The Cats' House

by Bob Walker, Frances Mooney

Describes cat-friendly home improvements, offers plans and suggestions for enlivening housecats' environments, and relates how a room-divider project transformed the author's home into a cats' playground

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, Photography, Art, Reference, Humor

96 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1996

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what it says about me that I patiently waited for this book to become available through the library hold system. And it took a while, but I waited because I really wanted to see the pictures of this house. Go ahead, judge me. Call me a crazy cat lady. Your words can't touch me. My personal strength has been forged by claws, layers of cat hair on my work clothes and bath towels, midnight meow wake-ups, and endless scoops of litter. Bob Walker writes, "Our cats think all cats live this way. We think all cats should." He does an excellent job following that sentiment through this small book.

I really like this book because the owners of the house exemplify the best of humanity. They have a few, focused interests - each other, mexican folk art, and cats - and they move through life with real dedication. Their house is brightly painted and decorated mostly with dia de los muertos art, and hundreds of feet of walkways, staircases, sleeping platforms, doorways, climbing posts, and ramps build especially for their nine cats (all rescued cats). Since I spend a lot of time stumbling over cats underfeet, the concept of moving them overhead seems like perfection. The work on the cat house looks professional and sharp, even though it was all done by the owners. They have step-by-step photos to prove it. Their creativity and consideration for the feline condition is heartwarming. Everything is designed for the oldest, fattest cat to have reasonable access. <3

This book has a through tour of the house with commentary on each interesting feature and construction detail. It's inspirational enough that you find yourself discussing over dinner the possibility of a cat stairway in a hidden hallway, or maybe an elevated sleeping platform to gaze over the dogs. But it's not all self-absorbed. There is also a local cat rescue facility that has reaped the benefits of this cat house - annual tours of the cat house raise funds for the rescue facility, and when they moved to a new location, Bob helped design their "retirement home" in the same spirit as the cat house - elevated walkways, wide sleeping platforms, and tons of engaging opportunities.

Even if you hate cats, this book is a great testament to the creativity, dedication, love and admiration that pets can inspire in us. It's a good example of two people living an unconventional life in a way that's true to their own spirit, and this book captures that energy. I hope they write a sequel with more of their charity work and their screened outdoor cat facility. I'll wait in line to read that, too.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember reading a story in the newspaper about an elderly couple - a postal worker and a librarian - who, over the years, dedicated themselves to collecting original art by artists they liked. They amassed a huge and valuable collection while living on a fixed income.

Similarly, the couple in this book live on modest means while dedicating themselves to something they believe in - only in this case, it's their cats. Over the years, they have come to own nine cats, and they have remodeled their house to serve the cats' needs - building staircases, hidden rooms, wall cutouts and ramps exclusively for cat use. They paint and decorate everything in bright colors, and this book is a cross between a photo book and a how-to manual.

They're, you know, kind of crazy, but it's interesting how this shared interest/eccentricity might sustain them and their marriage.

[Elaine Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable little book by a pair of artists about how they've modified their home to be a fun place for their nine (!!!!) cats. Inspiring photos for things I might want to try later.

Two things that I want to note/remember for later: 30 degree incline with carpet for traction, and walkways spaced slightly away from the walls to make it easier for the cats to turn around.

[Cb · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I could, this is what my house would look like!

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is like a crazy cat lady's dream ...

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! After reading this, rooms look empty without cat-planks.

[Lagobond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long before there was Jackson Galaxy to teach us about cats doing cat things (and how to keep them happy), Bob Walker and his wife Frances Mooney turned their Southern California house into a gloriously colorful cat heaven. I've been wanting to read this book for about a couple decades, and I'm so glad I finally did!

The book (as well as the house itself, which is filled with Mexican folk art) is a masterpiece. I love Walker's spirited and loving tale of how he and his wife came to share their house with nine cats. He covers the gradual process of installing overhead walkways (which allow the resident cats to freely traverse the house, run/play/wrestle/sleep, and pose for stylish portraits). He discusses their decision to adopt only rescue cats, and support their favorite cat rescue. He makes a heartfelt plea for cat owners everywhere to adapt their domiciles to their cats' needs -- and he graciously shares detailed information (including technical drawings!) of the walkways, wall passages, and staircases that he built over the years, so that others may be inspired do the same.

I love everything about this book. The photos are a feast for the eyes. The writing is informative, entertaining, and inspiring. The feline cast of characters hits all the right notes from majestic to adorable. The Cats' House would make a lovely gift for anyone who has a sense of adventure and aesthetics, whether they consider themselves a cat person / art lover or not.

The Cats' House website: www.catshouse.com (Sadly, the house has since been sold. According to a newspaper article, the new owners painted the house white... and did not, at the time of the sale, have cats. I suppose one can hope that the spirit of the house might have worked on them in the meantime to change this?)

Here's a video visit of the house. I suggest you start watching at 0:22, especially if you are sensitive to flickering images.

[Bryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bob Walker and Frances Mooney are a married couple who in the 90s turned their San Diego house into a feline paradise and then wrote some books about it, as well as being featured on multiple television shows. This is the first book, which is pictures of the cats, pictures of the house, and very good description of how the various cat-walks, stairs, etc. fit together and even construction diagrams for a few. I was mostly in it for the charm and it didn't disappoint.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walker and Mooney were catifying even before the term catification. This brief memoir of their lives with cats, illustrated with color photographs, shows how the couple transformed their home into a perfect place for cats, with custom-made passages and stairs and more. Full of adorable photos and stories.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not what I needed. I'm not sure I'd ever need this book on how to design overhead walkways for cats — it's not something I'd ever feel the need for, I think.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful! Even if you don't have a cat, this book is worth reading - beware, though. It may make you decide to adopt a cat as an excuse to emulate some of the features in this house.

[Susannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is all about a couple, and the way they have modified their house to create climbing platforms for their many cats. Their ideas are quite clever, and they document how they needed to modify their designs along the way, as well as to make them cat-appealing. They have put platforms near the ceiling in each room so the cats can walk up high. The platforms connect through little cat-sized passages cut into the wall so the cats can travel from room to room. There is carpet for gripping, and little areas in which to turn around. A charming idea to create something so enjoyable for your pets. I also love the couples' fondness for Mexican folk art, bright interior colours, and Day of the Dead figures.

[Friend of Pixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover says "Any cat would give up one of its nine lives for a shot at living in the Cats' House, a wacky fantasyland for cats created by Bob Walker and his wife. They've turned their California home into a feline fun house." And it's a work of art too. Done in a southwest/day-of-the-dead theme, Logan loved the whole colorful thing. 140 feet of aerial walkways, spiral staircases, and giant scratching posts, and playful peepholes. The owners cut holes in the walls so that the walkways could go from room to room, making the holes into things like a hoop of flames or a mousehole.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the first time I heard about these people and their house was on Animal Planet. And since then I've been wanting to steal some of their ideas. So I checked out this book from the library to get a few more pictures.
I liked some of the instructions, on how to build and design your own, but I wish there had been more pictures of their house and the way they set it all up. Still, there are plenty of great ideas here and it was an interesting read.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the ultimate cat house. The author built all kinds of railings and stairs for his cats. I don't think many people would go to this extreme for their cat (mine is content with his cat tree), but I think it could give you some ideas for making your place more cat-friendly. Interior decorators and architects would also probably enjoy this book.

[Cat Fithian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written and illustrated by the guy who created cat walks, etc, all through his house for his cats. Very clever designs, but the colors he used would give me a headache if I had to live there all the time. Way too busy. He shares all the specs and details of how to create your own cat-customized house. So very tempting!

[Tonks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and charming. The cats really look happy, unlike in a lot of cat photography. We probably won't be cutting holes in the walls anytime soon, but it's inspiring to see great things done with an eccentric concept. Note: a lot of the pictures and text in this book are the same as the ones on their website (thecatshouse.com).

[Moonbean · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will NOT believe what these people did to their house! It's kind of cool, actually, though... However, I thought MY cats were spoiled!! These people make my partner and I look like bad cat parente. lol.

[Elizabeth Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artist couple turns their entire home into a giant, brightly colored kitty toy, for the pleasure of their 13 cats -- and us, who get to read about and see all this feline-pleasing creativity. What's not to love? Now to convince husband we need to do the same in our house...

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- Colorful, crazy book about a couple who transformed their home into a Day-Glo cat paradise. It gives tips on creating your own cat furniture, but doesn't get bogged down in Bob Vila-speak.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

happy cats. I plan to do a bit of this.

[Mrbuffles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great cat enclosure ideas.

[eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

whatever, so i'm a crazy cat lady. sue me. i don't think i'll ever own enough cats to justify these kinds of modifications, nor a house to put them in, but they were cool to look at anyway.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to copy as many ideas from this book as I can. I want a bigger house!

[Jobiska (Cindy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it at the vet's office. Same authors as "Crazy cats" which I have. Beautiful design ideas--wish I could incorporate some for my cats!

[Pamela Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all cat lovers, If I was a feline, I'd want to live here!

[jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some design ideas to accommodate and entertain cats, with some construction details. The non-cat related interiors pics are at least as interesting as the feline.

[Pepper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly beautiful house that caters to every whim & desire that a cat may have. I would love to have a house like this!

[Mira · Rating 3 out of 5]

What to say? Impossibly goofy concept, but charming in its way. Pretty photos.