Pictures: A tour of the famous 'Cats House'

08.03    

Life is good at “The Cats’ House.” Or at least it was.


The cats are moving. More on that later. First, check out the digs of lucky cats Gus, Sam, Dave, Stella, Lili, Eddie, Zander, Willow and Sadie. They have been living in a human-sized cat condo and playground in San Diego, built by their owner, Bob Walker. The famous house, known for a quarter of a century as “The Cats’ House,” features 140-feet of elevated highway, ramps, tunnels, and kitty resting places. Oh, and don’t forget the spiral staircase and scenic views. Over the years, the home has attracted more than 50 film crews from around the world, reports the Associated Press. Let’s go inside.





Life is good at “The Cats’ House.” Or at least it was.


The cats are moving. More on that later. First, check out the digs of lucky cats Gus, Sam, Dave, Stella, Lili, Eddie, Zander, Willow and Sadie. They have been living in a human-sized cat condo and playground in San Diego, built by their owner, Bob Walker. The famous house, known for a quarter of a century as “The Cats’ House,” features 140-feet of elevated highway, ramps, tunnels, and kitty resting places. Oh, and don’t forget the spiral staircase and scenic views. Over the years, the home has attracted more than 50 film crews from around the world, reports the Associated Press. Let’s go inside.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing cats standing on an elaborate set of cat walks inside of a home in San Diego Calif. Bob Walker and Frances Mooney moved into the house in 1986 and started converting it into a human-sized cat condo with 140 feet of elevated highway, tunnels, ramps, a spiral staircase, rest areas and scenic vistas. It even had a floor to ceiling scratching post. One improvement seemed to lead to another. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Elevated cat highway



Here is how these cats have been living. They were able to walk across an elaborate set of cat walks inside the home. Walker, 63, a photographer and builder, built the walks. His wife, Frances Mooney, 61, is an artist. The house even featured a floor-to-ceiling scratching post (not pictured).


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing TOM CaT peering throughout a cutout image of a cat inside of a home in San Diego Calif. Bob Walker and Frances Mooney moved into the house in 1986 and started converting it into a human-sized cat condo with 140 feet of elevated highway, tunnels, ramps, a spiral staircase, rest areas and scenic vistas. It even had a floor to ceiling scratching post. One improvement seemed to lead to another. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

A cat playground



A cat pops through a cutout image of a cat inside the house. Other features include a mousehole, a mailbox, and a clubhouse. Oh, and don’t forget the area known as Tom’s Lookout. Check out all the details about the house at www.thecatshouse.com.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing cats walking along a custom stairway in the inside of a home in San Diego Calif. Bob Walker and Frances Mooney moved into the house in 1986 and started converting it into a human-sized cat condo with 140 feet of elevated highway, tunnels, ramps, a spiral staircase, rest areas and scenic vistas. It even had a floor to ceiling scratching post. One improvement seemed to lead to another. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Cat stairway



Cats walk along a custom stairway inside the colorful house. Mooney ‘‘was always bonkers for cats,’’ Walker told the Associated Press. In fact, they adopted their first cat on their wedding day in 1973. They named him Beauregard.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing cats walking along beams in the inside of a home in San Diego Calif. Bob Walker and Frances Mooney moved into the house in 1986 and started converting it into a human-sized cat condo with 140 feet of elevated highway, tunnels, ramps, a spiral staircase, rest areas and scenic vistas. It even had a floor to ceiling scratching post. One improvement seemed to lead to another. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Cat perch



Cats rest on custom-made beams inside the house. The structures remain, but have been painted white. Why? Because owners Bob Walker and Frances Mooney needed to tone down the house they so lovingly renovated for their animals over the years in order to sell it. They are moving to Virginia, where they plan to buy a bigger house and, you guessed it, create a new cat playground.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker shows the outside of their house painted a brightly colored hue at the home in San Diego, Calif. Bob Walker and Frances Mooney moved into the house in 1986 and started converting it into a human-sized cat condo with 140 feet of elevated highway, tunnels, ramps, a spiral staircase, rest areas and scenic vistas. It even had a floor to ceiling scratching post. One improvement seemed to lead to another. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Brightly colored



The outside of the house was just as colorful as the inside. The owners painted it purple.


Fun fact: Walker has published eight photo books, including ‘‘The Cats’ House.’’ At a book signing in 1996, more than 900 people showed up, reports the Associated Press.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing Bob Walker and Frances Mooney's home after it was painted to sell in San Diego Calif. Walker and Mooney moved into the house in 1986 and started converting it into a human-sized cat condo with 140 feet of elevated highway, tunnels, ramps, a spiral staircase, rest areas and scenic vistas. It even had a floor to ceiling scratching post. One improvement seemed to lead to another. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Painted to sell



This is the new color of the house. It was changed to a more subdued hue in preparation to sell.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing Bob Walker and Frances Mooney with their cats in the motorhome they are living living in San Diego Calif. Walker and Mooney along with eight cats are squeezed into a 30-foot motorhome with the family Chihuahua to wait for their first cross-country trip. Gus, Sam, Dave, Stella, Lili, Eddie, Zander, Willow and Sadie the Chihuahua are biding their time in the motorhome, which is parked in the driveway of the San Diego home. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Hanging with the brood



Here are Walker and Mooney with some of their animals. They are currently living in a 30-foot motorhome parked in the driveway of their famous house. “The Cats’ House” has been sold (to owners who do not own a cat) and the family is preparing to trek to Virginia to buy a new house.


Bob Walker via Associated Press


AAA
This undated photo released courtesy Bob Walker showing Bob Walker and Frances Mooney with their cats in the motorhome they are living living in San Diego Calif. Walker and Mooney along with eight cats are squeezed into a 30-foot motorhome with the family Chihuahua to wait for their first cross-country trip. Gus, Sam, Dave, Stella, Lili, Eddie, Zander, Willow and Sadie the Chihuahua are biding their time in the motorhome, which is parked in the driveway of the San Diego home. (AP Photo/Courtesy Bob Walker)

Fun facts about Walker and Mooney



Fun facts: This couple was featured in a 2001 documentary by Chris Smith called ‘‘Home Movie,” which was shown at theSundance Film Festival that year and later released on DVD. It highlights five unusual homes and the people who live in them. The couple also has a line of postcards at Target.


We can’t wait to see what they do in Virginia!


Bob Walker via Associated Press


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