ᐅ Who has already used KALLAX as cat furniture?

Hello everyone!

I am currently wondering: "Who has already used the KALLAX as cat furniture?" Specifically, I mean whether you have repurposed the IKEA KALLAX shelving unit as a base to create a retreat, resting spots, or scratching areas for your cat(s). I am particularly interested in practical experience regarding its stability, how well the cats accept the furniture, and whether it makes sense to customize the shelving further with cushions, rugs, or additional attachments.

It would also be helpful to know if you encountered any issues with stability or noticed other particular characteristics. I am considering a modification with storage boxes and a few cut-out openings and want to know if that works well.

I look forward to your practical reports and tips, as I would love to combine office furniture and cat furniture and don’t want to miss your ideas and results.

I used the KALLAX shelf directly as cat furniture. I simply lined a few of the compartments with cushions, and my cat really likes it. The stability is excellent; nothing wobbles or tips over when the shelf is properly secured to the wall. I didn’t have to do anything else.

eldubi schrieb:
Stability is excellent; nothing wobbles or tips when the shelf is properly secured to the wall.

This is an important point: securing the unit to the wall greatly improves safety. When used as cat furniture, at least one wall attachment should be planned, since cats often jump or climb, which reduces the risk of tipping.

For comfort, I recommend adding non-slip, washable cushions to the interior surfaces. Simple carpet remnants or felt also work well, as they provide both comfort and protection against scratches.

An interesting approach is attaching sisal strips to the outer edges as scratching surfaces. This creates a multifunctional piece of furniture that accommodates cat behavior without taking up extra space.

Nekar53 schrieb:
I’m currently considering whether a renovation using insertion boxes and a few cut-out openings would work.

I think that’s a great idea to make it more comfortable for my feline friend as well. At first, I was concerned whether my cat would accept the renovation since she is rather shy. In the end, it worked well after I placed some cushions in a few compartments and cut out the openings. It was important for her that the access points were large enough and that she could enter from different sides.

However, I had to make sure there were no sharp edges left after cutting. Maybe you can cover those with felt tape or thin foam rubber. That makes it more comfortable and safer for the cat.

I really like the idea of using furniture pieces multifunctionally. The shelving unit fits perfectly in our space and is also used by other family members.

Lorukeo schrieb:
An interesting approach is attaching sisal strips to the outer edges as a scratching surface.

This is basically a good tip, but I wonder how durable this solution can be. The surfaces of the KALLAX are mostly made of coated particleboard or MDF, which are certainly not very resistant to constant scratching. Covering them with sisal helps in the short term, but long-term damage is likely.

Layla schrieb:
However, I had to make sure there were no sharp edges left after cutting out the pieces.

This should not be underestimated: These DIY modifications require a certain level of craftsmanship to avoid injuries to the pet. For me, the interesting question is whether the effort outweighs the benefit or if it would be more sensible to opt for purpose-built cat furniture that is also aesthetically pleasing.

I am curious whether the KALLAX solution is actually practical in the long run or if it mainly serves as a quick temporary fix?