If we’ve learned one thing over the past year, it’s that our pets like having us at home more often. Cats and dogs regularly make appearances in Zoom meetings, making valuable contributions. They contort their bodies to fit behind us in our office chairs, on our laps, or somewhere—anywhere—on our desks. Maker Simone Giertz noted her dog Scraps’ general need to be on her or by her whenever possible. Like, all the time. When Giertz couldn’t find pet compatible office chairs that allowed her pup to get up and down without disrupting her every five minutes, she decided to craft one.
Simone Giertz
Giertz ultimately designed the perfect chair for the needy pet, which we first spotted at Geekologie. She measured her absolutely adorable dog Scraps and mocked up a prototype of her dream in Adobe Illustrator and Fusion 360. Her design includes a chair with a built-in staircase that allows your pet to climb up and down at will and an extra spot so they can sit right beside you while you work. Oh! And it has a bonus nook by your feet. That way your cat or dog (or other animal) has another cozy place to sleep.
The above video details Giertz’s design process and building techniques. She got into the prototype and then had to learn new techniques to get the plywood to come together properly. It’s not a beginner’s project by any means, but look at the results! Scraps climbs right up and gets cozy. She can stay by Giertz all day. And that’s just what any attention-craving pet loves.
This chair is one of those products that I can’t believe doesn’t exist already. And it’s the kind of design you’d expect after so many of us have been working from home for so long. And I would totally consider one of these for my cats, who in turn would totally not use it.
Amy Ratcliffe is the Managing Editor for Nerdist and the author of A Kid’s Guide to Fandom, available for pre-order now. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.