He shoots, he jumps, he scores! Cat climbers can be a world of fun for Kitty and friends.
Cat climbers and scratching posts need to be a part of your cat's equipment.
Below, we provide some valuable tips for selection of the right stuff!
The Right Scratching Post for Your Cat
What you need to know
You buy this fluffy, attractive-looking little post for your beloved cat to scratch. You stash it in a corner of a room that isn’t used much and proudly present it to kitty. She turns her nose up and walks away.
You think, Okay, all she needs is a little instruction. So you take her back to the post and “show her how to use it” by taking her paws and scratching on the post. Kitty tears out of the room, horrified at your behavior, and runs over to scratch the couch. Never to return to the “gift” again.
You were trying to do the best for your cat. What went wrong?
To understand that question, it helps to have more knowledge about cat scratching.
Why do cats scratch?
To mark their territory
Cats mark their territory with long shredding scratches that say – I’ve been here. This is mine.
They also have scent pads on the bottom of their paw pads that deposit a scent detectable to felines, but not to humans.
To keep their nails in good condition.
Cat’s nails grow in layers with the outer layers being shed on a regular basis to reveal healthy new nail growth underneath.
Scratching a good rough material removes the outer layer of their old nails, and keeps them manicured and healthy.
To exercise and stretch.
Kitty approaches the post, hunkers down and digs in. The scratching and pulling stretches the back and shoulder muscles. If the post is sturdy, kitty can get a really strong pull and scratch, providing excellent exercise for those muscles.
Here are some tips and guidelines that will help you get the right post for your cat—one she will love.
The Four Most Important Criteria:
• Tall enough
• Sturdy, stable and strong
• Rough material
• Right location.
An excellent example of the right kind of Scratching Post is the Veterinarian designed PurrFect Post at www.purrfectpost.com.
A Good Scratching Post Should Be Tall.
The post should be at least 28 inches tall so your cat can extend and stretch to achieve the ultimate scratch. Short posts are rarely appreciated and don’t allow for a complete stretch.
The Post Must Be Sturdy, Stable and Strong.
Cats want a solid surface to scratch. A flimsy post that topples or wavers will quickly be rejected. Cats need to feel secure when they scratch, and this requires a post that has a heavy base and is not top-heavy. If the post falls over, kitty probably won’t go back.
What Is Attractive to You Is Not Necessarily Attractive to Kitty.
A soft, pretty carpeted post may appeal to you, but your cat wants more substance. Also, if you train your cat to a carpeted post, she probably won’t understand that it is okay to scratch the post and not okay to scratch the carpet in the hallway.
Cats like rough surfaces to scratch. For example the bark of a tree.
Sisal material is an excellent scratching surface for cats. Rough sisal weave, such as that found in sisal rugs, is the perfect scratching material for cats.
You should look for sisal fabric, not sisal rope. The rope is not as appealing and doesn’t shred as well. Remember, one of the reasons cats scratch is to mark their territory. Shredding, as you may have seen to your dismay, is their signature mark.
The Right Location.
Location, location, location. That’s a familiar standard that also applies to scratching posts. It is very important.
The post must be a prominent area of the cat’s and your living space. A post sequestered in a corner will not fulfill the cat’s need to mark the territory. If kitty spends part of the day in the living room and part in the bedroom, a post in each room is ideal. Place them in a prominent location so Kitty—and everyone else—will be able to see it.
If your cat has a favorite piece of furniture that she is scratching, you may want to start by putting the post in front of that piece of furniture. Once she starts using it, you can move the post one to two inches a day until it is in a location that is more suitable.
One last caveat. Resist the urge to take kitty’s paws and show her how to use the post. She knows instinctively how to do this and will be insulted by your efforts.
The right post in the right location will give both you and your cat satisfaction.
Cat Climbers
Here is a fun parable : The Cat and the Fox*
A Fox was boasting to a Cat of its clever devices for escaping its enemies. "I have a whole bag of tricks," he said, "which contains a hundred ways of escaping my enemies."
"I have only one," said the Cat; "but I can generally manage with that."
Just at that moment they heard the cry of a pack of hounds coming towards them, and the Cat immediately scampered up a tree and hid herself in the boughs.
"This is my plan," said the Cat. "What are you going to do?"
The Fox thought first of one way, then of another, and while he was debating the hounds came nearer and nearer, and at last the Fox in his confusion was caught up by the hounds and soon killed by the huntsmen. Miss Puss, who had been looking on, said:
"Better one safe way than a hundred on which you cannot reckon."
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Cats are built with powerful hind legs with which to climb and jump. They enjoy perching regally, up high, where they can survey their land. Cat climbers, also known as cat trees, condos, or towers, are pieces of furniture specifically designed to increase the three-dimensionality of a cat’s environment.
They often combine multiple tasks, providing areas to rest, sharpen claws, and exercise. They also provide hiding spots, away from other pets and the kids in some cases if they have hollowed out cubbies. A side benefit is the reduction of cat fur around the house.
When choosing a cat climber, here is what you should look for:
• A combination of comfortable lounging areas and sisal scratching posts.
• A sturdy, heavy, tip-proof base. Some climbers will attach to your wall for extra stability.
• An ability to accommodate your cat’s mature size comfortably. Some cat furniture has small openings or is not designed to hold the weight of larger cats.
Cat furniture comes in different sizes and levels of complexity, from a small two-level stand, to a model stretching floor to ceiling! There are options for all budgets and room sizes. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can create your own cat climber by wrapping two-by-fours and plywood with sisal carpet remnants and sisal rope and attaching them together in various combinations. Your only limit is your imagination.
* Aesop Fables, George Fyler Townsend translation, Project Gutenberg
Disclaimer: This website is not intended to replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment by a licensed veterinarian. If you require any veterinary related advice, contact your veterinarian promptly. Information at Cathealth.com is exclusively of a general reference nature. Do not disregard veterinary advice or delay treatment as a result of accessing information at this site.
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