Will A Cat Condo Help Kitty?

71% of Americans work outside of the home. Ever wonder what percentage of them own kitties? The thing is, what do those kitties do all day between the hours of 6:30am and 5:30pm when their adult is away? Is it a giant sleep-fest? Mischief time?

Felines may be domesticated, but they still have deep-rooted instincts. As a cat owner, you may have noticed some traits including possessiveness of food, an interest in stalking, a keen and watchful eye gazing out the window. Ancestors of today's cat roamed wild, lived in packs and hunted for dinner. Today, cats kept as pets are predominantly housed inside a home, live alone, and have their dinner served to them. While the traits necessary for ancestors wouldn't be desired in cats today, the discrepancy suggests that we're not doing all we can for our cats to make them feel comfortable.

Some cat parents are committed to the mental and physical health of their cats. Those persons might spend dedicated play time on the floor, take their cat on frequent walks, or invest in a cat condo or two in order to keep them physically active and mentally alert.

A cat condo is a small piece of furniture made especially for felines. Smaller than the more common cat tree or cat tower, the cat condo provides an entertaining haven for kitties when their parents are away.

Many cat condos are made from plywood and dowels. They're then covered with fabric, carpet, or other finishing material. Some may be painted. Most include specially-designed portions to accommodate the animal's natural urge to scratch using sisal or other natural fiber. A condo might have an enclosure for sleeping and hiding, a set of stairs for climbing or a perch from which to watch for quarry and spring.

Invest in the health of your indoor cat with a cat condo today.

Personalize Your Cat Condo

A cat condo can be both a comforting and fun piece of furniture for your kitty. Here are some ways you can make him love it even more.

A cat condo is a cross between a pet bed, a scratching post and a cat tree. It is an important piece of furniture that can make your precious one feel like a part of the family. Because it is often more diminutive than other types of furniture available for your pet, the condo can easily be moved around the house to accommodate where your pet would like to hang out today. Or you can permanently locate it in a place your kitty likes to play. Whatever works for her!

You will find that a cat condo is available in many shapes and sizes. They are oftentimes covered with carpet or faux fur or something soft that your kitten will be glad to snuggle in. After all, who would want an uncomfortable lounging spot? You will find these types of furniture usually have a hiding place of some sort that your kitten will enjoy climbing in and out of or having a bit of privacy when needed.

How can you personalize this furniture for your feline friend? First choose a color or pattern you think she will like. Does she like bright colors? Does she like animal print? You will find condos available in these and many more materials. Once you decide on your piece of furniture, you can further soften it up with a comfy cushion if it has a sleeping area. Then sprinkle some catnip on the surfaces to attract her to it.

Try hanging a few toys if there is height to do that or at least place them in the vicinity. What pet wouldn't want a lovey such as a stuffed mouse to keep her company as she snoozes in the afternoon sun? These are the kinds of extras that can personalize your cat condo and keep your kitten loving and using it for years to come.

Store Bought Cat Condos Verses Homemade Condos

Whether you purchase a condo at the pet store or diligently made one at home there is usually a difference in the type of materials used. Homemade condos when properly constructed of wood and carpet will last a lifetime where commercial condos use chipboard and plastics and may not last the rigors of many cats and moving. One key thing is replacing the carpet is more difficult than would be with a good wood based condo.

Not all commercial condos are the same. When you shop online or go to a pet store, pay attention to the materials used and when in doubt ask the store manager. Some of the higher end pet stores and websites provide quality wood condos but also command a higher price than homemade.

Not everyone has the tools or the skills to construct a homemade cat condo and will typically purchase one whether at the pet store or a garage sale. I want to flag that idea of a garage sale because there may be an opportunity to purchase a homemade condo at a discount. If you happen to see one and have cats then I recommend purchasing it after a thorough inspection. If you buy from the store then you should pay attention to the rest of this article.

Properly made homemade condos are very easy to maintain because they are made of wood materials. This allows for good nailing and stapling where chipboard and plastics do not perform as well. With a razor knife, pliers, and a hammer you can strip the carpet off a wood condo in under a half hour were chipboard and plastic is not as easy and will take more time and effort. Chipboard may use both glue and staples and plastic uses glue. Depending on the quality of the glue it could be very difficult to remove the carpet and not damage the chipboard or plastic condo frame.

The taller condos, (called trees), whose frames are made of chipboard or plastic can very difficult to replace the carpet without damaging the condo frame. I recommend not doing that unless you are willing to take time and effort. The smaller condos and "scratching posts" are easier but still require care when pulling off the old carpet. Should you attempt to do that, make sure and use good glue such as "hard as nails" glue that can be found in the hardware stores. I do not think the chipboard or plastic will survive more than one re-carpeting and that is why I would use better quality glue at that time.

When re-carpeting, always carpet the bases and pedestals first and do the post(s) last. I share this with my own experience and past mistakes. Should you have a condo that is worn out in appearance and basically shredded by cat claws, by all means try to replace the carpet rather than purchase another one. Remember color and perfect fits do not matter to your cat. Carpet does not have to be new either; it just needs to be in good condition to use so go for it and save a bundle of money.

Kitty Cat Condos

Kitty cat condos help cats get in their natural instincts to climb trees. Cats climb for many different reasons. Since many cats in the wild use the trees to hide from larger predators, or to leap down on their prey, a cat condo can be a great substitute and help fulfill their needs. There are many different types and sizes for these products, from simple single story hideaways to large floor to ceiling models with an abundance of climbing, perching and hiding places.

Because of the way cats are made, having kitty cat condos can provide many necessary things that a cat needs. They have powerful back legs that are just made for jumping and climbing, so a cat condo can help them with exercise. Some indoor cats don't have the opportunity to get out and climb a real tree. Cats not only need to climb and jump, but they also need a safe place where they can scratch. Scratching not only helps to clean their claws, but also to get old claw coverings off. If you own a cat, then you know the importance of having a special place for you cat to scratch, because if they don't, then you will end up with shredded furniture. Others use trees to mark their territory, and having cat condos can save your furniture from being sprayed.

Because cats love to climb, jump and scratch, having kitty cat condos can save you money in the long run, from not having to replace your valuable chairs or sofa, as well as keeping them from jumping up on your shelves or book cases and knocking your precious nick knacks over. Because there are so many different cat condo products available the choices can often be a little overwhelming, but here are a few tips to help you find one that your cat will just love.

One of the first things you should look for in kitty condos is a scratching area. Usually any vertical post will have some kind of tight rope wrapped around it. This provides the rough surface that will help them trim their claws naturally. All too often people buy those pet clippers, which if not used properly can permanently injure your pet's claws. You want the scratching post part to be high enough so that your cat can stand on its hind legs to really get into it.

The next thing you need in a cat condo is at least one area that is enclosed so your cat can climb in and hide. You can even put a piece of cloth or a small blanket inside it, because you may find your cat curled up asleep in it. This too is because of their natural instincts to use trees for a hiding spot from larger predators. In this case, they may use this spot to hide out from other cats, or from pestering children. They should also have platforms that are large enough for your cat to sit comfortably on, set at different heights and angles so your cat can jump or climb up on them and perch. Your cat condo should also have hanging toys to keep your cats entertained.

Now the big thing about kitty cat condos is a stable base. You want the base of your cat condo to be large and stable, so that even if your cats are playing hard on it, it doesn't fall over. Some taller models have a bracket so they can be attached to the ceiling so they don't tip over. You will also want your condo to have some kind of covering, like carpet, so that when your cats are climbing or jumping they have a surface they can grip into, just like the bark of real trees.

Do I Need A Cat Furniture?

There are different kinds of cat furniture you can choose from like cat condos, cat trees and others. Depending on where you live and what kind of design you prefer, you have different choices of cat furniture. If you life in a suburban area or on the landside and your cat has a way to go outside the house, then you won't need any cat furniture. But if you life in a city and your cat stays at home all the time, then you better listen and save yourself some a lot of frustration.

Consider these things before choosing a cat furniture:

- it is cat's nature to scratch, they sharpen their claws and get rid of old material this way.

- cat's natural instincts make them jump, hide, climb and chase. In wildlife cats need to hunt and kill other animals in order to survive and this is still dominating the behavior of our pet cats.

- cats sleep up to 15 hours daily. They love safe and warm places to sleep. Cat's don't like loud or stressful places.

As you can see, your cat has cerain needs to be satisfied. If you don't provide a place to scratch, your cat will use your sofa because there is nothing else. If you don't provide a nice place for your cat to sleep, your bed will be used...

What kind of cat furniture should you look for?

There are many different types of cat furniture that you can choose from. Your choice always depends on what kind of cat you have and how much space you have in your house. You don't need to get a giant cat tree, a small one will do as well. More important than the size of your cat furniture is the quality. Your cat will use the cat tree or whatever kind of furniture you get, to scratch and climb. Therefore the cat tree must be save for your cat to use. It is always better to invest into quality once rather than purchasing a new cat furniture once a year.

The best kind of cat furniture are definately those that satisfy multiple needs of your cat. Most cat trees are combined with a scratch pole, some include a condo, a place where your cat can hide and sleep. There are some trees that include toys like hanging balls, these are great for your cat to play with.

You find these cat trees unattractive, even ugly?

You can get a designer cat furniture that is designed to appeal to humans as well as to cats. These designer trees and codos are sometimes mado of maple or oak hardwood and therefore not cheap. You can find designer cat trees in all variations and forms.

Before you go and purchase a cat tree you might want to

- read online reviews from other pet owners, see what types of cat trees they found most useful.

- compare the prices of different companies

- compare the quality of the cat furniture

- think about the color of the cat furniture

- what about the cleanability?

As you can see, there are quite a few things to consider before getting the new cat furniture. Write down what you expect to get and then look for it and compare the prices.

Cat Furniture Buyer's Guide

Cat furniture is a commodity that is known by many names. The most common include Cat Trees, Cat Condos, Kitty Condos, Cat Towers, Cat Climbers, Cat Scratchers and Cat Gyms. There are dozens more, but whatever term you use to describe cat furniture, the purpose is the same - to enable your cats to follow their instinctual desire to scratch without damaging your furniture, carpet, or other belongings, and also to give them a place of their own where they can exercise, play, and lounge.

There are many different types of cat furniture, made from such a variety of materials, that shopping for cat furniture can be confusing. Which materials are better? What design is the most stable? What size should I buy? Which style would my cat like? In this article, I'll try to help you answer these questions so you can make a more informed buying decision.

Why Do Cats Scratch?

In order to be completely informed when buying cat furniture, it's helpful to understand why it is that cats scratch in the first place. The primary reason for cats scratching furniture, carpets, woodwork, or other objects is to mark their territory for other cats (this is instinctual, so they will do this even if they are the only cat in the house). Additionally, the scratching helps remove the dead cells from the claw sheaths, and stretches their muscles and ligaments.

Feline behavior is consistent, whether it's a tiger in the wild, or a Maine Coon in a condominium. Scratching is the way they say to other felines in the area "Hey, I'm here, and this is my place". Scratching communicates this in two ways. The first is obvious - the scratches provide a very visual cue to other cats. Additionally, cats have scent glands in their paws, which leave pheromones that other cats can smell. For those of you that have experience with declawed cats (PLEASE don't declaw your cats!), that's the reason that they continue to scratch even after the claws have been removed.

Cat Furniture Coverings

In the past, most cat furniture was covered with carpet. This was a good choice, because it looks good, and it offers a material that cats obviously like to scratch. Some of the cat furniture manufactured today, especially hand-made models, still use carpet.

Most carpeting today contains fabric loops. Unfortunately, after thousands of scratches, cat claws can cut through these loops, resulting in unsightly and messy shredding. You've probably seen this yourself.

However, with today's technology, engineers have developed an acrylic material specifically for use in the cat furniture industry. This material, commonly referred to as fake or faux fur, has become increasingly popular. The main reason for this popularity is the fact that it does not contain loops, so it doesn't shred like carpet does, and therefore tends to last longer than carpet. The drawback is that since it doesn't offer the resistance that carpet does when they scratch it, cats don't like it for scratching as much as they like carpeting.

As a result, most cat furniture that offers faux fur also utilizes sisal rope as a covering. Generally, the vertical posts are wrapped with sisal rope, and the platforms and enclosures are covered with the acrylic fur.

Sisal rope is made from the Agave Sisalana plant, which is native to the Yucatan area of Mexico. Cats seem naturally drawn to this material, and unlike the acrylic fur, sisal rope offers the resistance that cats need to tune their claws and stretch their muscles.

Some cat furniture manufacturers that use carpet as a covering also offer sisal-wrapped posts, and in most (but not all) cases cats will scratch on the sisal instead of the carpet.

Structural Materials

Obviously the strength of the cat furniture is provided by the underlying structural materials. Vertical posts are usually wood 2 x 4's or heavy cardboard tubes, while horizontal surfaces are either plywood or pressboard. Manufacturers sometimes use cardboard for enclosure walls that do not bear any weight load.

It is a common misconception that wooden posts offer more structural integrity than cardboard tubes. In actuality, this is not necessarily true. Of course everybody knows that wood is stronger than cardboard when flat. However, when thick (at least 1/4") cardboard is made into a tube, and stood up vertically, it can hold an incredible amount of weight. The addition of a layer of sisal rope wrapped around it adds even more strength. One big advantage of cardboard posts over wooden ones is the weight. Shipping rates are based on weight, and shipping costs for a piece of cat furniture made with cardboard posts will be considerably less than a comparable model with wooden posts.

For platforms and weight-bearing walls in enclosures, manufacturers generally utilize either plywood or pressboard (also known as particle board). Pressboard is fiber pulp that is mixed with a chemical adhesive to create a smooth, uniform board. Plywood is manufactured by gluing thin layers of wood together, resulting in a board that is actually stronger than solid wood of the same thickness.

Generally, plywood is preferred to pressboard for cat furniture platforms for a number of reasons. During shipping, pressboard is much more likely to be damaged than plywood, especially if the carton is dropped on it's corner. Additionally, pressboard tends to crumble around the edges of screw or bolt holes if the hardware is tightened too much. Pressboard platforms are also more likely to break if enough weight or vertical force is put on it, as happens if a child sits on it.

Floor-to-Ceiling or Freestanding?

Cat furniture models will be either freestanding or floor-to-ceiling (commonly referred to as cat trees). Freestanding cat furniture is usually wide and bottom-heavy, to prevent it from tipping over when cats are at the top, or are very active. Floor-to-ceiling models use tension against the ceiling to provide their stability, and so do not require as wide a footprint as freestanding models. A properly assembled and installed floor-to-ceiling model cannot tip over. Usually, the tension against the ceiling is accomplished either through use of a spring-tension rod or a screw-based mechanism. This doesn't mean that the cat tree is screwed into the ceiling. Rather, the topmost post has a threaded bolt, usually topped with a soft protective cap that screws up against the ceiling. Generally, the screw-type cat trees are more stable, especially if you have active cats, and are also less likely to damage the ceiling surface.

So What Should You Buy?

The decision as to what type of furniture to buy for Tabby and Fritz should be determined by a combination of factors:

- Do you want a freestanding or floor-to-ceiling model? This is really more of a personal choice issue than anything else. If you have very active or very large cats, a floor to ceiling model will probably offer more stability. If you have a multi-cat household, special attention should be paid to the weight rating of the furniture. It's also usually possible to secure a free-standing model to a wall with common brackets and hardware available at any home center, in cases where rambunctious kitties cause it to rock or tip.

- Which covering? Carpet offers the advantage of more color choices, and if you're very particular about your cat condo fitting in with your décor, this might be your best choice. Faux fur models are generally made in neutral colors like beige or taupe, although there are some exceptions. In either case, having a sisal scratching surface should be a goal if at all possible.

- Structural materials. If you have a choice, choose plywood over pressboard. As for the posts, both cardboard and wood offer good stability. As stated earlier, models with wooden posts are heavier and may cost more to ship.

I hope that this article has been helpful in explaining the different types of cat furniture available, and the strengths and weaknesses of each type. In the end, don't forget that the safety and happiness of the feline members of your family should be the most important factors in choosing cat furniture for them.