Cat Furniture – How to Select Quality Products

Cat furniture is designed to keep the attention of our little feline friends. Other terms used to describe these useful items include trees, condos, gyms, scratchers, climbers and towers.

Good furnishings for cats will serve as a source of enjoyment. It provides them with their own area for lounging and play. It also doubles to protect a homeowner's furniture from sharp kitty claws.

In order to be successful, a climber or tower must draw and hold the attention of a cat. These items can easily provide such attractive aspects for pets as a higher vantage point, as well as places to hide. Some also include such things as hanging toys for play.

However, the matter of primary importance when it comes to these products tends to be how much of a draw it is for scratching needs. In order to understand how this need may best be met, it is important to first understand why cats desire to scratch things in the first place.

Scratching satisfies many different drives. The first of which is to mark one's territory. This is a major instinct for cats. Even cats who live alone will feel the need to advertise their ownership of an environment via scratching.

Other reasons for performing this activity are related to keeping in shape. The posture a cat assumes while scratching works to stretch its muscles and ligaments. It also stimulates the renewal of the cells of claw sheaths.

There are a couple things which a cat looks for in appealing furniture. Stability is a major factor. If a furnishing does not seem strong or sturdy enough to handle rough clawing it will be unappealing.

A feline will also prefer that its furniture is tall enough to promote a good stretch.

Human considerations for cat furniture are often more complex. For some people, the aesthetics of cat gyms must be in harmony with the rest of the home's dcor. This means that the color and structure must fit in. It also means that the product should be built to last rather than quickly developing a shabby appearance.

Another important matter is the health of the animal. Many cheaper designs utilize toxic adhesives. It is important to research materials thoroughly before deciding upon cat furniture to ensure that they are up to standard.

Here are some specific tips when shopping for these useful pet furnishings:

Choose solid, natural wood where possible - Treated wood is toxic. Manufactured products such as plywood, OSB, or MDF are also created with harmful adhesives.

Sisal rope is an attractive material for scratching which is significantly more durable than carpeting. A cat will naturally prefer this material to many other kinds due to the strong resistance it provides. Be sure that it is the un-oiled type for your cat's safety.

If glue is used in the construction of wooden elements or the application of carpet, ensure that it is of a nontoxic variety.

A combination of screws, nails, and nontoxic wood glue is ideal when it comes to the fastening of cat furniture frames. If only one is utilized, then it should be screws, followed by nails. If the wood is only secured with wood glue, it is not a reliable product.