KittyNook is a big believer in offering cats with high-quality vertical house. Stimulating and secure vertical houses can work wonders in preserving cats from being bored and serving to them get alongside higher with one another (and also you). Together with enough meals and shelter, we would rank vertical house as one of the vital fundamental wants a cat proprietor ought to search to meet.
The Significance Of Being Up Excessive
Give it some thought—you may hardly ever discover a wholesome cat resting on the bottom within the wild. Each time they’ll, they search larger floor (or a hidey-hole).
Being up excessive permits cats to survey their environment from a cushty distance with out the worry of ambush by enemy forces and different rogue cats. (In the event you’re a cat proprietor, you understand how neurotic cats may be. I believe Their skittish paranoia is a part of their bizarre allure.)
Vertical house additionally dramatically will increase your private home’s cat-friendly actual property, increasing your cat’s area and slicing down on the potential of turf wars between stressed-out kitties. It additionally offers them with a passive supply of train (and the motivation to do extra of it) since fats kitties do not get prime perches.
That mentioned, I’ve heard all the standard excuses: cat trees are an eyesore, costly, and make me look loopy. My cats do not want furnishings; they’re completely content material destroying all of mine.
To attempt to change your thoughts, KittyNook has one of the best (and coolest) cat vertical house options for each price range and aesthetic. From trendy and streamlined to modern DIYs, making a cat-happy house is way simpler (and prettier) than you assume. Try our collection of cat trees right here.
The Advantages of Cat Trees for Your Cat
Cat trees supply extra than simply pleasing, ornamental cat furnishings on your house. They ship quite a few bodily and psychological benefits on your cat, making them general wholesome and content material. Listed below are extra the explanation why your cat will respect having a cat tree:
Train and Vitality Outlet
Just like people, cats require every day bodily exercise and psychological stimulation to keep up their well being. If they don’t have an appropriate technique to launch their built-up vitality, they could grow to be uninterested, inactive, and doubtlessly harmful.
Common train additionally aids in stopping weight problems, which may trigger further well being points as your cat ages.
Consolation and Safety
Careworn, shy, or cautious cats discover consolation in cat trees, the place they’ll climb, loosen up, and observe the world from a secure distance at their very own tempo. For cats that want extra safety, there are cat trees with coated condos or cubbies to assist them really feel secure and assured.
Security and Stress Administration for Multi-Pet Familys
If there is a canine or a couple of cat in your house, tense conditions can come up rapidly, notably in case your cat does not have a technique to escape. Even when your pets get alongside nicely, it is unlikely that they’re going to wish to be in one another’s firm on a regular basis.
A cat tree provides vertical house on your pets to distance themselves from one another whereas nonetheless sharing the identical house. This helps guarantee all pets keep secure and calm.
Psychological Enrichment
Your cat can benefit from the bodily benefits of climbing and leaping on the cat tree and reaping psychological well being advantages.
Whereas perched on its cat tree, your cat can observe birds exterior the window, stimulating its pure searching instincts and giving it hours of leisure.
Moreover, cat trees function scratching submits, with many that includes connected enrichment toys to offer further alternatives for play and engagement.
House-Saving Furnishings
Cats understand house extra vertically. Small flats can appear cramped and never spacious sufficient for a cat to be content material. Fortuitously, cat trees supply elevated vertical house for cats to wander and play on, reworking a compact condominium into an thrilling jungle for them to discover.
Someplace to Sleep
Cats spend most of their time sleeping, and though they’ll sleep virtually anyplace, it is helpful to supply them numerous sleeping choices, akin to a comfortable cat blanket on the windowsill or a cushty cat mattress.
As talked about earlier, cats want to be up excessive, so if potential, it is a good suggestion to offer them with a sleeping place above the bottom. The Multi-Stage Cat Condominium for Giant Cats has a particularly comfy hammock and a non-public felt shelter the place they’ll snuggle up.
Pure Urge to Climb
It is common for cats to have a pure inclination to hunt larger floor. The journey upward is simply as vital as reaching the highest. Cats have an innate want to climb, so offering a secure atmosphere for them to take action is essential.
You may decide a cat tree to fit your cat’s age and bodily capabilities. For older or much less adventurous cats, you may start with low steps and steadily improve the peak. For extra energetic and daring cats, you may create a system that meets their climbing wants.
Leisure
A climbing tree is not solely a spot on your cat to perch and observe the environment; it may possibly additionally present ample leisure. When choosing a cat tree, be certain that it has options that may interact your pet, whether or not scratching submits, cat toys, or intriguing climbing choices.
Chicken Watching
We beforehand talked about that cats are prey animals, however as you seemingly know, they’re additionally pure hunters. When you’ve got an out of doors cat, you might regularly obtain presents within the type of deceased birds and rodents at your door. Nevertheless, the hunt is usually probably the most pleasing side for a cat. Cats, even these with no intention or risk of catching prey, totally relish spying on and trying to sneak up on smaller animals.
In case your cat spends time outdoor, whether or not freely wandering or in a customized catio, it would respect having a safe, excessive vantage level from which to look at birds within the yard. An out of doors free-form cat tree may be a great approach to offer this chance.
Completely different Cat Trees for Your Cats (and Houses!)
The Classical Cat Tree
Everybody is aware of the carpeted cat tree with sisal legs. It is the workhorse in cat vertical house: cozy and useful however hardly pleasing to the attention. However nonetheless, there’s one thing cozy and homey about these, no? And cats positive dig them.
Trendy Cat Trees
This is the place it will get a little bit extra enjoyable. These items add a variety of model to a cat tree‘s performance and may elicit greater than an “Oh..I see you’ve got cats” out of your friends. (Count on one thing extra like, “Is {that a} cat factor? It is type of… superior.”)
Wall Mounted Cat Cities
Maybe my favourite vertical kitty house answer is cat cabinets. They’re simply so extremely versatile, to not point out tremendous epic-looking. Plus, they do not take up any ground house and might double as fashionable artwork. (That assertion is hardly a satire—have you ever seen a few of the stuff that passes for artwork lately?)
It is like having a large cat aquarium in your front room. Or a cutaway ant farm, besides cuddlier. It is a cat lover’s dream to design probably the most badass cat wall jungle fitness center ever (and submit fixed footage of its progress). And it is for a cause.
Particular person Cabinets
For one thing rather less intense, there are smaller, standalone items your cat can nonetheless get pleasure from perching at!
DIY
As many cat proprietors know, spending some huge cash to make your cats blissful is pointless. Regardless of being dignified creatures, cats are fairly low upkeep. Yow will discover DIY options for creating vertical house on your cats, starting from straightforward to artistic.
Components to Take into account When You Purchase a Cat Tree
Not all cat trees are created equal, and there’s a vary of sizes and designs to pick out from. Your selection of tree will depend upon what’s most fitted on your cat, your family, and your price range.
Listed below are three elements it is best to contemplate when choosing your cat tree.
Your Cat’s Age
Your cat’s age and bodily situation will considerably affect the kind of cat tree you choose.
Youthful, extra energetic cats might want a taller cat tree with house for climbing and leaping, whereas an older cat may wrestle with a number of platforms. When you’ve got an older cat, contemplate selecting a shorter cat tree with just one or two platforms.
Your Cat’s Dimension
The bigger your feline, the extra space it would require for climbing, resting, or stretching on its cat tower.
In the event you personal a much bigger breed, akin to a Maine Coon, a bigger cat tower with broader compartments would be the extra appropriate selection to make sure they really feel as content material as potential. Equally, a smaller cat might want a smaller, extra cosy cat tower.
Your Cat’s Persona
Sure cats get pleasure from climbing and like to look at their environment from excessive vantage factors, whereas others want to loosen up in enclosed areas nearer to the bottom.
In case your cat enjoys observing from decrease ranges, shorter cat trees or ones with extra enclosed areas could be the perfect selection. A tall, intricate cat tree will present extra pleasure in case you have a daring cat that likes to climb.
Tips on how to Select the Proper Cat Tree
Take your cat’s age and capabilities under consideration. Do you’ve got a younger cat or an older one? A fundamental tree may fit your older cat, who prefers to lounge round. A curious younger cat will want a extra complicated setup, probably a number of timber round your private home.
Consider the accessible house. Cat trees can range in measurement and complexity. When you’ve got room for a bigger tree, will probably be a worthwhile funding on your pet. Younger cats will set up habits early on, and as they develop into bigger cats, they may want extra space.
Take into account your cat’s preferences. Have you ever noticed your cat being interested in particular supplies, akin to rope or cardboard? Does your pet wish to scratch or climb? Select a cat tree that meets their particular person wants. Cat tree supplies embody carpet, cloth, cardboard, and cord. Providing quite a lot of surfaces will maintain them engaged since not all cats have the identical preferences.
Security is essential. Make sure that your cat tree will not be simply tipped. The pressure from leaping, climbing, and scratching throughout playtime could cause an unstable cat tree to wobble.
How Cat Trees Work
Cat trees, whether or not easy or complicated, all perform in the identical fundamental approach. Sometimes, they include a sturdy stand with prolonged arms and a broad base. Some might embody hiding holes or climbing tunnels.
Proudly owning a cat tree can profit each you and your feline buddy. It lets you redirect your cat’s clawing and climbing to designated toys, stopping injury to your private home. Moreover, it offers a secure outlet on your cat to meet their instincts for clawing and climbing.
Keep in mind that regardless of having a cat tree, your cat should still scratch furnishings and climb on different surfaces. As a substitute of punishing your pet, it is best to give attention to redirecting these behaviors.
Encouraging Your Cat to Take pleasure in Their Cat Tree
When making your private home cat-friendly, attempt to assume from a cat’s perspective. The place can your cat get pleasure from one of the best views in your house? The place is the sunshine probably the most lovely? You’ll most likely have probably the most success by positioning your cat tree towards a wall, near a window, or in a nook. Cats get pleasure from corners as a result of they really feel safe if their backs are towards a wall.
Promote their enjoyment of it. In case your cat appears hesitant initially, get some catnip and sprinkle it on. Many cats cannot resist catnip, and being close to the scent will assist your pet loosen up and really feel extra comfy exploring their new cat tree. Supply loads of love and reward to assist them settle into their new house.
Direct their consideration elsewhere. Once they start scratching different furnishings, decide them up and place them close to the tree with out making them keep there. As soon as once more, give them loads of reward and affection on the cat tree in order that they affiliate it with constructive experiences. It would take a while, however quickly, your cat might be drawn to their new tree and away out of your furnishings.
Introduce some selection. As time passes, the cat tree might grow to be much less attractive to your cat. Take into account transferring it to make a special aspect accessible or relocating the tree to a different room. You may even wish to purchase a couple of cat trees on your pet in several rooms round the home.
Cats have an intuition to climb excessive. Within the wild, the pure selection could be a tree. However do home felines use cat trees that lack bark and branches?
In case your cat continues to be reluctant to make use of their new climbing space, strive sprinkling catnip or inserting a couple of scrumptious treats on its cabinets. You may as well encourage your cat with a wand toy near the realm, encouraging them to hop onto the tree.
Give your cat a few days. Cats are recognized to be cautious round new gadgets, and chances are high excessive that they’re going to discover themselves enjoyable on them inside per week. Simply do not forget that it is not troublesome to make your cats content material.
Even when you do not spend money on a contemporary cat freeway system, simply positioning a bookshelf or armchair strategically could make an enormous distinction in making your cats really feel safer, relaxed, and concerned of their atmosphere. That is notably essential in case your cats are indoor pets since guaranteeing that their environment are sufficiently stimulating and enriching is significant. I extremely advocate it.
The place to Put a Cat Climbing Tree
An ordinary cat tree is normally positioned indoors, usually in a front room or spare room the place your cat enjoys spending time. Even when you personal an out of doors cat, it seemingly spends a considerable period of time indoors, so it is important to plant it with an area to play and unwind.
Indoor cats, who might not obtain the identical degree of exercise and psychological stimulation, virtually require a cat climber for his or her general well-being. After all, there are smaller and fewer intricate timber for pets not keen on climbing. Nevertheless, it is at all times vital to make sure that the tree allows your cat to meet as lots of their instincts as potential, whether or not by way of scratching alternatives or secluded resting spots.
For cats that benefit from the nice outdoor in a balcony catio, including a climbing body to the enclosure can present them with extra stimulation and bodily exercise.
That is notably helpful in case your cat prefers to remain inside the confines of the backyard however nonetheless enjoys climbing and enjoying above floor.
Does Your Cat Want a Cat Tree for Well being and Happiness? The Verdict
Certainly, most cats could be delighted to have a cat tree of their atmosphere. An acceptable tree will allow cats to fulfill lots of their innate behaviors – akin to climbing, scratching, hiding, and resting. It may be a incredible enhancement on your feline companion and supply limitless enjoyment, offered you choose the suitable cat tree.
Your feline does not essentially want a cat tree to thrive. Nevertheless, offering them with shops to specific their pure habitss, like scratching, climbing, and hiding, is significant. A cat tree provides a safe and designated house for these actions.
If the associated fee or measurement of cat trees does not give you the results you want, other ways exist to counterpoint your cat’s atmosphere. Buying a cat tree is not a should; as a substitute, you may incorporate different gadgets in your house to fulfill their wants. For example, putting in easy wall cabinets to create vertical house, and staggering the cabinets to permit your cat to climb from one to the following. Moreover, window perches present a popular vantage level on your cat to look at the surface world with out taking over a lot house.
Offering an applicable floor for scratching can also be essential. A small however sturdy scratching submit is a good different with no cat tree.
