A New Animal Crossing Item Ignites a Design Trend

Animal Crossing: New Horizons welcomed a wave of fresh content with the 3.0 update, igniting a charming design trend among players: cat cafés. Central to this movement is the cat plushie, available in various colors like orange tabby and calico, allowing players to create a vibrant feline community alongside the anthropomorphic residents of their islands.

The cat plushie is part of the new dockside hotel feature. After players complete four hotel rooms, they can purchase the plushie the next day from Gran’s catalog for 120 Hotel Tickets. While the game previously included some cat-themed items, such as a litter box and cat tower, the 3.0 update finally introduced actual cat plushies for players to incorporate into their designs. Prior to this, the only plushie available was a puppy from the 1.6 update, leaving cat lovers wanting.

With this single addition, players have been inspired to craft their own cat cafés. For instance, one player transformed a café from the Happy Home Paradise DLC into a cat-themed space, creatively repurposing items like Mario mushrooms and Bunny Day trees into climbing structures and play areas for their feline friends.

Others, like a popular YouTuber, have taken it a step further by redesigning their entire home into a cat paradise. This approach allows for distinct themed areas, including a coffee-making main room, a playroom, and a sophisticated “cat tea lounge.”

The new items from the 3.0 update, such as mug shelves, marble kitchen islands, and circle cushions, have certainly enhanced these builds. Combined with beloved items from previous updates, like the espresso machine and the new cat plushies, players are crafting truly purr-fect spaces that celebrate their love for cats.