Feline parents, listen up! Cat trees are a household essential for your kitty. They bring your furry friend real benefits that keep them healthy and feeling secure.
Territory. Having their own territory is important to felines. A cat tower provides your tabby with vertical territory to not only offer them more space, but a space of their own. Vertical space is especially useful in a multi-pet household in order to give each animal a safe spot and environmental enrichment.
Exercise. Kitties need exercise to stay healthy, and a cat house is complete with all the activities they need. From dangling toys to climbing ladders, cat trees promote play and climbing to keep your feline friend in tip-top shape.
Relaxation. Enter cat naps. Your kitty sleeps approximately 12 to 16 hours per day and needs a place to relax and reset. Cat trees offer perches and hideaways for all their sleeping needs.
Safety. Instinctively, felines are climbers. They use trees to observe their surroundings, check out prey, or hide from predators. Cat trees are a key spot for them to check out the room, especially ideal for animals timid of their environment. It’ll make your shy cat feel safe and secure.
👉 Learn about the best litter box enclosures for your cat with our guide
Cat trees are available in a range of sizes and heights. Some are all-inclusive with every feature and toy imaginable, while others are more simplified versions. To find the best cat tree, you’ll need to base it off of your feline friend’s size, personality, home size/space restraints, and number of cats in your home.
Cat size. The rule of thumb is the larger your feline, the larger the cat tree tower you’ll need. Pay attention to the weight restrictions on the cat tree to help guide you to the right stability.
Home size. Living in an apartment versus a house can make an impact on what size cat tree you’ll want. If you’re in a studio apartment you’re not going to want the same size as if you’re in a three-bedroom house. Look for cat trees that best fit your space. Keep in mind some are designed specifically for smaller spaces to sit in the corner of the room.
Feline habits. Consider how active and playful your cat is. Do they love to scratch? Maybe they’ll need more scratching posts. Or are they more on the shy side? Then they’ll likely need more kitty condos. Matching your pet’s personality and energy level to the cat tower will help you find the perfect fit.
Number of cats. If you’re the proud kitty parent to a multi-cat household, you’ll need a larger cat tree. Felines are territorial animals and they’ll each need their own space or platform that’s all their own. Be aware that not enough space or resources can lead to resource guarding. This can cause anxiety or aggression in your felines.
Each cat tree is designed slightly differently than the next. These are the cat tower features to look for when shopping for a cat tree:
Cat caves. Also known as cat condos, cat caves are open hideaways in the cat tree that provide your cat with space to unwind and relax. These little caves are perfect for shy felines. But, make sure to check the dimensions first as kitty condos can run on the small side.
Platforms. The more levels your cat tree tower has, the more platforms available for your cat to perch and observe. If you’re in a multi-cat household, make sure to steer toward more platforms than less to give each kitty its own territory.
Scratching posts. Nothing is worse than having your cat scratch up your favorite furniture. The good thing is this is an easy fix thanks to scratching posts. Scratching posts are posts with a sisal or carpeted texture that draw your feline’s attention. The texture is appealing to your furry friend, so they can focus on scratching the posts instead of your couch.
Toys. Kitties need entertainment, too. If your feline is more active, look for a cat tree with toys like feathers, balls, or dangling mice. It’ll keep your cat on its paws, encouraging jumping and climbing.
👉 If your kitty loves to lounge, consider adding a hammock to their cat tree.
Cleaning a cat tree is easy. Simply vacuum the area to remove feline hair and dander from the tree. Spot treat stains with dish detergent and hot water using a toothbrush. Additional odors can be removed with pet odor sprays.
Keep the cat tree in the most active part of your home like the living room. Felines prefer being in busier areas of your house to have your attention. Make the cat tree a happy experience with positive reinforcement training. Place cat food or catnip on the cat tree and take playtime to the cat tower to encourage use. Bring out your cat’s favorite toys like feathers or mice for fun, too. Or, for an alternative approach, consider applying a pheromone-based oil on the cat tree to inspire scratching.
A good rule of thumb is to replace your cat tree based on its appearance and stability. With normal wear and tear, your cat tree could become damaged from constant scratching over time. Also, pay attention to its stability. If perches are tilting, it’s time to replace the tree.
👉 If your cat tree has strings or fabric falling off, make sure to cut these so your kitty doesn’t try to eat them.
If you’re a cat and dog parent, you’ve likely found that each of your pets needs its own space. For your dog, that’s a dog crate, and for your feline, that’s where a cat tree tower comes in. A cat tree is a perfect escape for your kitty to thrive in their own territory that’s free from your dog.
A DIY cat tree is a perfect option for many cat parents. It’s both affordable to make and easy to assemble. All you need are a few items that are likely already around your house.
