Cat Trees: The Ultimate Guide

If you have an indoor cat you’ll need to enrich your cat's environment with the stimulation and action the pet needs.

 The Tree works to satisfy a cat’s innate desire to climb to heights, as well as providing a place to hide and scratch. A cat has to sharpen its claws, and if you don’t have something dedicated to it, they might end up using your furniture.

That’s why a Cat Tree it’s a great solution to solve several issues like the stimulation, the enrichment of the environment, and also the claw sharpening.

A cat tree is a piece of furniture that allows cats to climb and perch upon it, a good one will provide your cat with ample space for scratching, a higher seat to balance, and reach high places.

If you are here, you are for sure looking for a Cat Tree, and perhaps the solution to finding the perfect one is to keep it simple. Make sure it contains the necessary features that will keep your cat or cats satisfied, like:

  • A scratching post it’s essential and also a couple of levels
  • Anything else is a bonus dependent on how energetic they are.

With the right cat tree, your feline companion will get plenty of exercise and entertainment, as well as have a cozy spot to enjoy.

Who Should Buy a Cat Tree?

Any home with a cat should consider a cat tree, and we are going to give you the four main reasons:

  • Cats might be kept indoors, but they still require exercise and mental stimulation just like any other pet. 

  • If your cat likes to scratch your furniture, you are a strong candidate for a cat tree since it’ll provide a safe, dedicated space for them to take this urge out on. 

  • They are natural climbers, so most cats will appreciate having a cat tree to climb regardless if there are other pets in the home.

  • But If you have a dog in the home, the chances of your cat wanting to get away from the dog are very high, and having a cat tree as a space to get up and away from the canine will decrease the stress that this relationship may bring.

Where Should You Put a Cat Tree?

The cat tree should be placed in an area your feline spends most of its time and already like. If you put the three in a room where nobody goes not even the cat, it won’t be used. It’s a good idea to put the tree where the cat can observe the house routine like the living room. A corner of your bedroom is also a good place for the cat tree if you want your cat to stop scratching your door at night, the chances are that it will sleep on the tree and give you some rest.

How long do Cat Trees Last?

It depends on the cat, the quality of the tree, and how much the cat uses it, or not.

 

Some household cats are harder on their toys than indoor/outdoor cats, and this can decrease the tree lifetime. For better conservation, you need to follow the manufacturer instructions on how to take care of your tree, especially the hygiene and conservation part to increase the lifetime of your tree. The average time can be between 5 and 7 years if you don’t have a spray problem.

Spraying is a hard problem to solve and an even harder habit to break. Chances are, once that starts, it will not stop until the furniture is discarded.

How do you attract a Cat to a Cat Tree?

Use treats, toys or catnip 

  • If your cat responds to catnip, use it generously all over the tree. 
  • Hide your cat’s favorite treats on various levels of the tree
  • Put your cat’s favorite toy just high enough that it needs to climb the tree to reach the toy.
  •  Placing some of your cat’s blankets on the tree can help to scent the new cat tree.
  • Finally, make sure to give your cat plenty of affection when s/he does use the cat tree, so they associate it with pleasant feelings.

Cats have scent glands on their paws, so when they scratch somewhere it leaves a scent marker that they need to keep topped up to stop it from fading. The tattier the scratch post, the more your cat loves using it because it’s impregnated with its claw scent.

Benefits of Having a Cat Tree

  • Protect Your Furniture

One of the benefits of having a cat tree is to provide a rough surface that cats can pull and tear as much as they want. And even if you think a Cat tree is expensive, it’s cheaper than costly furniture repair.

  • Give Cats Space to Climb

Cats are always looking for the higher spot on any place, have you ever notice that? One of the reasons is that they love to watch what’s going on, but the other reason is that cats love high places for the safety they provide.

  • Provide a Sense of Security & Coziness

Being capable to perch on a cat tree, provides extensive viewing of the room with the feeling of safety that cats need to feel protected. 

  • Guaranteed Environment Enrichment

The tree will help them with the fun part, especially if you find a tree with pom-poms, mice on springs, or even put some hollow boxes for them to climb into near the tree.

Exercising Regularly + Having Fun while doing it = Good Mental/Physical Health

    The important fact is that cat trees provide a space for cats to play and exercise, which develops good mental and physical health! A healthier cat means fewer trips to the vet. 

  • Psychological Benefits of Cat Trees

 Aside from the physical benefits mentioned above, the psychological benefits of having a Cat Tree stand out. Cats are very territorial animals and having a Cat Tree can help with the expansion of their territory, and some animal behaviorists have spoken that this feature is super important for good mental health.

If your Cat isn't Paying Attention to the Tree

Cats naturally like to climb things, so if your cat won’t want to use its cat tree, there must be a reason like one of this: 

  • Stress and fear. A cat may be afraid of the cat tree itself, or from objects that are nearby.
  • The cat tree is not in a good location. The location of the cat tree is more important than its properties. Cat need cat trees not only for napping but also for the ability to overview surrounding.
  • A cat cannot jump on a cat tree If it’s still a kitten, it is too old or in medical pain.
  • If you have more than one cat, make sure your cat is not afraid to use the cat tree because of territorial issues.
  • Sometimes, cats like to change up their sleeping spot. 
  • Other times, they might be put off by a new smell in the condo (such as from a new cat). 

Choosing a Cat Tree

When choosing a Cat Tree for our cat, you need to consider some features about the tree itself, but before that you have to learn what to look for when choosing one, and we are here to make it simple for you!

  • Height. Cats love looking out from a high spot, so always consider how tall of a cat tree you can accommodate in the home, you also need to consider how much space you have for a cat tree.
  • Levels. Make sure the levels of the cat tree are large enough and strong enough to support it.
  • Toys. The inclusion of a toy mouse or ball on a string with your cat tree can help to satisfy their prey drive.
  • Materials. Look for cat trees made of durable materials, you should consider a cat tree with bits of carpeting on it (like carpeted shelves) or a fully-carpeted one. Sisal-covered poles are excellent for scratching, and plywood it’s good too.
  • Base. Another important consideration is how stable the base of the cat tree is. You have to make sure it isn’t going to topple over easily.
  • Price point. And last but no least, consider your budget and what type of style you’d like in your home. 

Cat Trees
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