You may be considering an investment in cat furniture for your favorite furball. If you haven't looked around much yet, you'll be surprised at all the choices you have. Ask a few questions now, and you won't regret your buying decision later.
What do humans look for in cat furniture? The first issue is safety. You want a cat condo that is lightweight, yet stable. A heavy unbalanced piece of furniture can fall and injure you or someone in your family. Remember that your kitty will be climbing and jumping on it, so stability is a very important issue to consider.
Your new kitty gym should be easy to assemble, especially if you don't have much experience with tools or carpentry. It should go together easily with screws or bolts, and not come apart until you're ready to take it down. Be sure you can take it apart again. If you want to move it to another location, or if you move to another home, you'll need to be able to disassemble it without destroying it.
You'll want to choose the design and color of the furniture carefully, so you won't get tired of looking at it. Your kitty condo will probably be the focal point of whatever room you put it up in. Considering these things now may prevent you from wishing you had bought something else in a year or two.
All of these issues are totally irrelevant for your feline. All she cares about is having a place to scratch. Cats instinctively scratch to mark their territories. Other kitties can see the scratch marks and smell the scent she leaves behind, and they know who lives there. This is why indoor kitties like to scratch on your carpet and furniture. It also explains why a declawed cat will still try to leave claw marks behind.
You furball also scratches on things to stretch muscles and ligaments in her feet. Scratching also removes dead cells from her claws and keeps them sharp.
If you don't want her scratching your belongings, you need to provide her with a scratching post. Most cat furniture has uprights made of wood or cardboard tubes that are wrapped with sisal rope. Sisal rope is great for a kitty to scratch on, as it gives her the resistance she needs to stretch her muscles and sharpen her claws.
Kitties also love to hide in dark places. The cat gym should have at least one enclosed area for her to hide in. Dangling or spinning toys will also engage her attention. Felines also love to hang out on high shelves or on top of the fridge so they can survey their territory. A tall platform for her to sit or lay on is a definite plus!
Should you get a free-standing unit, or a floor-to-ceiling model? The free-standing ones are wider on the bottom, and heavier too, to prevent tipping. If space is at a premium, you may want to consider a floor-to-ceiling cat tree. These use a tension mechanism, something like a shower rod, to hold them in place. Besides taking up less space, they're nearly impossible to tip over.
Remember to check the weight rating, especially if you have more than one cat. A large feline can tip the scales at 15 to 20 pounds, so two or more can add up in a hurry. Be sure the unit you choose can handle the weight of all you kitties combined, as you can rest assured that if one is there, the other one will join her!
Another safety concern is to be sure there aren't any pieces your feline friend can chew off and swallow. Also, all flat surfaces should be covered with material to prevent her sliding off when she jumps up there.
With a little research, you can choose a kitty condo both you and your furball will enjoy for years.
For more tips on how to find the best cat furniture, and the best place to buy it, visit Choosing The Right Cat Furniture [http://www.your-cat-care-guide.com/choosing-the-right-cat-furniture.html].
Darlene L. Norris has been owned by many kitties over the years. Now I've combined my love for cats and my life-long interest in herbs and healing at [http://www.your-cat-care-guide.com] Information on natural remedies for cats can be hard to find. Stay up-to-date on the latest herbal and homeopathic treatments for your feline friends!
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