Pet of the Week: Good Times With Tonks and Lupin
These spirited tabby cats have the full run of their coastal South Carolina home and backyard
Lupin and Tonks are a brother-and-sister tabby cat team who love to explore their backyard, wrestle, race down the stairs and keep their owners company. When they aren’t chasing bugs or each other, the cats enjoy lounging on their special cat furniture — as well as on their owners’ furnishings.
Cat features. A few home improvement projects revolved around letting the kitties enjoy the yard. The couple installed this pet door so the cats can get in and out of the house with ease. “The cat door that fits in the window is so easy to install and remove — you just lift the window and slide it in,” Deidre says. “It has a plastic piece that slides to cover the flap door in, so we can keep the nocturnal hunters in at night, without a morning surprise.”
Aluminum sash window pet door: Ideal Pet Products
Aluminum sash window pet door: Ideal Pet Products
Outdoor safety. Deidre and Tyler installed a black vinyl cat fence themselves in just one day. “It has a spring-loaded mechanism at top and metal grating at the bottom, which completely keeps the cats in the area and out of neighbors’ yards,” Deidre says.
Doing their business. The cats have a litter box room upstairs away from all the activity. The Crocketts had their builder sheetrock and trim out the room expressly for this purpose.
Cat fence: Purrfect Fence
Doing their business. The cats have a litter box room upstairs away from all the activity. The Crocketts had their builder sheetrock and trim out the room expressly for this purpose.
Cat fence: Purrfect Fence
Cat furniture. When the couple had a reclaimed-wood work and charging station installed, the cats immediately wanted to use it as a scratching post. “I couldn’t have that!” Deidre says. Once they placed the scratcher lounger next to the workstation, the cats scratched exclusively on the designated piece. It also stopped Tonks from scratching the back of Deidre’s favorite chair to tatters.
Ultimate cat scratcher lounge: PetFushion; reclaimed-wood workstation: Keith Nichols
Ultimate cat scratcher lounge: PetFushion; reclaimed-wood workstation: Keith Nichols
After they’re done racing around indoors and out, Tonks and Lupin cuddle up for warm naps on the ottoman in front of the fireplace.
At night, the cats are full of mischief — they enjoy wrestling and harassing overnight guests. “They try to open the door where the guests sleep to say hello. They can open the guest bathroom pocket doors,” Deidre says. “This is one of the main reasons we just completed the detached-garage ‘cat-free zone’ suite for allergic guests.”
At night, the cats are full of mischief — they enjoy wrestling and harassing overnight guests. “They try to open the door where the guests sleep to say hello. They can open the guest bathroom pocket doors,” Deidre says. “This is one of the main reasons we just completed the detached-garage ‘cat-free zone’ suite for allergic guests.”
The cats love to hop up on the laundry room counter to say goodbye to Deidre and Tyler when they head off to work in the morning.
Could your pet be a Pet of the Week? We’re looking for pets that join their owners on the job, pets that may have a space built just for them or simply a fantastic photo of your pet in an interesting home setting. Post your best photo in the Comments, and tell us your pet’s story.
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Could your pet be a Pet of the Week? We’re looking for pets that join their owners on the job, pets that may have a space built just for them or simply a fantastic photo of your pet in an interesting home setting. Post your best photo in the Comments, and tell us your pet’s story.
More
Pet of the Week: Brother Cats Inspire a Climbing Space
10 Tips for Keeping Indoor Cats Healthy and Happy
Read more about pets and design
Pets at a Glance
Pets: Lupin, a male tabby, and his sister Tonks
Age: Both are 4 years old
Location: Daniel Island, South Carolina
Owners: Deidre Crockett, a dentist, and Tyler Crockett, a chemical engineer
Meet Tonks and Lupin. “We’ve had our babies for four years, since they were 12 weeks old,” Deidre says. “We are obviously huge Harry Potter fans.” (The cats are named for two characters in the books.)