Cat furniture is a commodity that goes by many names and forms. We’ve all heard about cat beds, but there are also cat trees that pretty much every furry friend loves. Whichever name you decide to use for it, the purpose stays the same. It should enable your cat to follow its instinctual desire to scratch but without ruining your furniture. Additionally, it’s a place that is their own and in which they can exercise play, and lounge. However, there are so many choices out there. So, we decided to write a cat furniture buying guide to help you make your decision.
We don’t even have to mention how much variety there is with cat furniture. And it’s not only in shape and size. It’s not uncommon for people to get lost in wondering which material is the best either. At the end of the day, your pet can’t become one of the most popular cats on Instagram without all the right accessories.
And in this article, we’ll try to provide answers to all doubts that you might have. If you follow it, you’ll become more informed, and you’ll be able to make a better buying decision.
Why do cats scratch?
Before you jump into choosing your cat’s bed and scratcher, it’s helpful to understand why cats scratch in the first place. And the primary reason why your cat may be scratching furniture, carpets, woodwork, or any other object is to mark their territory for other cats.
This behavior is instinctual, so they will do this even if they’re the only animal in the house. Additionally, the scratching helps them remove dead cells from the claw sheaths and stretches their muscles and ligaments.
It is their way to say all other felines in the area that they’re here and that this place is theirs. The scratching communicates in a couple of ways. The first one is strictly visual. However, the second one is that cats have scent glands in their paws. Therefore, they leave pheromones that other cats can smell behind them.
Cat furniture coverings
In the past, almost every piece of cat furniture was covered with carpet. And this was a good choice. It looks good, and cats obviously like to scratch this material. These are the reasons why some of the furniture manufactured today still uses carpet.
However, carpeting contains fabric loops. And after thousands of scratches, cat claws cut through these loops, leaving unsightly messy shredding behind. We’ve all seen it, and we all know how this looks.
Luckily, the technology develops. So, today we have a special acrylic material specifically made for use in the cat industry. Its’ selling point is that it doesn’t contain the loops we have talked about. It doesn’t shred as carpet does, and that’s why it became so popular. Companies like The Meowy have been using it for years, and their customers have nothing but praises for it.
How to choose the size
Whether we’re talking about cat beds or cat trees, you must choose the size when buying it. To make the right pick, you need to take your cat size and breed into consideration.
Cats tend to move around a lot. So, it’s normal to see them making circles in order to identify the most comfortable sleeping position. What this means is that a cat bed should provide enough space for moving and adjustments. And the same goes for cat towers as well.
If you follow our cat furniture buying guide, the most important thing to keep in mind is to buy a piece large enough for your cat to stretch comfortably and still feature a bit of extra space. However, you must keep in mind that going big with beds isn’t always the best idea when preparing the apartment for a new cat.
You see, cats feel more comfortable and secure in smaller spaces. So, the thing you should do is try to measure your kitty head to tail. It might not be the easiest task to perform, but it will give you an idea about the right length and width. If you go for something too vast, your pet will probably never snuggle inside to enjoy hours of peaceful sleep.
What kind of cat tree should you buy?
There are two models of cat trees that you can choose from. There are freestanding and floor-to-ceiling options. Freestanding examples are usually wide and bottom-heavy. They’re made this way to prevent it from tipping over when cats are on the top. On the other hand, floor-to-ceiling models use tension against the ceiling to provide the stability they need. This is why these don’t need as wide of a footprint as freestanding models.
Floor-to-ceiling models use either a spring-tension rod or a screw-based mechanism to achieve the tension against the ceiling. However, this doesn’t mean they’re screwed into it. The thing is that the topmost post has a threaded bolt topped with a soft protective cap. You screw it against the ceiling, and you’re all set. An adequately installed example can’t tip over, so they’re a better option if you have active cats.
Get your cat used to a new bed and toys
We wanted to end this article with a few practical tips on getting your cat used to new things it gets. And every cat owner knows just how stubborn these little creatures can be. They’ll sleep in a box that the bed came in, and they’ll play with packing materials cat tower was wrapped in, but they won’t come close to any of the beautiful things you bought them.
To facilitate the transition, place the bed where the cat already sleeps and put the tower where it loves to play. It shouldn’t take long before they start introducing themselves to new items. And when they do, you won’t need any secrets for taking better pet photos. The opportunities will present themselves to you.
And finally, be patient. We want to emphasize that the cat furniture buying guide is that the adjusting could take some time. Praise your pet for the progress it makes and reward it for good behavior. Eventually, your four-legged friend will learn to appreciate the new items you got them.