From Frustration to Innovation

CatScapes was born out of frustration - mine, and more importantly, my cat’s.

My cat Arlo was climbing the walls, literally. Living in coyote country, I felt guilty keeping my cats indoors, but the alternative was worse. I needed a way to bring the outdoors in. A way to create an environment that felt like hills and trees, where my cats could climb, jump, and explore freely.

Every time I searched for cat furniture, I ran into the same problems: bulky, awkward towers that dominated the room, flimsy shelves that seemed like they’d rip out of the wall the second my cat jumped on them. And worst of all? My cats weren't even that interested.

From Frustration to Innovation

CatScapes was born out of frustration - mine, and more importantly, my cat’s.

My cat Arlo was climbing the walls, literally. Living in coyote country, I felt guilty keeping my cats indoors, but the alternative was worse. I needed a way to bring the outdoors in. A way to create an environment that felt like hills and trees, where my cats could climb, jump, and explore freely.

Every time I searched for cat furniture, I ran into the same problems: bulky, awkward towers that dominated the room, flimsy shelves that seemed like they’d rip out of the wall the second my cat jumped on them. And worst of all? My cats weren't even that interested.

So, in 2016, I started experimenting.

I installed thirty-five different shelves using what was already on the market, and while my cats loved the vertical space, my home ended up looking like a pirate ship inside a zoo enclosure. The options out there were either bulky towers that dominated the room, flimsy shelves that felt like a liability, or perches that failed to engage my cats' natural athleticism.

Worst of all? Most cat furniture forced static, predictable movement: up and down, back and forth. But cats don’t just climb. They prowl. They leap. They navigate complex paths with precision and purpose.

I spent hundreds of hours watching my cats navigate different setups.

They didn’t just want perches or pegs. They wanted movement, variation, and flow. But most cat furniture only allowed for up-or-down movement, forcing them into static, predictable paths. My cats needed dynamic, interconnected routes that let them climb, jump, and explore freely.

Then there was the issue of installation. Every shelf I found had to be anchored to studs, which severely limited where I could place them. I tried to work around it, installing a mix of mismatched shelves just to create climbing-friendly angles, but my walls ended up looking more like a pirate ship than a home.

Did I really have to choose between a beautiful living space and an enriching one for my cats?

I needed something different. Something modular. Something that could be customized to fit both my space and my cats’ instincts.

I kept asking myself…

• What if I didn’t have to worry about studs?
• What if I could install shelves at any angle to create natural movement?
• What if the system was sleek, stylish, and actually looked good in my home?
• What kind of support could make all of this both functional and secure?

And then it hit me — what if the shelf IS the bracket?

That’s when my childhood friend and engineering genius, Trevor Thorpe, and I developed the CatScapes hinge-bracket system. Our patented design redefined cat furniture, allowing shelves to be positioned at any angle, creating truly dynamic, interconnected landscapes. No more ugly towers. No more uninspired platforms. Just a beautiful, adaptable system that evolves with your space and your cat’s instincts.

It’s a completely new way to design cat-friendly spaces—one that doesn’t force you to choose between form and function.

It’s an unconventional idea. No one sets out to design “crooked” shelves. But we did. And it changed everything.

With CatScapes, you can build climbing landscapes that adapt to your space and your cat’s instincts. Whether you live in a small apartment, have high ceilings, or want a setup that evolves with your cat over time, our modular system makes it possible.

No more ugly towers. No more shelves your cat ignores. Just a beautiful, functional environment where your cat can move, explore, and thrive.

Whether you live in a compact apartment or a sprawling loft, whether your ceilings are low or sky-high, CatScapes lets you create an environment where your cat can move naturally: climbing, jumping, and exploring with confidence. Our shelves are sturdy, stylish, and endlessly customizable, giving you the freedom to design without compromise.

Because at the end of the day, CatScapes isn’t just about shelves. It’s about movement, connection, and creating a space where your cat can truly be a cat.