My Cat Thinks I’m a Terrible Interior Decorator (and Honestly, He’s Not Wrong)

My Cat Thinks I’m a Terrible Interior Decorator (and Honestly, He’s Not Wrong)

home without sacrificing style.

The Great Velvet Pillow Protest of 2023

Let’s be real, folks. We all know who the true rulers of our homes are: our feline overlords. And mine, a fluffy black cat named Jinx, has a sixth sense for sniffing out design choices he deems…unacceptable.

Take, for instance, the Great Velvet Pillow Debacle of 2023. I was so proud of myself for snagging these gorgeous emerald green velvet throw pillows on sale. They looked like little slices of luxury scattered across my couch. Jinx, however, had other plans.

He didn’t just sit on them. Oh no, that would be far too subtle. He draped himself across them like a furry, judgmental king surveying his domain. Every time I tried to fluff them, he’d give me this look, the one with the narrowed eyes and the twitching tail, that said, “Dare you disturb my throne of comfort, peasant.”

Conquering the Neverending Sea of Cat Hair

We all love our furry companions, but let’s be honest, their shedding abilities could rival a small snowstorm. My once pristine black couch is now perpetually dusted with a fine layer of white cat hair (Jinx’s winter coat is a force of nature).

I’ve tried it all. Lint rollers? They stick to the couch more than the hair. Special vacuums? Jinx sees them as personal enemies sent to suck away his soul (or at least, that’s what his dramatic hissing suggests).

My current solution? Embracing the chaos. I’ve learned to accept that a little (okay, a lot of) cat hair is just part of my home’s aesthetic now. Plus, it’s soft! It’s like having a built-in fuzzy blanket…that sheds.

Styling Your Home for Both You and Your Cat

Look, I love a good stylish home as much as the next person. But living with a cat has taught me the importance of finding a balance between aesthetics and practicality. Here are a few hard-won tips:

• Embrace durable fabrics. Leather, microfiber, and tightly woven fabrics are your friends. They stand up better to scratching posts (ahem, I mean, “accidental” claw marks) and are easier to clean.
• Invest in washable slipcovers. Because accidents happen. And by accidents, I mean hairballs. And spilled water bowls. And…you get the picture.
• Provide designated scratching areas. This will hopefully save your furniture from becoming a scratching post. Emphasis on “hopefully.”
• Most importantly, choose your battles. So your cat likes to sleep on your carefully arranged throw pillows? Let them. It’s their house too, even if they haven’t quite figured out how to pay rent.

Share Your Furry Design Critic Stories!

I know I’m not alone in this hilarious struggle. Share your stories in the comments below! What are your cat’s (or dog’s, or lizard’s, or…you get the idea) biggest design pet peeves? Let’s commiserate together!