Why did I choose birch plywood for PRASKA? About materials that withstand daily life with cats
One of the questions I hear most often is: "Why do you make PRASKA furniture from birch plywood and not from MDF board?"
It is a very good question.
For many years, I have been breeding pedigreed cats and observing every day how intensively cats use furniture.
It was exactly this daily experience that made me choose birch plywood from the beginning. Not because it is trendy. But because over the years, it simply proved to be the best for the products I design for cats.
Every day I observe how the furniture performs
A home with a single cat looks completely different from a cattery. Here, the furniture is used practically non-stop.
Cats jump onto shelves. They climb. Scratch. Play. Sleep. Kittens learn to navigate vertical structures. Adult Maine Coons make dynamic jumps with tremendous force.
After years of such observations, I learned one thing. The material truly matters.
Why birch plywood?
For years, I looked for a material I could trust. One that withstands daily use well and remains stable for a long time.
That is why I decided on birch plywood. It is a natural material, lightweight, and at the same time very durable.
Thanks to its layered structure, it handles daily loads well and is perfect for furniture that cats use every day.
It is precisely these properties that made it the primary material used in PRASKA products.
Why didn't I choose MDF board?
MDF board is a popular material used in the production of many types of furniture and works very well in many applications.
However, I design cat furniture. And that means completely different requirements.
A cat doesn't sit gently on a shelf. It jumps onto it. Often with huge momentum. Especially when we are talking about large breeds, such as the Maine Coon.
That is why I looked for a material that best meets the requirements for furniture intensively used by cats. After many years of daily observation, I decided that for PRASKA products, birch plywood is a solution I can trust.
The material itself is just the beginning
Even the best plywood is not enough if the piece of furniture is poorly designed.
Construction is of huge importance. The thickness of the elements. The placement of mounting points. The method of connection. The stability of the entire structure.
Over the years, I noticed that a cat very quickly senses when a shelf moves. If it doesn't feel secure, it often simply stops using it.
Therefore, when designing, I attach just as much importance to the construction as to the choice of material.
Materials also undergo testing
Every new material first goes to my cattery.
For many weeks, I observe how it behaves during daily use. I check its durability. Its resistance to intensive use. Its appearance after a longer period of time.
Only then do I make a decision on whether it should be included in the PRASKA offer.
Natural wood has its unique character
One of the things I value most about birch plywood is its naturalness.
Each element has its own grain pattern. There are no two identical shelves. Every product is unique.
I like materials that preserve the natural character of wood. They are what make a piece of furniture not only look good, but also bring warmth and authenticity to an interior.
I design products for years
From the beginning, I knew that PRASKA would not be a brand that chooses the cheapest solutions.
I wanted to create products that will stay with cats for many years. That is why I choose materials that have proven themselves in daily use. Materials that I have trusted myself.
Because I know that good cat furniture shouldn't be a temporary purchase. It should serve for years.
Cats convinced me it was the right choice
After over 14 years of running a cattery, I know one thing. The best test for a material isn't manufacturer catalogs. The best test is daily life with cats.
It is precisely this that confirmed my belief that choosing birch plywood was the right decision.
That is why, since the PRASKA brand was founded, it has remained the primary material from which we make our furniture.
In conclusion…
Over 14 years of running a cattery, I have learned that the choice of material is one of the most important decisions when designing cat furniture.
Therefore, I am not guided solely by price. I am guided by experience.
Every material that makes it into PRASKA products must first pass the most important exam. Daily life with cats.
Every day I observe how cats use furniture during play, rest, and climbing. It was this daily experience that convinced me that birch plywood best meets the standards I want to provide for PRASKA products. Therefore, from the beginning of the brand's existence, it has remained the basic material used in our furniture.
Izabela Praska
Pedigree cat breeder, founder, and designer of the PRASKA brand
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are PRASKA products made of birch plywood?
Because after over 14 years of daily observation and use in my cattery, birch plywood has proven to be the best material for producing cat furniture. It is durable, stable, and perfectly handles intensive use.
Is MDF board a bad material?
No. MDF board is used in many types of furniture. At PRASKA, however, we opted for birch plywood, because in our products and during years of observation, it better met the requirements for cat furniture.
Are materials tested before being introduced for sale?
Yes. Every new material first goes to my cattery, where for many weeks I observe its behavior during daily use. Only after completing the tests do I make a decision about using it.
Why does every shelf look a bit different?
Birch plywood is a natural material. Every sheet has an individual grain pattern, which is why there are no two identical products. This is one of the features that makes every piece of PRASKA furniture unique.