Cat trees are rarely the prettiest things in the home. They tend to be long, scratchy, beige, oddly shaped, and treated as something to be endured rather than celebrated. Swedish designer Gustaf Westman seems to have taken that as a challenge. With his new Chunky Cat tree, he is reimagining the pet’s everyday accessory as a sculptural, forward-looking piece of furniture that is as much a part of the living room as it is of a cat.
Known for its soft, rounded, almost cartoon-like shape, Westman has created a unique visual language with bold fits and playful silhouettes. His Chunky collection already includes mugs, glasses, vases, a chair, a flower pot, and even a coffee maker. Now, with the Chunky Cat Tree, that same design universe has expanded into the world of pet furniture.
Designer: Gustaf Westman
The piece is informed by Westman’s Blob Sofa, introduced in 2023. Like the sofa, the cat tree uses stacked, rounded volumes and a confident color palette to create something that feels friendly, soft, and a little surreal. Instead of hiding animal furniture in the corner, Westman’s version begs to be seen. It works as a perch for cats, but also as a statement piece for people.
The design has a tripod base, with three round legs that support platforms placed at different heights. These levels allow cats to climb, rest, view, and take in the building from multiple angles. The three round feet can act as resting areas, enabling the piece to be used by more than one cat at a time. It’s usable, but it doesn’t look real. That’s where the charm lies.
Westman’s approach feels more appropriate at a time when homes are carefully chosen, but also more expressive. People no longer want furniture that only does one job; they want things that reflect personality, taste, humor, and lifestyle. The Chunky Cat Tree fits well into this transition. It treats cats not as an afterthought in the home space, but as active participants in it.
The designer said that after seeing many ugly cat trees, he felt that it would be fun to design something within that category. His comments reveal a big idea about the project: everything can be designed better, even the things we usually accept as undesirable. With equal attention to form and function, Westman creates products that work for cats and their owners.
Made to order in Sweden, the Chunky Cat Tree can be topped with red, yellow, purple, blue, or cobalt blue fur. These color choices continue Westman’s love of punchy primary and secondary shades, while the wool finish gives the item a soft, furniture-like presence.
Since establishing his studio in 2020, Westman has become known for custom furniture, ceramics, glass and toys made to order. His work often uses materials such as wood, metal, ceramic, and glass, but he brings them together through the use of rounded shapes, glossy finishes, and a childlike sense of wonder.
The Chunky Cat Tree is more than just a luxury addition for pets. It’s a reminder that design can take unexpected turns and make them feel fresh. By transforming a loose household item into a sculptural backdrop, Gustaf Westman proves that even a cat tree can have personality, humor, and a place in modern design.