You don’t need a lot of space to keep two energetic kittens entertained. Derek and Sarah recently welcomed Isabel Klee of @simonsits into their Lower East Side apartment to show how a New York City one-bedroom can become a cat palace — all it takes is a little creativity in utilizing your home’s unique features.
The couple had been wanting to expand their family, so last year they visited Meow Parlour, a nonprofit rescue and cat café. That’s where they met Lox and Lottie (short for Latke) — a bonded pair of 12-week-old kittens who were as cuddly as they were playful — and instantly fell in love.
Instagram/loxandlottie
To get ready for their new arrivals, Derek and Sarah spent hours watching YouTube videos on how to create a fun, enriching space for cats. Their style leans “minimalist modern,” reflected in the clean lines and neutral tones of their furniture. But the real stand-outs are the apartment’s large windows with vibrant street views. “We love the windows — that’s what we centered the design around,” Derek told The Dodo.
The Dodo
When Lox and Lottie were first introduced to their new home, they immediately gravitated towards the windows.
Sarah put blankets down on the ledges to start, but has since added plush cushions to the perches. From their spot by the windows, the cats can watch life unfold on the street — from skaters and bikes whizzing by to Timothée Chalamet filming a movie.
To add enrichment, the couple also installed a clear bird feeder to the outside of one of the windows. “It’s their biggest source of entertainment,” Sarah said. “They’re constantly just playing with the pigeons [and] pawing at them.”
In the office/cat playroom, Derek and Sarah transformed a storage space above the closet once reserved for luggage into a cozy cat penthouse. The idea came about organically: Derek first set up a tall cat tower by the window, only to realize it led straight to the storage cubby. That discovery inspired him to relocate the suitcases and remodel the nook for their pets.
“They love it,” Derek said. “They sleep up there, they play up there.” He styled the space like a miniature living room, complete with a framed pigeon painting, a tiny lamp, a cat-sized couch and scratch-pad flooring.
The Dodo
With storage space always a concern in a small apartment, the couple has had to find some work-arounds when it comes to putting things away. Just open the oven and you will find it filled with cans of cat food. “We don’t do a lot of cooking,” Derek said.
The priority for the couple is designating areas in every room for their cats to relax and play. You can’t turn a corner without seeing cat towers, cat hammocks affixed to windows, and their next project — turning another storage space in the bedroom into a cat relaxation zone.
Instagram/loxandlottie
But, as amazing as their living space is, Lox and Lottie’s favorite place is still right next to each other.
To learn more about Lox and Lottie’s life in New York, you can follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
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