The Bogarel handmade cat tree, made in France & Italy

Cat furniture made by French and Italian craftsmen

All cat furniture is handmade thanks to exceptional know-how.

In the desire to offer objects for cats which are design, good for the cat and respectful of the environment, craftsmanship was obvious. For his first collection of cat trees, Sacha Lakic carefully selected natural materials found in Europe. Once the wicker, solid ash, cork and chrome steel had been chosen, the award-winning designer approached French and Italian craftsmen to make his creations.

Wicker spheres woven by hand by basket weavers located in Haute-Marne (France)

The designer cat trees and cat beds from the Collection Planetarium are inspired by the celestial curves of the planets.

The animal's niche is in the shape of a sphere (or half-sphere) and is hoisted thanks to a very fine structure in chromed steel. The visual lightness of the object sublimates the interior while allowing the cat to bask.

To make this wicker cocoon, Bogarel turned to a workshop located in the ancestral soil of basketry: Haute-Marne. Here, weavers make the wicker spheres of the cat tree Stellar and the cat bed Solar. The art of weaving plants is a skill that dates back to the dawn of time and is passed down from generation to generation.

The basket maker generally uses plants that grow locally. In France, it is wicker. For a handmade Bogarel cat tree, it takes 6 hours of weaving. There are a plethora of methods for weaving wicker and those used to make a sphere are particular: the bottom on crosses and the crocaine fence. They require 5 to 10 years of experience for perfect mastery.

Picture : Davide Leggio

A collection of natural wooden cat trees, handcrafted by a wood turner

Bogarel wooden cat trees are made by a French wood turner. This know-how, inherited from father to son, is extremely rare. Today, only a few carpenters are able to turn wood without using a machine.

For the spheres (and half-spheres) of cat furniture , the craftsman uses solid ash wood from French PEFC forests (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes). This international certification certifies sustainable forest management.

Each tree is unique therefore each creation is unique. From one cat tree to another, the veining of the ash will have a different pattern. In furniture, this species is appreciated for its contemporary appearance. Designer Sacha Lakic appreciates it for its character and raw beauty. All cat objects in the solid wood collection are available in 3 shades: brownie, caramel and cappuccino.

Picture : Davide Leggio

Natural wooden cat trees: cork from a protected ecosystem in Portugal

Bogarel designer cat trees are also available with a cork half-sphere. This material promotes the lightness of the cat tree, while giving it a modern aesthetic.

The cork is taken from the cork oaks of the protected forest “La Dehesa” in Portugal. This natural jewel extends over 4 million hectares at the crossroads of Iberian lands passing through Andalusia, Extremadura, Salamanca and Alentejo. This ecosystem is FSC guaranteed. Created in 1993, the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council®, or Forest Support Council) is an international label guaranteeing that the wood used complies with sustainable forest management procedures.

Cork is grown every 10 years: the time needed for the tree to rebuild its base. Once the wood has been taken, it is sent to Italy where the half-spheres of luxury cat trees are handcrafted by artisans specializing in high-end furniture. Available in 3 shades: cream, natural and black, these cat trees are suitable for any type of interior.