IKEA's first furniture collection designed specifically for pets includes a treehouse-like cat hideaway, and a bowl that encourages dogs to eat slowly.

The Lurvig collection was designed by Inma Bermudéz, who felt there was a gap in the market for reasonably priced but nice-looking pet products.

As well as cushioned beds and scratching mats, the range includes scaled-down versions of iconic IKEA products, such as the Klippan sofa.

When developing the collection, the Valencia-based designer worked alongside vet Barbara Schäfer to make sure that different behaviours types and habits were being accounted for.

"It's really important to use an animal's natural needs and behaviours – like how they sleep, eat or play– as a starting point," said Bermudéz.

"Dogs will definitely chew on their toys and bring in dirt from their daily walks," she continued. "Cats will definitely scratch on most surfaces and are sensitive to smell and texture. So safe, durable materials are very important."

Bermudéz's 62-piece collection covers the basic areas of sleep, eat, play, travel and walk.

For sleeping, she designed the mini Klippan sofa, a treehouse-like hideaway, and cocooning inserts for Kallax shelving units.

A "friendly-smelling bed" is designed to be filled with owner's old clothes and blankets, while a bed frame can be used as a cosy nook or turned upside down as a kennel.

"The piece that I'm most proud of is a pet cushion: we encourage owners to fill it with their old clothes, blankets or towels," the designer explained. "The idea is that pets get a comfortable cushion with comfortable, familiar smells too."

For dinner time, she developed a shallow bowl that encourages dogs to eat slowly.

"Cats are generally good at regulating how much food they eat, however a number of dog breeds still retain the desire to overeat," she said.

"That's how the slow feed bowl became part of the Lurvig range. By using a design that breaks up a bowl's internal surface area, it prevents the dog from being able to inhale their food in one or two gulps."

The rest of the collection includes reflective leads and collars, a travel basket, a play tunnel and a brush.

The designer even considered the less-than-savoury moments of pet ownership – creating a colourful range of poo bags and a litter tray shovel.

IKEA isn't the first company offering tasteful design for our feline and canine counterparts. New brand Dote has just launched a range of pet accessories made from recycled materials, while Nendo's range of Cubic pet accessories is designed to complement minimal interiors.