Kiteepee: Lifestyle Solutions for your Pussycat
I began this shop in November 2013. I had been making things for Modigliani, my furry companion of 18 years (d july 2013) and it occurred to me that other kitties and their people might like them too.
My background is painter, potter, printmaker, felt-maker: textile/fibre artist. When Modigliani decided she would no longer use the garden for her business, I had to keep a tidy litter box upstairs at all times. Trouble was, I didn't like the look of it and she didn't like it if I could see her using it. I needed a solution: simple but in keeping with the style of my house. So big plastic things were off the list and I came up with this: the Kiteepee.
In time, when I had made a few of these, I found that Modigliani liked to hide or sleep in them when they were set up away from the litter box. Fantastic! I don't like many of the fake fur and commercial cat bedding arrangements either. Nor did she.
When Modigliani passed away I was going to throw her kiteepees away, but it occurred to me, "if she liked them, maybe other kittycats will". and so Kiteepee was born.
I design the motifs for screenprints and print them myself. I also hand dye the other trims. I sew the tents and cut the poles. Basically I do it all myself. Except for the road testing and modelling for pics. That is done by the new additions to my family: Tasha and George.
They like to use Kiteepees in the garden and on the veranda as places to sleep and hidey-holes from which to launch toe attacks. Not so much as a litterbox cover. One goes in, and for some reason this is an instant invitation for the other to go in too. Bit crowded for two cats doing their business.