Breaking mews: It?s pawsome At last, Ikea has launched a line of furniture and accessories designed for the comfort and enjoyment of pets. The collection, called Lurvig (which means ?hairy? in Swedish), includes a range of dog beds, leashes, bowls, cat hideouts, and toys designed in collaboration with veterinarians to balance aesthetic considerations with the needs and inclinations of household pets.
A number of items are pet-friendly riffs on existing Ikea designs: There?s a pet couch which folds out into a larger bed, much like the classic Solsta sofa; a cube-shaped cat house designed as an insert into the Kallax shelving unit; and a pet bed made with classic particle board that can be tucked away beneath most human-sized bed frames. The most compelling item may be the standalone cat house with a textured scratching panel?designed to look and function like a modern side table. Also clever is the cat-scratching mat designed to be strapped around a table leg (perhaps saving your couch from the ravages of claws).

Cat house with pad, $10.98

Pet house on legs with mat, $54.98

Scratching mat, $5.99

?It is quite important for Ikea to have a pet range that fits into our normal furniture range,? said Barbara Schäfer, Ikea?s Product Risk Assessment Leader who led the veterinary partnership. ?As a pet owner I can say, so far, the normal pet products are quite ugly.?
The collection is now showing up on Ikea?s w...