Kangaroo Bed Pet Bed: Hidden away, yet able to see out

Cats don't sleep in the middle of a room. They prefer the highest shelf or the gap between the sofa and the wall. Dogs are the same; the space under a table is always more popular than the center of the living room. These two positions actually answer the same need: **a place with no one to disturb them, yet with a full view of their surroundings.** The Kangaroo Bed is designed with this answer in mind. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/IMG_5181-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg They choose these spots not because they are the most comfortable, but because they are the most secure. ■ The first product from Chiu-Wo, crafted while learning woodworking It started with a hammock. The earliest prototype consisted of just two wooden frames, used by draping household clothes over them. That was too rudimentary, so it was developed into a sturdy wooden structure paired with a canvas cover. The design took about a year, followed by nearly half a year of testing—though the designer later recalculated: "Oh, it was longer than that, probably close to two years." That two-year period included one thing: **he was still learning woodworking.** "I started learning woodworking, then began drafting the design for this dog bed... I hadn't mastered the craft yet, so I was experimenting as I went." It wasn't until over a year later that the wooden structure was truly finalized. After finishing it, he entered the Red Dot Awards. There were over four thousand participants that year, and the organizers required the **finished product to be assembled and sent to Germany**—the Kangaroo Bed was originally designed for flat-pack shipping, and once assembled, "the volume and weight were staggering." It was packed into a thick crate and sent via post, with **shipping costs alone reaching nearly 20,000 NTD**, all while barely fitting the size and weight limits for postage. "I was very lucky to win after sending it over. I still remember not quite believing it when I received the letter, as it was my first product after all." After the win, the Golden Pin Design Award committee invited Chiu-Wo to enter the Kangaroo Bed. "As my first product, I had higher expectations for it. **If I had to do it again, I might not have gone through with it.** But that’s the fearlessness of a beginner." https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/9HOUSE_0245-1024x676.jpg This is one of the photos used for the original submission. ■ A pet bed doesn't have to look like a house At the time, most dog beds on the market looked exactly the same: the shape of a house, with a roof and walls. The Kangaroo Bed discarded this premise. "The assumption was that a dog bed had to be house-shaped, but it didn't." Once that was discarded, the remaining question was: What do dogs and cats actually need? The answer is a sense of security—and they express this need consistently by seeking high places or corners. The Kangaroo Bed incorporates these habits: it has height, requires climbing in, and is enclosed on three sides by fabric, yet open at the front. **Hidden away, but still able to see out.** "Wherever it's placed, as soon as they walk in and lie down, it becomes their source of security." https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/20170610-_8586-scaled-1-1024x731.jpg Entirely inside, with only the head poking out—this photo says it all. ■ It's a hammock, so it's soft The bed surface isn't a flat board; it's a piece of canvas stretched between wooden frames. When a pet lies down, the fabric curves to their body—deeper for those a bit heavier, shallower for those more slender. **The pet doesn't have to adapt to the bed; the bed adapts to them.** https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/106914224_253268812822812_8920125846859367536_n_1-1.jpg The upper level is a lookout point, the lower level is a den. With the same cover, two cats each found the spot they wanted to stay in. ■ The cover is half the design, not just an accessory The wooden frame provides the support, while the cover embraces the body. Without either, the product wouldn't work. The most difficult aspect of the cover isn't the sewing, but the **shrinkage**. The designer spent a long time grappling with the conflicting concepts of tautness and flexibility. The cover needs to be tight in some areas (to support the structure) and relaxed in others (to allow the pet to sink in). It fits perfectly when first put on, but after a wash, it might shrink, making it difficult to reattach. Therefore, the sewing of the cover requires extreme precision. Four pieces of canvas are stitched together. At the seams, the two edges are folded individually, overlapped, and then reinforced with two parallel lines of stitching, finally finished with a bound fabric edge. Because the canvas is heavy, thick thread and needles are used to ensure durability. These techniques weren't executed by the designer. He couldn't do it. The cover is sewn by an **experienced seamstress**. She is a friend's relative, she made the first version, and she is still the one sewing them today. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/IMG_5139_ADMIN_Nov-03-114714-2019_Conflict-1-768x1024.jpg The seam in the middle is where the four pieces of canvas are joined; the beige fabric strip on the side is an added reinforcement. ■ Just ten seconds to remove for the washing machine The cover isn't fixed to the frame; it hangs on two crossbars. It takes only ten seconds to slide the whole thing off and toss it in the laundry. Use water below 30°C, never use chlorine bleach (hydrogen peroxide-based is okay), do not tumble dry, and avoid direct sunlight—let it air dry in the shade. It’s normal for the fabric to shrink slightly after washing; it will return to shape once stretched over the frame. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/20170610-_9343-scaled-1-1024x684.jpg The cover hangs on this crossbar and can be removed by sliding it off. ■ Semi-enclosed or fully-enclosed? **Semi-enclosed**: The top is open, providing great visibility and ventilation. Suitable for pets who like to follow you with their eyes wherever you go. **Fully-enclosed**: The cover provides a top, turning it into a small den sheltered on all sides. Suitable for pets who are easily nervous and prefer to hide away to sleep. Once covered, the top surface becomes flat, creating a high perch to lie on. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/Joey-Sofa_Full-Cover_01-1024x683.jpg Once covered, the top surface becomes flat, creating a high perch to lie on. Available in Ivory White, Pigeon Gray, and Navy Blue, in both semi-enclosed and fully-enclosed styles. ■ Specifications Dimensions | Length 76 × Width 56 × Height 48 cm Weight | 6.5 kg Wood | European Beech, solid cut; thickest point is nearly 3 cm Fabric | Pure Cotton Canvas Style | Semi-enclosed/Fully-enclosed Colors | Ivory White/Pigeon Gray/Navy Blue Contents | One set of wooden frames + one cover (cover has no inner padding) Suitable for pets | Body length under 65 cm (nose to rump when standing) / Height under 50 cm (top of head to floor when standing) Care | Cover is machine washable, water temp below 30°C; do not use chlorine bleach (hydrogen peroxide is okay), do not tumble dry, do not expose to direct sunlight, air dry in the shade. Slight shrinkage after washing is normal; it will return to shape when stretched over the frame. Shipping | Flat-packed, requires self-assembly upon arrival https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/masurement-v3-1024x339.png ■ Too small for some, too big for others, but perfect for cats Because the pet needs to reach a certain height and climb in from the front, very small dogs with short legs may not be able to get in, while very large dogs may not fit into the space. Small-to-medium-sized dogs, as well as cats, fall into the ideal range. After the launch, we discovered something we hadn't anticipated: **it is exceptionally well-suited for cats.** Cats can hide in the lower level or rest on the upper level, and they have no trouble climbing it. https://9housedesign.com/zh/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/53145700_812666665762722_186851564370001920_n-1-scaled-1-1024x768.jpg Medium-sized dogs are also within the suitable range. ■ How much weight can the cover support? The design is intended for pets within the range of 65 cm in body length and 50 cm in height. ■ Is self-assembly required? Yes. It is shipped flat-packed, and requires self-assembly upon arrival.