Does your feline companion have a cat tower? Kitties are really adept at making themselves comfortable on our things. Fluffy will not hesitate to stretch out, spread out, or cuddle up on your bed, chair, sofa, table, laptop, lap, floor, or whatever else she can fit on. This is one reason why cats are so easy to care for: they are content to make do with whatever you have. However, cats enjoy and benefit from having a few items that they do not have to share with their humans. Continue reading as a local South London, ON veterinarian offers some advice on how to choose cat furniture.
What Sort Of Furniture Should I Get My Kitty?
Cat towers and beds are perhaps Fluffy’s favorite components, but they are far from the only ones. In fact, you may get a variety of adorable and entertaining purrniture pieces for your feline.
Here are a few alternative solutions:
Kitty Shelves: If you truly want to spoil your feline friend, consider getting her some shelves. Cats enjoy scampering about at high elevations! This probably reminds Fluffy of climbing trees.
Litterbox Concealment: This one is about hiding functionality behind form. You can purchase items designed expressly to hide Fluffy’s purrsonal powder room. You can also be creative by upcycling something. For example, you could upcycle an old dresser or desk to hide the litterbox. This would also work on a trunk.
Window Seats: Does Fluffy have a favorite window spot? While your pet won’t mind if you get her a posh window seat, she’ll be equally satisfied with a space on an ottoman or recliner with a nice view. This will provide an area for your furry little voyeur to relax, sunbathe, and observe nearby wildlife.
Kitty Wheels: You’ve probably seen the wheels that are popular among smaller animals such as hamsters and gerbils. There are also kitty-sized versions of them. This is an excellent choice for a lively, energetic cat.
Why Should I Get Cat Furniture?
You do not need to stuff your home with Fluffy’s things. However, we would recommend that she have a few pieces of her own.
Here are a few reasons why.
Privacy: One reason why our feline friends should have their own things? Simple space. Everyone requires a private, peaceful spot to retreat to. Fluffy may require a break from your youngster, the dog, the vacuum cleaner, or simply the hustle and bustle of people moving back and forth.
Elevation: As you may have noticed, many of our feline friends enjoy high vantage points. Your pet will not have a decent vantage point from ground level. Kitties have a natural ability to climb. Fluffy’s claws are angled in such a way that she can easily scale things. (Going down is a little difficult and must be learned, but that’s another story.) This isn’t just because cats want to have people gazing up at them in affection, though that may be a plus. In the wild, cats hunt and are hunted. They must continuously be alert for any hazards. That is, of course, much easier to accomplish from a high vantage point.
Security: Trees offer multiple functions for cats in the wild. They provide a safe haven to escape a coyote, a vantage point, napping areas, and manicure stations. Cat towers serve as a reminder of these safe locations for cats and can frequently make them feel more secure.
Sleeping Points: We probably don’t need to explain this one very much. Kitties are constantly on the lookout for napping areas!
Nail Care Stations: One of the few disadvantages of owning a cat is that Fluffy may decide to do her nails on your furniture. Your pet is not attempting to be destructive; she is simply satisfying her inherent urge to keep her nails sharp. Her survival would rely on this in the wild. This is a clear case of ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. You won’t have much success convincing your cat to stop scratching, as this is a very deeply-ingrained survival instinct. You also should never chastise her for these blunders. That will just confuse your furry friend and possibly make her afraid of you. It’s far preferable to simply provide your cat with a good manicure station. This will protect your furnishings while also satisfying your cute pet’s natural scratching instinct.
Do Cats Need Beds?
Given Fluffy’s ability to sleep up to 20 hours per day, it’s no surprise that beds rank pretty high on her list of favorite things. Cats are certainly not choosy about where they sleep. Fluffy will sleep in a pizza box, a lasagna pan, or a plant pot. Store-bought beds are excellent, but you may also make your own. You can also place folded blankets on a chest or ottoman to increase purrs.
Why Are Cats So Obsessed with Boxes?
We can’t talk cat furniture without including boxes. The official hypothesis holds that cats feel safer in compact, enclosed spaces. This makes logical because nothing can sneak up on them. However, that argument crumbles when you see photographs of cats pushing themselves into boxes that are too big, too small, or nothing more than a square boundary of tape.
Tips for Choosing a Cat Tower
The cat tower is, of course, the gold standard. Choosing a scratching post or cat tower is simple, but there are a few considerations.
Crowds: Do you have more than one cat? Choose a tower that can fit all of your furballs at once.
Sturdiness: You’ll need something solid. Fluffy’s tower should be able to resist a variety of kitten antics. (Keep in mind that this could include your feline friend taking a flying jump onto the tower or simply propelling herself up it at high speed.) Safety is, of course, the primary concern here, but there is another factor as well. If Fluffy’s tower wobbles as she attempts to use it, she may grow apprehensive and stop using it. (This is probably also instinctive. It’s easy to understand why cats would have realized that utilizing an unstable tree as a nail-care station would not go well.) The tower should also be able to support your pet’s weight comfortably.
Height: As previously said, cats enjoy climbing to high spots. In general, higher is better.
Accessibility: While kittens may have no trouble scrambling to the top of a tower, an older cat will prefer something easier to get on and off. Keep your pet’s age in mind. Ask your vets in London for more information.
How Many Cat Towers Do Kitties Need?
There is no true upper limit here. If you want to buy your furry little diva a dozen or more cat trees, go for it! What is the minimal number of cat trees or towers? We recommend at least one per kitten. It is not the end of the world if two or more cats share a tower. However, ensure that the tower has enough levels to accommodate them all at once.
Book An Appointment At Our South London, ON Pet Clinic
Is your kitty companion due for a checkup? Have you recently adopted a new cat? Please contact us, your local South London, ON pet hospital, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are always delighted to help!
