For the discerning cat owner that wants to be sure his or her cat has a place to be comfortable and to exercise, there are numerous cat tree designs on the market. However, before you just decide to buy the first type of cat tree that you see, it’s important that you keep in mind not only your budget and your tastes as a home owner, but also the tastes and needs of your pet. Because, even though a cat tree will take up space in your home, it’s meant for your furry, feline friend’s use and needs, after all.
Cat Tree Designs
First of all there are a variety of styles when it comes to cat tree designs. There are cat condos, which look sort of like artificial treehouses for your cat, for instance. There are also cat trees that are nothing but a stack of carpeted shelves for your cat to jump and climb on, in addition to using as a scratching post when time suits. There are also “cat trees” that actually look more like fully fledged playgrounds for your cat, and they can take up half a room all by themselves once they’re set up and everything is nailed down or screwed into place.
However, the more complex the cat tree designs are, the more money they’re going to end up costing you in the end. As such you need to consider your wallet as well as your cat’s needs when it comes to shopping around for the ideal cat tree for your home. For instance, if you have a really well paying job and you’re prepared to sink a lot of money into a big cat toy, then you can eliminate the question of “can I afford this tree” from your shopping list. On the other hand, you have to look at the cat tree designs with an eye towards the cat or cats that will be using them. Do you have very young cats with a lot of energy who would love to run through a maze of carpeted structures? Or do you have an older cat who shouldn’t be jumping up onto high places anymore, especially when a fall might result in real and serious injury? Do your cats have claws, and thus they need a cat tree that will be able to stand up to all of the climbing and running with those claws out? These are all questions you should ask before choosing which cat tree designs you should use.
Beyond these basic questions though, you also have to find cat tree designs that fit your home. On the one hand this could mean that your cat tree has to meld with your decor and the design of your house, and you have to make sure that the cat tree doesn’t provide a huge contrast to all the rest of the furniture in the room. On the other hand, the cat tree also has to actually fit in the room you’re intending on putting it in. As such, just as you should do with any other piece of furniture, take a tape measure and check to be sure that the measurements given for the tree will fit into the area that you’ve set aside for it in your home. It’s better to measure twice, or three times, as long as you’re sure the cat tree will fit.
For the person that just can’t find cat tree designs that suit them in the stores, or who just don’t want to pay such outlandish prices for a simple cat tree, there’s always the do-it-yourself option. All you really need to make your own cat trees is properly sized wood, a tape measure, marker or pencil, screwdriver, saw, wood glue and carpet remnants to cover the tree with once you’ve finished the actual building process. For cat tree blueprints and cat tree designs you can go online to websites like http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2009/01/20-free-cat-furniture-plans-free-plans-for-cat-trees-condos-scratching-posts-and-more where you can get free, step by step instructions for a variety of different pet furniture styles and how to make them for your own home. It’s important to remember that, no matter the design you choose or attempt, you need to be sure that it’s steady as cats will avoid wobbly or shaky cat trees as they feel, and might be, unsafe to play on.
If you have problems getting your cat to play on your style of cat tree then you have to acclamate your pet to the presence of this new toy. After all, while cats might be curious, some cat tree designs may seem odd or strange. Especially in a house where the cats are constantly told to stay off of furniture and other surfaces, cats may be wary about playing when you’re watching them. A good trick to use in order to get your cat more used to the cat tree that you’ve set up is to spritz it with catnip spray, or to sprinkle a bit of catnip on it, if you have one of the 50% of cats that are susceptible to that particular substance. Other than bribing your cat with some nip, leave your cat’s favorite toys or treats on the tree to illustrate that this is their place. Soon your cat will get the idea and will accept that the cat tree is a perfectly acceptable place to lay, play and otherwise engage itself on.
Cat Tree Designs – The Conclusion
Keep in mind that you have to watch to make sure that the cat tree you chose is still safe and in working order. While cat trees are built to withstand play and use by cats, continual clawing can eventually tear through the carpet placed on the trees, and continual jumping, falling and playing can lead to cracks and wobbles over time. So if you see a problem with the cat tree designs that you chose for your cat make sure that you take steps to fix it as soon as you can so that your cat continues to use the cat tree.
