Cats and dogs are an integral part of the life of many Australians. More and more Aussie families choose to welcome four-legged, furry members and, like their human relatives, they have needs to be met. IKEA set out to develop a playful collection that considered the needs and wants of cats and dogs and their families, all while prioritising safety. After a two-year journey and obtaining sign-off from a panel of cats and dogs, UTSÅDD is finally ready to make its debut across many Australian homes.
“At IKEA, we believe that pets are family. Our goal was to develop a collection of products that our cats and dogs love and that their human parents can feel good about and truly enjoy having as part of their home,” says Julia Rosenberg, Product Design Developer at IKEA of Sweden AB.
UTSÅDD was developed around the four most common activities that cats and dogs carry out around the home – eat, sleep, play and hide. The collection is designed to make these activities enjoyable and easy to manage for both pets and humans.
- Colourful food bowls ($12) help minimise messes during mealtime. The bowls are ceramic and, therefore, heavier, and less likely to move around. They also come in multiple sizes and are dishwasher- and refrigerator-safe.
- A soft blanket ($25) and cushy beds (between $50-$75) help provide comfort and reduce anxiety during snooze time while blending seamlessly into the home. They come in different options, materials and sizes, and are water-repellent and machine-washable.
- Bone-shaped ($19) toys invite to hours of fetching, chewing, and searching for treats. The toys, which are made from natural rubber and fabric, were carefully designed to be durable and robust, yet gentle on teeth and gums.
- Rattan-made house ($119) and dog beds ($129) makes hiding and sleeping deliciously cosy for cats and dogs, and a style-approved addition to any space. UTSÅDD also includes an updated version of the LURVIG range that blends nicely into the KALLAX shelving unit.
Prioritising safety
Pet safety was considered and prioritised at all stages of the development of UTSÅDD, and from as many aspects as possible.
“We formulated protocols and risk assessments based on our research, evaluations of previous pet collections, and input from our partner veterinarians and pet product experts. Our protocols include periodic chemical, mechanical and physical safety tests on all UTSÅDD products,” says Julia Rosenberg.
Additionally, all UTSÅDD products carry a label with symbols that aim to provide clear and user-friendly safety messages. These messages state, for example, that the owner should always be present when the pet is using the product, or that a product should be thrown away if it breaks. “We urge customers to read and become familiar with the safety label on UTSÅDD products,” concludes Julia Rosenberg.
The UTSÅDD collection will be available across Australia in store and online starting in April 2024.
For more information or to view the entire UTSÅDD range, you can visit the IKEA website.
Products that will be available are:
- UTSÅDD dog toy food and treat hide/grey-green – $19 (Available in OCT)
- UTSÅDD pet blanket 100×150 green – $35
- UTSÅDD pet cushion 64×102 blue – $39
- UTSÅDD pet cushion 48×75 blue – $20
- UTSÅDD dog bed M light grey – $75
- UTSÅDD pet bowl 19 stripe patt blk-blue/gre-grn – $12
- UTSÅDD place mat f food bwl 33×50 grey-green – $5
- UTSÅDD pet cushion 33×38 blue – $7
- UTSÅDD pet bed M light grey – $50
- UTSÅDD dog bed 80x50x20 rattan – $129
- UTSÅDD soft toy for dog blue – $9
- UTSÅDD pet bowl 15 stripe patt blk-blue/dblue – $10
- UTSÅDD cat house 33x38x33 grey-blue – $12
- UTSÅDD scratch mat 25×63 natural – $9.50 (Available in JULY)
- UTSÅDD cat house on legs rattan – $119
- UTSÅDD pet bed S light grey – $25