Tasteful furniture for pets is not a recent phenomenon. The Metropolitan Museum of Art displays an 18th century dog kennel created by Fresh artist Claude I Sené for queen Marie Antoinette’s royal canine companion Coco. The opulent piece has been crafted from gilded beech and pine, and draped in the finest silk and velvet.

Classy pet furniture is back in vogue after global home decor giant Ikea unveiled a pawdorable line of furniture designed for pets in 2017. The collection, which became an instant rage, was designed with inputs from trained veterinarians. Other International purveyors such as Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Casper mattresses followed suit with lines for feline and canine companions.

Pet furniture refers to any piece of specialised furniture that is created keeping in mind the particular needs and requirements of different types of companion animals like dogs and cats. According to a recent study by market research firm Statista, the Global Pet Furniture industry was valued at US $ 2.21Billion in 2019 and is estimated to reach US $ 3 Billion by 2025.

The Pet furniture market has been segmented into Feeding Tables, Beds, Sofas, Houses, Trees and Condos on the basis of product type. It is divided into 3 major categories namely – canine, feline and other pets, based on application.

Traditionally, furniture designs for companion animals have given preference to function over form. However, the pet furniture space is rapidly evolving and pet parents are no longer content with a plain mattress or cushion to serve their pet’s bedding and lounging needs. Young owners are now looking for sophisticated pieces that complement their pad’s overall colour scheme and craftsmanship of other furniture articles while serving functional requirements. International pet furniture manufacturers are investing huge amounts in R & D to come up with designs that appeal to millennials.

1. Social Media Engagement?

The new generation of pet owners carefully curate their life for digital media. Pets have their own accounts on Instagram, with celebrity pooches and kitties enjoying a fan following of millions. This desire for Internet stardom has sparked the sale of picture purrfect pet accessories. Social media also serves as a platform for direct interaction between manufacturers and end users. Srishti Sharma, Founder – Petarchi opines, “Since pets have become an inseparable part in a human’s life, our aim is to provide a furniture module that works for both. And, I feel social media is a great platform to introduce and promote such a concept as it will be the fastest way of reaching out to a wider audience considering it’s ever growing popularity amongst the majority of people these days.”

2. Increase in Pet Adoptions

The rise in pet ownership in urban areas has fuelled the need for pet furniture products. Owners want their pet’s trusted retreat to combine comfort with mental stimulation so their pampered pooches unwind in style while they are away at work.

3. Rise in disposable incomes

Spending on domestic animals has been rising significantly across the country in the past few years. Owners no longer shy away from spending an extra buck to ensure their pet’s comfort.

4. Pet Humanisation

Our four-legged friends form an important aspect of our lives. Pet parents consider their pets as family members and want their belongings to reflect their lifestyle standards.

5. Insatiable Appetite for Fine Design

Millennial pet parents are always searching for artisanal furniture pieces, even for their pets. Architects, designers and entrepreneurs have finally realised the humongous demand and started to create exquisite products to cater to this niche segment.

6. Popularity of Pet Retail Websites

The rise of fancy e-commerce websites has positively contributed to move pet furniture beyond pieces meant for lounging.

1. Mini Human Furniture

The rise of fancy e-commerce websites has positively contributed to move pet furniture beyond pieces meant for lounging.This trend is all about pet furniture pieces that mirror their classic human counterparts, but are smaller in size to accommodate pets. Intended for felines and canines that stubbornly refuse to use their own beds, these scaled down furniture pieces are high on the cuteness quotient. The twinning trend has also added to the popularity of these designs as pet parents line up to procure matching creations for their pampered pooches.

Priyanka Roy, Founder & Owner of The Non-Living, goes on to add, “Pet care and pet living has been a growing interest amongst many in recent years. A major aspect of this is how we choose to live with our pets, where we let them be in the house; which is everywhere. The Non-Living intends to create and introduce a better living choice that parents can select for their pets. We not only share our love and time with our pets but also our household belongings like toys, food, and furniture. This has called for an imminent rise of interest in miniature furniture.”

2. Space-saving Furniture

Space is a huge concern for pet parents in urban areas. The new breed of pet owners desire sophisticated multi-tasking pieces that serve both them and the pet. This trend has inspired furniture purveyors worldwide to add utility-based features like pullout storage drawers in conventional items. The shortage of floor area has driven the demand for ingenious articles which make the most of wall space.
According to ChotaPakoda Founder Shruti Gotarkar, “Today’s modern households with pets have a need of furniture that is multi-functional and long lasting while integrating the lives of humans and pets together. Thus at ChotaPakoda we address this need in a pocket-friendly way.”

3. Furniture Designed in Consonance with Feline Nuances

With the steady increase in cat ownership, it has become vital to create furniture products that are compatible with natural feline needs and mannerisms while conforming to human requirements like form and design. ChotaPakoda Founder Shruti Gotarkar shares her views on the need to catify our homes, “Cat households must have products that take care of cat scratching, since scratching is their basic nature.”
ShalakaaDiwanjii, Founder – Pawshcats, opines “In India cat lovers have started realising the need for cat furniture especially for indoor cats. The imported cat furniture available is very good but designed for lifestyle aboard. Indian houses and climate are substantially different, the furniture needs to be crafted according to the Indian needs.”

4. High Design for Style Connoisseurs

With the steady increase in cat ownership, it has become vital to create furniture products that are compatible with natural feline needs and mannerisms while conforming to human requirements like form and design. ChotaPakoda Founder Shruti Gotarkar shares her views on the need to catify our homes, “Cat households must have products that take care of cat scratching, since scratching is their basic nature.”
ShalakaaDiwanjii, Founder – Pawshcats, opines “In India cat lovers have started realising the need for cat furniture especially for indoor cats. The imported cat furniture available is very good but designed for lifestyle aboard. Indian houses and climate are substantially different, the furniture needs to be crafted according to the Indian needs.”
International designers are crafting glamorous, extravagant pieces for pet parents who desire nothing but the best for their companion animals. Many designers turn to children’s furnishings and antique staircases for inspiration.

5. Use of Eco-friendly and Sustainable Materials

Biodegradable materials such as wicker, jute, wood and laminate not only last longer than plastics and other synthetic substances but are also better for the environment.

6. Technological innovations

Orthopaedic beds are in high demand due to their health benefits like backbone support and prevention of joint related issues in senior animals. Temperature control innovations such as electric heating beds and gel packs help to provide seasonal comfort to our pampered pooches. Pet staircases and raised feeding trays are a godsend for puppies, small breeds and older dogs. Smart beds that help track rest, weight and activity levels are also in trend.

Here are some Indian furniture startups that intend to make sleep and play more safe, cosy, enjoyable and stylish for our furry companions:

ChotaPakoda

Founders Gaurav Singh and Shruti Gotarkar incepted ChotaPakoda with the objective of making hand-crafted products that fit in purrfectly with pets’ sensibilities and subtle nuances. Based out of Navi Mumbai, this pet-friendly furniture enterprise specialises in creating cat towers, condos, dog houses and food dish pedestals from raw materials sourced from around the world. The company is behind the aesthetically pleasing and functional cat bridges, wall mounts and other feline-centred installations at Mumbai’s much sought-after hangout Cat Cafe Studio.

Petarchi

The brainchild of registered architect and certified canine trainer & behaviourist Srishti Sharma, Petarchi has an impressive line up of leash hangers, pet crates that double up as wooden tables, waterproofed food bowl stands with storage and versatile dog houses. Srishti also conducts pet trips, pool parties and doggies’ day outs on a regular basis.

Pawsh Cats

An initiative of animal communicator ShalakaaDiwanjii, ‘Pawsh Cats’ is a Pune-based pet furniture startup that creates an adorable line of cat gyms, window perches, trees and beds from sustainable raw materials such as laminate, rope and plywood. Shalakaa’s designs are based on inspiration and valuable feedback from her 9 feline friends. The pawsome pieces are not only easy to clean and sturdy, but are also simple enough to disassemble and reassemble effortlessly while moving residences.

Obi & Jerry Carpentry

Jitin and Prerna, the brains behind Pune-based Obi & Jerry Carpentry, aim to create beautiful, premium pet furniture with contemporary designs that compliment the modern lifestyle of new age pet parents. Their recently-launched brand takes its name from their beloved pet sons – Obi & Jerry. Their offerings include elegant food stations, minimalist and functional dog beds. They are also working on exciting designs for cat parents. The furniture pieces are meticulously crafted from high grade European wood and environment friendly raw materials.

The Non-Living

Ahmedabad-based enterprise The Non-Living showcases exclusive pet furniture pieces which are waterproof, washable, soft and interestingly designed for the pets to make them their own. Their miniature range is designed with a special focus on canine traits, and includes beds with attached staircases, condos and picnic chairs. Priyanka Roy, Founder & Owner, firmly believes that loving and caring with responsibility is the key for a healthy household.

Purrch Pet Furniture

“I want to leave behind things I have made with my hands” is the inspiration behind Purrch Pet Furniture, a Goa-based venture that provides bespoke handcrafted pet furniture. Shailna is a woodworker and her love for cats transpired as a collection of aesthetically designed, feline approved cat trees, perches, wall climbing installations, cat beds and hammocks. Purrch has recently diversified into furniture for Canines.
According to Shailna, “Ergonomically designed cat furniture shouldn’t be looked at as luxury but as essential, for one it provides a great outlet for your pet to receive exercise and relieve stress. Cat trees emulate their natural environment and are great for climbing, stretching and allowing your pet to stay active and happy.”

As more young entrepreneurs strive towards merging the living spaces between pets and their parents, boring, disagreeable pet furniture may soon be a thing of an era gone by.