Why Does My Cat Need a Cat Tree?

A happy cat is a balanced cat: one whose playtime is proportionate to relaxation time, with a healthy amount of both curiosity and laziness. A bored, unhappy, or stressed cat will tempt you with naughtiness, scratching in all the worst places seemingly just to get your attention, and climbing the curtains so you’ll look away from the computer screen for a while. There are many easy, affordable tools to help keep kitty entertained, but one of the best is the cat tree.

A cat tree offers maximum exercise in minimal space. Cats love climbing and peering down stoically at the world below them. It may as well have been built into their DNA, right next to the prey drive gene. Letting a cat perch up high is telling the cat, “you are safe here. You are the biggest one here, and the most important.” A happy kitty will respect this gift. Not only will she use the tree for climbing, jumping, and romping, but also to rest in a spot that feels safe.

A well-built cat tree will have multiple levels on which to jump and rest. It will be heavy enough to keep stable as kitty rough houses it. It will have posts wrapped in sisal rope–a hard, natural fiber with little stretch, perfect for scratching–or possibly carpeted posts. It may have hammocks, hiding spots, perches, hanging toys, bridges, tunnels, stairs…the possibilities are endless. Some are built like a true jungle gym for your little lion and look so fun you’ll wish you could be a cat for a day!

Your cat will work every muscles as he climbs onto the different levels, which will help keep his muscles and heart toned and his joints limber. In the process, he’ll also keep his nails healthy and off of your furniture. He might work off enough energy climbing to the top that he’ll plop right down for a nap, saving your furniture from cat fur. Hiding toys and catnip in different spots of the cat tree will ensure kitty will keep coming back for new adventures and fun. Placing the tree by a window will offer the perfect spot for bird gazing and world watching.

Another perk of multi-level cat trees is giving cats their own space in a home with multiple pets. If one kitty is feeling less playful than another, she can climb to the top perch to give herself some distance from her rambunctious sibling. If the dog is feeling playful and the cat doesn’t wish to become trampled, climbing up her cat tree will help keep her safe and feel more relaxed.

Having cat trees in separate rooms of the house is great, but even just one tree in a designated area is a gift for your cat that will pay itself off in so many ways. Giving the cat his own play area will keep him intrigued and engaged in a proper manner, saving the delicate items and dishes you’ve placed on shelves throughout the home. This also means he’ll be less likely to get bored and start looking for trouble to get into, and will keep himself occupied when you can’t. And the vertical exercise will help keep his weight down, your veterinary bills low, and your number of years together high.