CATSA is a woman-owned, small business on a big mission to create the coolest, space-themed, design objects for cat lovers. Proceeds from our refined, feline designs fund cat rescue and advocacy projects. The CATSA Lander Mark1 is a luxurious, lunar lander inspired, feline escape pod.
Our goal was to develop a truly innovative and comforting escape pod that was so inviting you wished you could curl up inside with your cat and drift off into space together. Cats are notoriously capricious creatures that have rather peculiar design sensibilities. When you cannot have a rational dialogue with your client, you must rely on careful observation and patient iteration. In that regard, the Lander Mark1 was truly a labor of love. We set up cameras and reviewed marathon videos of cats interacting (or not) with a series of Lander prototypes.
The CATSA team tested, observed and refined every detail to be as appealing to our feline audience as it is endearing to their human caretakers. The Mark1 is a beautiful creature. We wanted the Lander to sit proudly and confidently in all manner of well composed living spaces. The facets of the brushed aluminum shell reflect light in enchanting, muted hues and the crisp interior tessellations exude a sci-fi sophistication. Our aspirations to achieve modern, elegant simplicity also had to accommodate the reality that Landers had be easy to clean when the cats invariably threw up all over them. We intentionally chose durable over disposable and made no compromises on the quality of the finished Mark1.
Each Lander is hand fit and finished in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by cat loving design nerds. 3D design packages, CNC machines, large-format laser cutters, precision laser etching, industrial sewing machines, 3D printers, customized arbor presses, a great deal of hand work all come into play in the production process.
• The body features a distinct, precision milled, composite aluminum shell. • The entryway is protected by a head-rub resistant, 3D printed, ABS door frame.
• Serialized badging designates the unique edition number of each Mark1. • Nine soft rubber isolation claws stabilize the lander and dampen kitten fidgeting motions.
• Key components are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that will not delaminate when exposed to UV, humidity or water.
• Aside from durability, HDPE was chosen because it is one of the easiest plastics to recycle and is accepted at most recycling centers.
• The Mark1 flies a black and silver damask Jolly-CATSA flag hoisted on a spring steel antenna that doubles as a lively, interactive cat toy.
• The plush foam bed has a removable, washable, faux fur cover that is sewn locally from new and upcycled materials. While there are more Lander iterations on the drawing board, the Mark1 series will remain unique. This material and color combination will not be repeated.
We sincerely hope your space kittens will be smitten!
