The IFA tech trade show in Berlin is known for its wacky gadgets, and I might have found the weirdest product at the 2024 edition.
Nestled within LG’s expansive booth documenting its vision of the future of the home, you’ll find something known as the PuriCare Air Purifier. There are regular versions of this that just, you know, filter the air, but the model I saw combines it with a cat bed.
Yes, you read that right. In the 2-in-1 device no-one saw coming, LG has combined an air purifier and cat bed into one device. It’s literally LG’s regular PuriCare air purifier with a cat bed perched on top.
However, the device has a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve. The dome-shaped seat has a built-in heater, making it a cosy place for your cat all year round. It also doubles as weighing scales, allowing you to easily keep track of your furry friend’s weight.
But air purifiers can get loud and potentially disturb cats, so the LG PuriCare has a ‘pet rest mode’ which can lower the noise to a more appropriate level.
As you can see from the photos, the cat bed sits directly on top of the air purifier. If your cat is older or unable to jump freely, there’s an attachable stepper which will allow them to get there.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The air purifier itself is what you’d expect from a pet-friendly air purifier. It filters the air in all directions around you and up to 7.5m away, making it suitable for even large rooms. It’s also specifically designed to remove both pet hairs and smells from the air.
If I’d just read about this online, I’d have probably written it off immediately. But after seeing it in person and learning more about it, I kinda love it. However, as someone who has never owned a cat as a pet, I certainly won’t be buying one.
And even if you do want to get your hands on it, LG hasn’t revealed when or where this version of the Puricare Air Purifier will be available. We also don’t know how much it costs, which could be a big sticking point.
But if you’re looking for something genuinely unique, there’s nothing quite like it.
See our best of IFA 2024 awards article for a round-up of the best things we saw at the show.
