The Cats' House

Everyone who I've shared this with, is on board to help me build a similar indoor haven as well as taking this concept outside to my gigantic back porch where I can construct a large feral cat enclosure to protect them from predators, feral Pitbull/German Shepherds that seem to roam our neighborhood and especially a place that they will be safe from the 4 season elements. Thank you Mr.. Walker for the inspiration.

Bob Walker's "The Cats' House" is not the type of book that gives you detailed plans and instructions on how to build catwalks, stairs and doorways for your cat. This would be impossible because each house is so different. What it gives you instead is a beautifully illustrated vision of what it would be like to live in a house with nine cats walking, napping and playing overhead. What you ultimately do with this vision is up to you, your carpentry skills and budget. The stunningly gorgeous photographs, architecture and interior design in this book give you the fuel you need to stoke your own creative fire. After reading Walker's book and poring over the photographs, I challenge any cat lover not to have the same reaction I did, namely, that of looking around my home trying to figure out how I too could transform my living space in order to make it more fun for my cats. Now, I think I'll go look at some books about woodworking!

I received this book as a Mother's Day gift from my daughter on the other side of the country, and I haven't stopped smiling since I popped open the package -- It also effectively stopped work productivity for the next several hours as fellow cat-lovers and not-so-enamoured co-workers marveled at the charm, whimsicality, and rich, vibrant colors. If you yearn not to be an 'all-white walls' person AND have been properly trained by your cat(s) to think constantly of their amusement and mental & physical needs, you can only be inspired to let your own imagination get to work. I will enjoy this book for a very long time and love that something so special and delightful was correctly seen as JUST what I'd adore.

Don't buy this expecting detailed woodworking plans or construction blueprints because you'll be disappointed if what you're after is a how-to guide. What the author has given us instead, however, is a magical book full of inspiration and cats and color and ideas and cats and textures and cats that will help you decide how you want to design your own special feline walk-ways, steps, balconies, boxes, alcoves, entrance and exitways for your cats in your house or apartment.The author and his wife are avid collectors not only of cats, but of Mexican folkart as well. Their house abounds with colorful textiles, furniture, masks, frames, pottery and numerous carvings. They have incorporated their love for these things into the type of catwalkers and connecting pieces they designed for their house: everything is done in vivid shades of red, purple, yellow, blue and green and the cat pieces compliment them beautifully. My husband and I don't collect Mexican folk treasures but after reading this book and studying the pictures, I realized how easy it would be to incorporate our own color schemes, style and art objects into making a unique set of catwalkers for our own cats. The author does provide enough instructions and measurements so that someone who is reasonably well-acquainted with woodworking could install the basics (or you could always show the book and your designs to your contractor). The author also has suggestions on cat-proofing your house and your collectables (such as using "Quake Hold" to attach breakable objects to tables)Also included in the book are pictures of a cat habitat designed by the author for the National Cat Protection Society in Newport Beach.

The cat-loving author has designed a fablulous home that caters to the whims and whimsy of his nine felines. Looking at the ramps, walkways, look-out stations and overhead catwalks, a reader can't help but think about how much his/her own housecat would enjoy this fun-loving environment. Every catlover I've shown this book to has been captivated by the wonderful imagination that brought this cat-house to life. The photos are dynamic, and the cats are very lucky, indeed. You won't be disappointed by this fantastic book.