A resourceful Reddit user has humorously deployed "hostile architecture" inside their own home to keep their cat off their gaming console. User u/Narrow-Survey7102 grew tired of their feline companion constantly nesting on top of their Xbox Series X, leading them to 3D-print a custom hardware modification. The clever, domestic engineering fix quickly went viral across the platform in July 2026.
The cat's obsession with the console is rooted in basic feline comfort, as the top grates of the Xbox Series X serve as the system's primary heat exhaust vent. This creates a warm, elevated shelf that makes for an irresistible napping spot; however, it also risks blocking the airflow, trapping pet hair inside the hardware, and causing the console to overheat during intense gaming sessions.
To solve the problem, the user borrowed a anti-vandalism design strategy frequently seen on city buildings and public benches. They printed a grid of interlocking plastic spikes that closely resemble anti-pigeon deterrents, making the surface completely uncomfortable for a cat to lounge on while remaining entirely porous so the console can safely exhaust hot air. The project quickly gained massive traction across the r/xbox, r/HostileArchitecture, and r/3Dprinting communities, with users praising it as a brilliant, low-material functional print.