KittyNook is a large believer in offering cats with high-quality vertical house. Stimulating and protected 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 primary wants a cat proprietor ought to search to meet.
The Significance Of Being Up Excessive
Give it some thought—you may not often discover a wholesome cat resting on the bottom within the wild. At any time when they’ll, they search increased 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 might be. I believe Their skittish paranoia is a part of their bizarre appeal.)
Vertical house additionally dramatically will increase your house’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 supplies them with a passive supply of train (and the motivation to do extra of it) since fats kitties do not get prime perches.
That stated, 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 the most effective (and coolest) cat vertical house options for each finances and aesthetic. From fashionable and streamlined to progressive DIYs, making a cat-happy house is far simpler (and prettier) than you assume. Take a look at our number of cat trees right here.
The Advantages of Cat Trees for Your Cat
Cat trees provide extra than simply pleasant, ornamental cat furnishings in your house. They ship quite a few bodily and psychological benefits in your cat, making them total wholesome and content material. Listed here are extra the explanation why your cat will recognize having a cat tree:
Train and Vitality Outlet
Much like people, cats require every day bodily exercise and psychological stimulation to keep up their well being. If they don’t have an acceptable technique to launch their built-up vitality, they could grow to be uninterested, inactive, and probably harmful.
Common train additionally aids in stopping weight problems, which may trigger extra 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, chill out, and observe the world from a protected distance at their very own tempo. For cats that choose extra safety, there are cat trees with lined condos or cubbies to assist them really feel protected and assured.
Security and Stress Administration for Multi-Pet Familys
If there is a canine or multiple cat in your house, tense conditions can come up rapidly, notably in case your cat would not have a technique to escape. Even when your pets get alongside properly, it is unlikely that they’re going to need to be in one another’s firm on a regular basis.
A cat tree provides vertical house in your pets to distance themselves from one another whereas nonetheless sharing the identical house. This helps guarantee all pets keep protected 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 looking instincts and giving it hours of leisure.
Moreover, cat trees function scratching put ups, with many that includes connected enrichment toys to supply extra 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. Thankfully, cat trees provide elevated vertical house for cats to wander and play on, remodeling a compact residence into an thrilling jungle for them to discover.
Someplace to Sleep
Cats spend most of their time sleeping, and though they’ll sleep nearly 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 choose to be up excessive, so if doable, it is a good suggestion to supply them with a sleeping place above the bottom. The Multi-Degree Cat Rental for Massive Cats has an especially snug 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 increased floor. The journey upward is simply as important as reaching the highest. Cats have an innate want to climb, so offering a protected 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’ll be able to start with low steps and step by step improve the peak. For extra energetic and daring cats, you’ll be able to create a system that meets their climbing wants.
Leisure
A climbing tree is not solely a spot in your cat to perch and observe the environment; it may possibly additionally present ample leisure. When choosing a cat tree, make sure that it has options that can interact your pet, whether or not scratching put ups, cat toys, or intriguing climbing choices.
Fowl Watching
We beforehand talked about that cats are prey animals, however as you possible know, they’re additionally pure hunters. If in case you have an out of doors cat, you might steadily obtain presents within the type of deceased birds and rodents at your door. Nonetheless, the hunt is usually essentially the most pleasant side for a cat. Cats, even these with no intention or chance of catching prey, totally relish spying on and making an attempt to sneak up on smaller animals.
In case your cat spends time outside, whether or not freely wandering or in a personalised catio, it can recognize having a safe, excessive vantage level from which to look at birds within the yard. An out of doors free-form cat tree might be a great means to supply this chance.
Completely different Cat Trees for Your Cats (and Properties!)
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 certain dig them.
Trendy Cat Trees
This is the place it will get somewhat extra enjoyable. These items add a number of model to a cat tree‘s performance and may elicit greater than an “Oh..I see you’ve gotten cats” out of your company. (Anticipate one thing extra like, “Is {that a} cat factor? It is form of… superior.”)
Wall Mounted Cat Cities
Maybe my favourite vertical kitty house resolution 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 trendy artwork. (That assertion is hardly a satire—have you ever seen among the stuff that passes for artwork today?)
It is like having a large cat aquarium in your lounge. Or a cutaway ant farm, besides cuddlier. It is a cat lover’s dream to design essentially the most badass cat wall jungle gymnasium ever (and put up fixed photos 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 take pleasure in perching at!
DIY
As many cat proprietors know, spending some huge cash to make your cats glad is pointless. Regardless of being dignified creatures, cats are fairly low upkeep. You’ll find DIY options for creating vertical house in your cats, starting from simple to artistic.
Elements to Contemplate 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 rely on what’s most fitted in your cat, your family, and your finances.
Listed here are three components you need to take into account 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 lively cats might choose a taller cat tree with house for climbing and leaping, whereas an older cat would possibly wrestle with a number of platforms. If in case you have an older cat, take into account selecting a shorter cat tree with just one or two platforms.
Your Cat’s Measurement
The bigger your feline, the more room it can require for climbing, resting, or stretching on its cat tower.
In the event you personal an even 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 doable. Equally, a smaller cat might choose a smaller, extra comfortable cat tower.
Your Cat’s Persona
Sure cats take pleasure in climbing and like to look at their environment from excessive vantage factors, whereas others choose to chill out 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 best 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 gotten a younger cat or an older one? A primary tree would possibly fit your older cat, who prefers to lounge round. A curious younger cat will want a extra advanced setup, probably a number of bushes round your house.
Consider the out there house. Cat trees can differ in measurement and complexity. If in case you have room for a bigger tree, it will likely be a worthwhile funding in your pet. Younger cats will set up habits early on, and as they develop into bigger cats, they are going to want more room.
Contemplate your cat’s preferences. Have you ever noticed your cat being drawn to particular supplies, akin to rope or cardboard? Does your pet prefer to scratch or climb? Select a cat tree that meets their particular person wants. Cat tree supplies embody carpet, material, cardboard, and twine. Providing quite a lot of surfaces will preserve them engaged since not all cats have the identical preferences.
Security is essential. Make sure that your cat tree isn’t simply tipped. The drive from leaping, climbing, and scratching throughout playtime may cause an unstable cat tree to wobble.
How Cat Trees Work
Cat trees, whether or not easy or advanced, all operate in the identical primary means. Usually, they encompass 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 pal. It means that you can redirect your cat’s clawing and climbing to designated toys, stopping harm to your house. Moreover, it supplies a protected outlet in your cat to meet their instincts for clawing and climbing.
Do not forget 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 deal with redirecting these behaviors.
Encouraging Your Cat to Get pleasure from Their Cat Tree
When making your house cat-friendly, attempt to assume from a cat’s perspective. The place can your cat take pleasure in the most effective views in your house? The place is the sunshine essentially the most lovely? You’ll in all probability have essentially the most success by positioning your cat tree in opposition to a wall, near a window, or in a nook. Cats take pleasure in corners as a result of they really feel safe if their backs are in opposition to 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 chill out and really feel extra snug exploring their new cat tree. Provide loads of love and reward to assist them settle into their new house.
Direct their consideration elsewhere. After 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 optimistic experiences. It’d 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 engaging to your cat. Contemplate transferring it to make a unique facet accessible or relocating the tree to a different room. You would possibly even need to purchase a couple of cat trees in 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, attempt sprinkling catnip or putting a couple of scrumptious treats on its cabinets. You can too encourage your cat with a wand toy near the world, encouraging them to hop onto the tree.
Give your cat a few days. Cats are identified to be cautious round new objects, and chances are high excessive that they’re going to discover themselves enjoyable on them inside every week. Simply do not forget that it isn’t troublesome to make your cats content material.
Even in the event you do not put money into 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 making certain that their environment are sufficiently stimulating and enriching is important. I extremely suggest it.
The place to Put a Cat Climbing Tree
A regular cat tree is normally positioned indoors, usually in a lounge or spare room the place your cat enjoys spending time. Even in the event you personal an out of doors cat, it possible 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, nearly require a cat climber for his or her total well-being. In fact, there are smaller and fewer intricate bushes for pets not keen on climbing. Nonetheless, it is all the time necessary to make sure that the tree allows your cat to meet as lots of their instincts as doable, whether or not by scratching alternatives or secluded resting spots.
For cats that benefit from the nice outside 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 implausible enhancement in your feline companion and provide limitless enjoyment, supplied you choose the suitable cat tree.
Your feline would not essentially want a cat tree to thrive. Nonetheless, offering them with shops to specific their pure conducts, like scratching, climbing, and hiding, is important. A cat tree provides a safe and designated house for these actions.
If the fee or measurement of cat trees would not give you the results you want, alternative routes exist to complement your cat’s atmosphere. Buying a cat tree is not a should; as a substitute, you’ll be able to incorporate different objects in your house to satisfy their wants. As an illustration, putting in easy wall cabinets to create vertical house, and staggering the cabinets to permit your cat to climb from one to the subsequent. Moreover, window perches present a well-liked vantage level in your cat to look at the surface world with out taking on a lot house.
Offering an acceptable floor for scratching can also be essential. A small however sturdy scratching put up is a superb different and not using a cat tree.
