Cat Condominiums and Other Feline Furniture

Professional cat trainer Ney is challenged by the near-impossible, at least as defined by cats. His first book, The Educated Cat , proved that the imperious feline could learn a repertoire of tricks worthy of Lassie. Now he shows us how to create 18 different houses, scratching posts and furnishings for cats that may dissuade Muffins from sleeping or shedding on a favorite sweater--or using the sofa legs as a nail file. Ney, who's been building (and quite successfully selling) cat houses for over 12 years, couples a keen understanding of cat behavior with a strong streak of whimsy. So while his designs meet critical criteria for ``height, contours, carpeting and security,'' they also take the form of saloons, hot rods, Southern plantations and World War I biplanes. Assembled from plywood, builder's tubing and carpeting, these dwellings will cost the do-it-yourselfer far less than buying a Ney original, which can run as high as $200. The single goal Ney admits he cannot meet: instilling a sense of gratitude in the feline recipient. Photos not seen by PW. (Mar.)