Nido Áureo

Abstract

The domestic cat (Felis catus) has become one of the most common companion animals in Colombian urban households. According to DANE (2024), 67 % of households own at least one pet, and cats represent around 30 % of this population. This growth has transformed domestic spaces and coexistence dynamics, while also posing design challenges in contexts where the average apartment area is 51.4 m². This thesis addresses the problem of urban cats living in confined spaces, where their natural behaviors scratching, climbing, hiding, and observing from elevated areas are limited, often resulting in stress and frustration. Although there are commercial products for cats, most of them prioritize human aesthetics over feline functionality. The main purpose was to create a bioinspired object with sensory qualities that meets the needs of domestic cats in limited urban environments. The project applied the double diamond methodology within industrial design, complemented with biomimicry and feline ethology tools. The process included direct observation, caregiver interviews, market analysis, experimentation with natural geometries, and prototype validation. The result, Nido Áureo, is a bioinspired object that integrates shelter, rest, scratching, and climbing functions, taking inspiration from the golden ratio and the spatial and thermal organization of termite nests. This project contributes to industrial design from a modern and ethical perspective by considering the cat as an independent user, opening new possibilities for research and practice in the still emerging field of animal-centered design in Colombia.