When deciding how to choose cat furniture, consider your pet’s individual needs and preferences to enhance their comfort and wellbeing. Cats naturally seek high perches and secluded spaces for safety and relaxation. Therefore, selecting furniture that caters to these instincts is essential. Opt for pieces that offer various levels of elevation and incorporate materials that encourage scratching, such as sisal or carpet, to help maintain their claws. Stability is crucial; sturdy furniture will ensure your cat feels secure during use. Additionally, think about the size and layout of your home. Compact pieces that can be easily integrated into smaller spaces or multifunctional items that serve both storage and cat leisure purposes are especially valuable. By thoughtfully choosing cat furniture, you not only enrich your cat’s daily life but also integrate their needs seamlessly into your living environment, ensuring a harmonious coexistence.
Does your feline pal have a cat tower? Kitties are very, very good at making themselves comfortable. Fluffy won’t be shy about stretching out, sprawling out, or curling up on your bed, chair, sofa, table, laptop, lap, floor, or, well, anything and everything else she can fit on. This is one reason kitties are so easy to care for: they are more than happy to make do with whatever you have. However, cats really do enjoy and benefit from having a few things they don’t have to share with their humans. Read on as a local vet discusses choosing kitty furniture.
You don’t have to fill your home with things for Fluffy. If we can say one thing about kitties, it’s that they are very opportunistic sleepers. For the most part, we would just suggest making sure she has a few things of her own.
Here are a few reasons why:
Privacy: One reason to choose cat furniture is to give your cat its own personal space. Every pet benefits from a quiet spot to retreat to, and a well-chosen piece of cat furniture can provide just that. Your cat might need a break from the family dog, the noise of a vacuum, a toddler’s attention, or the general activity around the house. Having a designated area can make your cat feel more secure and relaxed.
Elevation: You may notice that many of our feline friends really like high places. Your pet won’t have a very good vantage point from ground level. Kitties are climbers by nature. In fact, Fluffy’s claws are angled in a way that makes it easier for her to scale things. (Going down is a bit trickier, and must be learned, but that’s another topic.) This isn’t just because cats prefer to have us looking up at them in adoration, though that may very well be a perk. In the wild, cats are both hunters and hunted. They have to always be watching for potential threats. That is, of course, much easier to do from a high vantage point.
Security: Trees serve several purrposes for cats in the wild. They provide kitties with a safe place to escape a coyote, give her a vantage point, and also provide napping spots and manicure stations. Cat towers remind kitties of these safe spaces, and often just make them naturally feel secure.
Sleeping Points: We probably don’t need to explain this one too much. Kitties are always on the lookout for napping spots!
Nail Care Stations: One of the few downsides of having a cat is the fact that Fluffy may decide to do her nails on your furniture. Your pet isn’t trying to be destructive; she’s just fulfilling her instinctive need to keep her nails sharp. This is definitely a case of ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em’. You won’t have much luck getting your cat to stop doing her nails. You also should never punish her for these mishaps. That will only confuse your pet, and could make her frightened of you. It’s much better to just give your kitty a good manicure station. This will preserve your furniture and fulfill your pet’s natural needs to scratch.
Given that Fluffy can sleep up to 20 hours a day, it really shouldn’t be a huge surprise to find that beds are pretty high up on her list of favorite things. Store-bought beds are great, but you can also make your own. Cats are definitely not picky about where they sleep. Fluffy will sleep in a plant pot, a lasagna pan, or a pizza box. You can also put folded blankets on a chest or ottoman for extra purrs.
When you choose cat furniture, you can’t overlook the appeal of boxes. Many experts believe cats feel more secure in small, enclosed spaces, which makes sense as it prevents surprise encounters. However, this theory doesn’t fully explain why cats seem just as fascinated by boxes that are too large, too tiny, or even just a taped outline on the floor. Understanding this quirky behavior can guide you in selecting the right furniture that provides similar comfort and stimulation.
The cat tower is, of course, the gold standard here. Picking a scratching post or cat tower isn’t complicated, but there are some things that you would need to keep in mind.
Sturdiness: You’ll want something that is sturdy. Fluffy’s tower should be able to withstand all sorts of kitty shenanigans. (Remember, that may involve your pet making a flying leap onto the tower, or just hurtling herself up it at full speed.) Safety is, of course, the main thing here, but there is another reason as well. If your pet’s tower wobbles when she tries to use it, she may become wary of it. This is likely also instinctive. It isn’t hard to see why cats may have figured out that using a wobbly tree as a nail-care station may not end well. The tower should also hold your pet’s weight easily. You’ll need to be careful with flimsy or cheap towers.
Height: As mentioned above, cats like to climb to high spots. In general, the higher the better. However, there is a caveat.
Accessibility: While kittens won’t have issues scrambling up to the top of a tower, an older cat will prefer something that is easier to get on and off. Keep your pet’s age in mind.
How Many Cat Towers Do Kitties Need?
There’s really no upper-limit answer here. If you want to get your furry little diva a dozen cat trees or more, then by all means, go for it! As to the minimum number of cat trees or towers? We would suggest at least one per kitty. It’s not the end of the world if two or even three cats share a tower. However, make sure the tower has enough levels for them to all fit on it at once.
Cat towers and beds are probably Fluffy’s favorite pieces, but they are by no means the only options. In fact, you can get all sorts of cute and fun purrniture pieces for your feline.
Here are a few possible options:
Window Seats: Does Fluffy have a favorite window spot? We’re guessing she probably does. While your pet won’t mind if you buy her a swanky window seat, she’ll also be just as content with a spot on an ottoman or an armchair that provides a good view. This will give your furry buddy a place where she can relax, sunbathe, and spy on local wildlife.
Cat Wheels: You’ve likely seen the wheels that are so popular with smaller animals, like hamsters and gerbils. There are kitty-sized versions of these as well. This is a great option for a feisty, active cat.
Cat Shelves: If you really want to pamper your furry pal, consider getting her some shelves. Cats love scampering about at high levels!
Litterbox Concealment: If you’re looking to choose cat furniture that combines function with style, consider options that discreetly hide your cat’s litter box. You can buy furniture specifically designed to conceal it, or you can upcycle items you already have, like an old dresser, desk, or trunk, to create a camouflaged litter area. Just make sure your cat can easily enter and exit, and ensure you have easy access for cleaning. Plenty of innovative ideas and examples are available online to inspire you.
To maintain cat furniture effectively, focus on durability and cleanliness to ensure it lasts and remains appealing to your cat. Choose sturdy, easy-to-clean materials that can handle regular wear and tear. Regularly vacuum the furniture to remove hair and dander, and use a mild, pet-safe cleaner for any stains or odors. Check for and tighten any loose components to prevent wobbling, which could deter your cat from using it. Additionally, place the furniture in a cat-friendly location away from heavy foot traffic to minimize dirt accumulation and maximize usage.
To encourage a cat to use new furniture like cat towers or beds, it’s beneficial to consider the placement and attractiveness of these items. Position furniture in locations where the cat already enjoys spending time, such as near favorite sleeping spots or windows. Enhancing the appeal can be done by sprinkling catnip on the surfaces or dangling toys around the areas to draw attention. Gradually, the cat will associate these new pieces with comfort and entertainment, increasing the likelihood of regular use. Additionally, ensuring the furniture matches the cat’s physical abilities and comfort, especially for older cats, is crucial for acceptance.
When selecting fabrics for cat scratching surfaces, durability and texture are pivotal. Natural materials like sisal and jute are excellent choices, as their rough textures make them ideal for cats to maintain their claws while also offering longevity. Conversely, fabrics such as velvet or corduroy are poor choices; their soft, looped textures can snag easily, leading to rapid deterioration and potential harm to the cat’s claws. Upholstery made from tightly woven fabrics or synthetics like microfiber may also be less appealing to cats, reducing unwanted scratching behavior.
For creating cat furniture, select materials that are non-toxic to ensure the safety and well-being of your pet. Solid woods like pine or cedar are safe choices, as they do not contain harmful chemicals. Additionally, use natural fibers like sisal or jute for scratching posts instead of synthetic materials, which can be ingested during grooming. When selecting fabrics, opt for untreated cotton or wool, avoiding chemically treated or dyed materials. Always ensure that any glues, paints, or finishes are pet-safe and explicitly labeled as non-toxic.
You can create effective DIY cat furniture using simple household items. For beds, repurpose soft materials like blankets or sweaters into cozy sleeping spots, placing them on shelves or in boxes for added privacy. For climbing and scratching, sturdy bookshelves or homemade wooden frames can serve as cat towers. Securely wrap these structures in sisal rope to offer a durable scratching surface. Litter box concealment can be achieved by modifying old furniture with a doorway cutout, ensuring easy access for your cat and discreet integration into your home decor.
Is your feline buddy due for an exam? Have you just adopted a new cat? Contact us, your local pet hospital, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are always happy to help!