What Is A Cat Tower?

Posted by Admin

Exactly what a cat tower is and how it differs from other items of cat furniture is not clear. Indeed products that are described as a cat tower could equally be described as a cat tree or even cat condo. The name does imply a significant height but there are small cat towers which rather undermines this.

There is really little difference between a cat tower and a cat tree. These are usually tall (up to 6 feet) and have “arms” extending from one or more center posts which feature platforms, hammocks. swings etc. They usually also incorporate a scratching post that is higher than a stand alone scratching post which is good because it allows a cat to stretch out full length when scratching.

Click Here to see a selection of cat towers, trees and condos at Amazon.

Cat towers serve a number of purposes:

  • They allow cats to climb – they love to be in high places.
  • They provide a place to play, jump on and generally run off energy.
  • They provide a place to sleep and, as in the example below, somewhere to hide.
  • They provide an attractive alternative to other furniture in the house.

It is worth getting the best quality you can afford. You want to it last many years and it is essential that it sturdy, your cat must not be able to knock it over. Even if it wobbles a bit this may be enough to make your cat wary of it.

Below is the Armarkat A7202 72-Inch Cat Tree which is a good example of a cat tower/tree that is reasonably priced and has good reviews from purchasers.
Cat Tower

For example one reviewer said “I am really impressed with this product. It was a snap to put together and it's much bigger than higher priced products I've seen in the pet stores. My cats love climbing it. They especially like the two perches and the little house in the middle.”

There seems to be general agreement that it is easy to assemble and that their cats love it. Strangely many cats did not get the hang of the hammock.

The Armarkat A7202 72-Inch Cat Tree is available from Amazon with free delivery Click Here for more information and to purchase.

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Cat Condo – Great For Your Cat And You

Posted by Admin

You can get a Cat Condo in a variety of sizes and designs and, like cat trees, they are intended to provide your cat with a vertical space on which to climb, play and hide.

The difference between a cat tree and a cat condo is rather a grey area but in general:

  • A cat condo has multiple levels each having an entrance hole and a floor between levels with a hole so that the cat can climb up and down.
  • A cat tree on the other hand is more open with one or more vertical posts with resting places on the “limbs”. These may be shelves or may be like short boxes. The bottom of a cat tree will normally incorporate a scratching post.

Click Here iconto see a selection of cat furniture at PetSmart.

Most cats enjoy this sort of cat furniture and it should be easy to get them to use it instead of other items around the house. A cat condo will allow a cat or multiple cats to have a place to hide and sleep and, in the case of multiple cats they will be able to display their hierarchy i.e. the dominant cat will be at the top. 

The most important thing to look out for in any cat furniture is stability. It must be sturdy and well built. It must not wobble and it must not be possible for a cat to knock it over e.g. by jumping off the top. Not only would this be dangerous for the cat and anyone nearby but if the cat becomes frightened it will most likely never use the cat condo again.

A fairly expensive, but top quality product is the Molly and Friends XL Kitty Treehouse pictured below:

Cat Condo icon

Buyers seem to agree that this is a very well made product which their cats love, one comments " This Molly & Friends treehouse is so well made and heavy that my three cats don't even make it sway when chasing each other up and down it.….”

It is constructed of heavy wood, 4" solid pine poles and uses metal hardware/fasteners (no glue). A dream house for all cats, this item comes fully assembled and is available in Beige, Brown & Beige and Country Blue & Beige.

The Molly and Friends XL Kitty Treehouse is available from PetSmart with free delivery Click Here iconfor more information and to purchase. (Note: this is only able via the PetSmart website it is not available in store)

 

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Why Your Cat Will Love A Cat Tree

Posted by David

Cat trees come in a range of sizes and designs but all are intended to give your cat a vertical space to climb, play and hide on. Most double as scratching posts and are usually better than stand alone scratching posts because they allow the cat to stretch out full length when scratching.

Cats love to be high up and giving them a quality cat tree will reduce the incentive to climb up other things.

In a multi-cat household a cat tree can have another function. It will allow the cats to display their hierarchy with the dominant cat taking the highest space. It can mean that cats there were squabbling previously can co-exist peacefully because everyone has their place.

Click Here icon to see a selection of cat trees at PetSmart.

There are numerous designs of cat tree. Basic products can be just large scratching posts with a platform or two but the top end products will have multi-levels with different designs, places to hide and relax and toys to play with. In fact the difference between a cat tree and a cat condo has become blurred and it is not unusual to see both terms in a product’s name.

Whatever type you go for the most important requirement is that it is sturdy and stable. If it wobbles, or even actually falls over, your cat will almost certainly fear it and not go near it again and you will have wasted your money. A fairly expensive, but top quality cat tree is the Molly and Friends Five Tiered Cat Tree pictured below:

Cat Tree

Buyers and their cats seem to like it, one review says "I recently upgraded from a relatively standard cat tree to this one. My cats love it! I like that there's two options for them to curl up and hide in and they seem to appreciate the privacy as well ….”

Great for multiple cats, this towering five tiered cat tree will satisfy your cat's urge to climb, scratch, play and lounge about. It offers lots of places for your cats to sit, nap, and play. It is five and a half feet high and is constructed of heavy wood, 4" solid pine poles, carpet and metal hardware/fasteners (no glue). Your cats will love it.

The Molly and Friends Five Tiered Cat Tree is available from PetSmart with free delivery – Click Here icon1 for more information and to purchase. (Note: this is only able via the PetSmart website it is not available in store)

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Why You Need To Understand Cat Behavior

Posted by David

If you want to get the most from owning a cat you need to learn about cat behavior. You will then be able to avoid many of the problems that cat owners struggle with and have a fun and loving relationship with your pet.

If a cat continually misbehaves it will cause stress all round, particularly if you go the wrong way about trying to correct this behavior. So how do you train a cat? Well, a cat cannot be trained in the same way as a dog and if you show anger when a cat has done something wrong that will just make the situation worse. Unfortuately a cat will not relate your reaction with whatever they have just done but might learn from your behavior that you are someone to be wary of. At best the cat will only learn to be careful what to do whilst you are about.

Rather than seeking to "train" a cat you need to think more in terms of modifing their behavior. Firstly you need to understand why they are doing something then remove the cause, or make the action unpleasant for them whilst offering a pleasant alternative.

The sort of problems you can tackle with the right knowledge include:

  • Stop Cats From Scatching Furniture – Scratching is a natural instinct for cats and something you cannot stop. What you can do is get your cat to do it somewhere that is not a problem rather than on your furniture.
  • Biting Unexpectedly – This can mean that a cat is in pain which indicates that attention from a vet is required. If this is not the case the reason for this behavior needs to be found and controlled.
  • Cat Spraying – Spraying is when a cat seeks to mark its territory, find a mate or maybe relieve stress by "spraying" a strong smelling mix of urine and pheromones. The reason for this behaviour needs to be tracked down first  then there are a number of ways to tackle it depending on the cause. Make sure that the cat is actually spraying not just urinating in an inappropriate place because the two things require different action.   
  • Problems using litterbox – Sometimes cats refuse to use a litterbox and make a mess elsewhere. The cause is usually fairly easy to find and correct.
  • Aggression with other cats – Introducing a new arrival to an established cat can cause problems if not done correctly and keeping the peace in a multi-cat household can be challenging.

The more you know about your pet and his behavior, the better you can solve the problems you have with your pet and the better pet owner you can be. You will be able to have a close relationship with your cat and enjoy being a pet owner.
 

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Cat Spraying – How To Stop It

Posted by David

There are a number of steps you can take to stop your cat spraying in the house.

Firstly you need to be sure that the cat is actually spraying rather than just urinating in an inappropriate place, as the two problems have different solutions.

Cat Spraying

Cat spraying is when the cat mixes urine with glandular secretions called pheromones and is done to:

  • mark territory – usually the result of some perceived threat.
  • attract a mate.
  • relieve stress.
  • communicate something to another cat.  

You will need to work out why the cat is spraying and then take steps to eliminate the underlying problem.

The steps you need to take are explained in Liz Barton’s book “Cat Behavior Secrets Revealed”. Liz has gained a considerable amount of practical expertise through working with a number of vets, animal adoption agencies and animal shelters and has developed a detailed understanding of cat behavior which is all contained in this book. The book is divided into sections so you can jump in and address your particular problem straight away. However, it is well worthwhile reading it all as it will greatly increase your understanding of why cats behave as they do.

As well as spraying, some of the problems covered include:Cat Scratching
•    Not using the litterbox
•    Biting unexpectedly
•    Scratching in inappropriate places
•    Damaging houseplants
•    Relations with other cats in the household
•    Night time activity
•    Generally misbehaving.

As well as resolving any current problems this will also help you avoid problems in the future. You will then be less stressed and will be able to enjoy your pet.

Click Here  to download the book.

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Stop Cats From Scratching Furniture

Posted by David

How to stop cats from scratching furniture is a question many cat owners ask. Some cats, however lovable, can cause havoc by scratching furniture and this behavior can be difficult to stop.

It is not possible to stop cats scratching, as this is a natural instinct to them, so you need to make it unappealing to scratch where you don’t want them to (your furniture), provide them with an alternative (probably a scratching post) and make sure they use it.

Furniture has a number of attractions to cats wanting to scratch and you need to be aware of these and make sure that you do indeed provide a good alternative.
Stop Cats from Scratching Furniture
It is possible to stop cats from scratching furniture and there are a number of things you can do to discourage this, you need to experiment to see what works best with your cat. At the same time there are a number of things you must do to get your cat to adopt the alternative.

Information on how to achieve this can be found in Liz Barton’s book “Cat Behavior Secrets Revealed”. She has much real world experience with vets, animal adoption agencies and animal shelters and has used this to produce a highly practical guide to managing cat behavior. It is an easy read but you will come away with a good understanding of cats, why they behCat behavior secretsave as they do plus many practical solutions which you can put into action immediately.

In addition to scratching, the following are some of the cat problems covered:

  • Litterbox avoidance
  • Biting without warning
  • Destroying house plants
  • Conflicts with other cats
  • Being a nuance during the night
  • Generally misbehaving.

As a result of reading this book, and getting a better understanding of your cat, you will have a better behaved more lovable pet.

Click Here

 to download the book.

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How Do You Train A Cat?

Posted by David

So your cat is misbehaving, maybe scratching the furniture or urinating in the wrong place, and you want to resolve these problems before it spoils your relationship with your pet.  How do you train a cat to do what you want?

Well firstly you cannot train a cat to be obedient in the same way you can with a dog. Cats are very different and if you try this it will backfire and make things worse. Getting angry with a cat that has misbehaved will not work, it could make the cat frightened of you and at best it will only stop the behavior while you are watching.  

With cats you have to think in terms of modifying their behavior rather than training them. This involves understanding why they are doing something and then trying to get them to associate that behavior with a negative outcome.
How Do You Train A Cat
There are a number of ways to do this and they are explained in a book “Cat Behavior Secrets Revealed” by Liz Barton. Liz has a great deal of hands on experience having worked with countless vets, adoption agencies and animal shelters to develop these simple to follow tips for cat behavior training. The book is easy to follow and you will be able to put some of the solutions into action straight away. Cat Behavior Secrets

The book tells you how to solve the following cat behavior problems (amongst others):

•    Not using the litter box and instead peeing and pooping on the floor, your bed,  or anywhere else they shouldn't
•    Biting you, your children or your guests unexpectedly
•    Scratching your furniture
•    Digging in houseplants
•    Fighting with other cats in your household
•    Keeping you awake at night
•    Just plain misbehaving.

The result will be a better behaved more lovable pet and therefore less stress for you.

Click Here


  to download the book.

Posted in Cat Training | Tagged How Do You Train A Cat | Leave a comment