durable can be beautiful—and when you’ve got a cat in the house, it should be. Look for sofas and chairs upholstered in performance fabrics that resist scratching, or at least don’t attract every hair like a magnet. Think boucle, canvas, or even tight-weave leather alternatives that clean up easily and offer some resistance to snags.
Wood furniture should lean toward the rustic side if you’re worried about dings and scratches—distressed finishes can hide a multitude of sins. And rugs? Opt for low-pile or indoor-outdoor varieties that you can vacuum regularly without needing professional help every time your cat has a mood swing.
It’s also smart to offer alternatives. If you don’t want your armchair to turn into a scratching post, provide a better option nearby. A simple sisal-covered post or even a design-forward cardboard lounger (yes, they exist and they’re surprisingly stylish) can steer your cat away from temptation without disrupting your aesthetic. Cats will always need to scratch. You just get to decide where.
Let Your Decor Reflect Your Life, Not Just a Magazine Page
Maybe the most important part of making your home feel both beautiful and livable with cats is this: accept the life you actually have. Your cat will sleep in weird places. They’ll jump on things they shouldn’t. You’ll come home to a tipped-over plant or a curtain slightly askew. And that’s okay.
Don’t design a house you’re afraid to live in. Make it yours. Choose textiles you love but can throw in the wash. Mix soft throws with durable surfaces. Let your personality—your full, pet-inclusive, real-life personality—shine through your choices. If a quirky art print of a cat makes you smile wearing invisalign, hang it. If a velvet pillow ends up with some fur on it but still looks incredible, embrace it.
Because when someone walks into your space and says, “Wow, it feels so you in here,” that’s when you know you’ve nailed it.
The Sweet Spot Between Stylish and Lived-In
You don’t have to choose between your design dreams and your cat’s comfort. With a little imagination and a lot of love, your home can absolutely be both stylish and cat-friendly. Not perfect, not sterile—but warm, smart, and entirely yours. And in the end, isn’t that the kind of home everyone wants to come back to?