From Hobby Project to Design Mission: The Story Behind MUMU'S Modular Cat Furniture

When your cats become the ultimate muse for a design revolution, magic happens. Meet designer Vincent from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the creative mind behind MUMU—a modular cat furniture system born from love, loss, and the simple observation that cats get excited when you rearrange the furniture.

The Beginning: Two Cats, No Garden

It all started with Pip and Puk, two adopted cats who needed an adventurous indoor life since their home had no garden. As a designer, this presented the perfect opportunity for Vincent to merge creativity with a love for these little troublemakers.

The hunt for stylish cat furniture quickly proved disappointing. The market seemed stuck in neutral: beige plush everywhere, little style, and the few hip options available were way over budget. That’s when the idea sparked—why not design it myself?

The first creation was the Catcave, a chill spot high in the living room where Pip and Puk could survey their domain. But the real challenge? The litter box.

With both hoomans working from home and the box necessarily placed in the living room, staring at a plastic container all day wasn’t ideal. After experimenting with cardboard prototypes, a beautiful wooden piece emerged—one that not only looked good but also helped contain scattered litter and post-bathroom odors.

A Heartfelt Tribute: When Loss Inspires Purpose

The success of these custom pieces didn’t go unnoticed. When Vincent’s brother requested a design for his cat, Vincent eagerly jumped behind the drawing board. Meanwhile, an interesting discovery emerged at home: Pip and Puk became incredibly excited every time furniture was rearranged. The revelation was clear—environmental change equals new adventure for cats. This insight became the core of a new design: a modular system that could be continually adapted.

Then tragedy struck. Vincent’s brother’s cat, for whom the design was intended, suddenly became ill and passed away. The loss was devastating, but it crystallized the mission: the project would continue as a tribute to her. The concept was named MUMU in her honor.

What started as a hobby transformed into something bigger—a mission to find a community of enthusiastic people interested in bringing MUMU to life through crowdfunding.

Design Philosophy: Quality Without Compromise

Vincent’s design approach for MUMU drew heavy inspiration from Danish furniture culture, where pieces are crafted with such quality they last for generations. Sustainability became the guiding principle from the very first sketch, a fierce rejection of today’s throwaway culture.

The technical challenge was immense: making the modular system user-friendly while maintaining structural integrity. Though it looks simple from the outside, over 30 different methods were designed and tested for connecting the wooden panels.

The goal was a flatpack design that’s super easy to assemble yourself, keeping transportation impact low without sacrificing stability. Production waste was minimized by cleverly cutting panels from sheet material.

Perhaps most importantly, the design doesn’t scream “cat furniture!” when you enter a room. It feels like a high-quality piece that seamlessly integrates with your existing interior.

Meet the Chief Officers: Pip and Puk

Pip and Puk are the real “Chief Officers” behind MUMU. These two sisters were adopted from a shelter six years ago, and without them, this entire adventure would never have existed. Though inseparable, their personalities couldn’t be more different.

Pip is a gentle sweetheart and a proper troublemaker who loves knocking things off tables. She’s incredibly involved in everything—when her humans eat, she politely taps them with her paw asking to participate. She’s obsessed with new things: bags, sweaters, receipts—Pip claims them all immediately and sits on them. Her favorite season is autumn; she can spend hours on the balcony mesmerized by falling leaves as if they’re tiny miracles. With every MUMU prototype, she was first in line to inspect everything.

Puk is a different caliber entirely, affectionately called “Queen Pukisha.” She’s a massive cuddler, but strictly on her own terms. She can spend hours in “do not disturb” mode under the blankets, purring away. Puk has a secret zoomie switch: one small light reflection on the wall and “Chill Puk” instantly transforms into “Crazy Puk,” going into full hunting mode with no stopping her.

From cardboard prototypes to the final result, testing MUMU with these two was a continuous process. After all that testing, it’s 100% Pip & Puk approved.

Modularity Meets Personality

The beauty of MUMU lies in how cat personality determines the blueprint, while you as the cat parent become the architect. Have a Puk who likes to retreat to her own bubble after playing? Create a cozy spot where she can nap undisturbed. Have a curious Pip? Spread the modules across the carpet for play time.

The module with holes appeals to cats of all ages. You can mentally challenge them by hiding treats or toys inside—the perfect puzzle for both hyperactive kittens and calm seniors. Because the system is modular, it grows with your cat’s life stage and changing needs.

It’s not a static object but furniture that invites interaction. This is perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the design: it’s easy to keep buying new toys, but ultimately the most important thing is that we as cat parents take the initiative to give our cats attention and play with them. MUMU genuinely encourages that.

Favorite Features (According to the Experts)

For Pip and Puk, the best part is the variety in their environment. As indoor cats, they get bored more quickly, especially in winter when the balcony is less accessible due to cold. On long work days, extra effort goes into creating fun morning setups with the modules.

Their favorite feature? It’s a tie between comfort and challenge. They adore the cushions for endless naps, but the moment treats are hidden in the play module with holes, they’re immediately ready to fish with their paws.

Looking Ahead: Community-Driven Design

MUMU is the first design being shared, and the focus is on seeing how it’s received. Because it’s modular, the system is perfect for expansion—and ideas are already on the shelf. There’s also a strong desire to bring the litter box furniture into production, with a universal design where base dimensions can be adapted to your existing litter box.

Will modular expansions or the litter box furniture be the next project? That truly depends on the community. What do your cats need? What fits your interior? The ultimate goal is creating custom design at scale, guided by your feedback.

The Reactions That Matter Most

Two responses stand out. The first came from someone on the early-access list who sent an email back (which he admitted he never usually does) because the personal nature of the message truly touched him. He was so enthusiastic he immediately started making plans for the furniture in his own interior. That’s the ultimate motivation—proof that the time and love invested in MUMU truly reaches people. It shows that people aren’t just looking for a product; they want connection with your vision and to be part of the brand you’re creating.

The other response was a hilarious discovery through two Luxembourgish friends, who laughingly explained that “MUMU” in German and Luxembourgish slang means… “pussy.” A massive coincidence, of course! And it actually fits perfectly with cats’ quirky and humorous nature—they’re often unintentionally funny, just like the name choice apparently turned out to be. According to those friends, the Luxembourg marketing is already sorted!

A Bigger Creative Journey

MUMU represents the start of a larger creative adventure for Vincent. The entire creative process—from conceptualizing to realizing the physical product—brings tremendous energy. The dream is to run a studio that stands for unique and affordable custom design, something Vincent was always searching for personally. While the current focus is modular cat furniture, there’s openness to whatever design challenges the future brings, as long as the core remains the same: unique and quality design accessible to a broad audience.

Join the Movement

In March 2026, MUMU launches via Kickstarter—a chance to bring this product to life together with a community of cat lovers and design enthusiasts. Curious? Sign up for the early access list at mumu.pet to be the first to know when it goes live! You can follow MUMU's modular cat furniture on Instagram @_thefutureismeow

Because your cat deserves furniture as unique as their personality.