CATable 1.0 and CATable 2.0 are designed by Ruan Hao as a second home for cats, with many in-built crevices in which the pets can play, crouch or sleep.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"When someone sits by a desk, the distance between the surface and the person's lap is about 20 centimeters. The space in between can be transformed into a 'room' of fun," Ruan tells China Daily.

He describes the relationship between an owner and his or her cat as subtle.

"You want to spend as much time with your cat as possible. But when you need to get back to work or study, and push your cat away from your lap, it's an emotional moment."

Ruan's first version CATable 1.0 was difficult to manufacture because the design involved irregular cuts in the wood with which the desk is made. Ruan and his team first made a model with the help of 3-D imaging, and presented a printout to the craftsmen, asking them to carve one desk out of an entire block of wood.

"It doesn't look good if the table is made up of wooden joints," Ruan says.

Then carpenters drilled tunnels and pockets into the table and polished every part of it. The process preserves both the natural feel of wood and the sophistication of the handicraft.

Before he designed the CATable, Ruan researched feline behavior. But still, he was nervous when three or four cats were brought to his office to try out the table. He and his team weren't sure if the cats would venture into the tunnels to play, he says. But they loved the table.