CAT TOWERS/CAT TREES
(If You Have a Cat, You Need at Least One)
During the past few years there has been an appreciation of cats that hasn’t been seen since ancient Egypt which has resulted in cat owners providing more of the necessities for their pets, such as litter boxes and beds. However, that is where many of them stop because they don’t understand that a cat needs a cat tower (it isn’t a luxury). A cat tower (or cat tree) is a multi-level structure that provides spaces for cats to climb, scratch, perch, play, leap, hunt, stalk, sleep, observe from a distance or choose to be in the middle of the action. They are much more than just furniture. They satisfy a range of natural cat behaviors that enhance their physical and mental well-being. The setup of a cat tower mimics the layered aspects of outdoor environments, promoting healthy exercise. You should add a cat tower to your home if you want your beloved bush and tree dweller(s) to thrive. The following are the physical and mental benefits of cat towers:
PHYSICAL BENEFITS
Cats are natural climbers who like any area off the floor, from chairs, to tops of tables and bookcases, to the highest elevation of a room. Climbing and jumping on cat towers provides good aerobic exercise and improves your cat'smuscle tone and agility, which helps to maintain a strong and flexible body. Exercise is also important to prevent obesity. Navigating the platforms, nooks and crannies of a cat tower requires coordination, which can improve motor skills and balance. Regular movement is necessary for joint health and is particularly beneficial for older cats with arthritis. Scratching posts are good for claw health and they provide additional stretching exercise.
MENTAL BENEFITS
Navigating the various levels and features of a cat tower requires problem solving and decision making, which keeps your cat’s mind sharp and engaged. Having a designated space like a cat tower can help to reduce stress and anxiety. Cats have an inherent need to climb and survey their domain from high vantage points. This is not just a matter of preference. It is rooted in their survival instincts. High perches provide a place to observe their environment which makes them feel safe and in control. Scratching posts and the dangling toys usually included as part of a cat tower appeal to a cats natural hunting and scratching instincts. Fulfilling these natural behaviors improves a cat's mood and reduces (but does not necessarily eliminate) instances of unwanted scratching and other destructive behaviors. Anyone who lives with a cat knows that they are driven to own their territory! Scratching equals ownership (cats mark things that are socially significant to them such as a door frame, a couch, or a rug). A cat tower includes several areas where a cat can rub or scratch and leave his scent behind,signifying ownership and enabling him to feel secure in a location that belongs to him. Cat towers provide spaces where your cat can enjoy some ‘alone’ time, which is especially important in a multi-cat household. The various activities a cat engages in while using a tower can help to prevent behavioral problems caused by boredom. Successfully maneuvering a cat tower potentially gives cats a boost of confidence, which is likely to improve the social interactions of shy or anxious cats. If you have more than one cat, a cat tower gives them a venue for interactive play and potentiallyreduces inter-cat aggression by defining play zones and escape routes.
HOW TO CHOOSE A CAT TOWER
Two words to remember when choosing a cat tower are: ‘sturdy’ and ‘multi-functional.’Primarily, it must be sturdy. If it wiggles or wobbles, they will not use it. It needs to include the following: scratching post(s), a mix of perches to support their exploratory nature, and both covered and open beds to support their need for rest. The scratching posts must be strong enough to withstand the full weight of a cat pulling on it because, in addition to using scratching posts to remove dead nail sheaths, cats use them to exercise the upper part of their bodies. The open beds must have raised edges to ensure that the cat will not fall out while sleeping; the covered beds are perfect for shy cats or for those who prefer solitude (they simulate the secure environment cats seek for relaxation in nature).
The following cat tower designs check all the boxes: (Attach pictures of examples)
WHERE TO PLACE CAT TOWERS
Ideally, you should buy two cat towers: One to be positioned near family gathering spaces or high traffic areas of your home to give your cat a place to observe their kingdom from above while feeling securely tucked away in a safe haven. The other to be placed in front of a window where your cat can enjoy visual stimulation, ideally watching natural prey (the equivalent of Cat TV). Cats have a natural urge to hunt. Watching wildlife through a window gives them the ability to size up prey and plan an attack, which is an activity that can engage your cat for most of the day. You can also add things outside the window, such as bird feeders, squirrel feeders, bird baths, plants, and flowers to attract birds and insects. (If a window is not a possibility, another option is an actual TV showing videos of wildlife, or an aquarium or terrarium so that they can watch fish or other critters.) Boredom is the mother of chaos in homes with cats. Cat TV goes half-way towards solving boredom. The other half is using interactive toys for play sessions with your cat to enable them to simulate hunting by chasing, catching, and killing a teaser toy rather than actual prey. Much the same as a dog requires a daily walk, a cat requires a daily ritual of play sessions.