Animal welfare groups all recommend that cats should be kept indoors, for both their welfare and that of our native animals.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
But some believe that not letting your cat outside denies their natural instinct to climb trees, and also has a detrimental effect on furniture when the cat needs to scratch.
There is a way to keep animals and humans happy though, while also creating a point of interest in your home.
You could opt for a cat scratching tower, but generally these don’t do much to enhance your decor.
Why not look for a real tree branch, which could not only be a feature with the natural colours and textures, but also provide your cat with something to scratch, climb, hide in and sleep on.
This option could be even cheaper than buying a pre-made cat tower.
Measure the floor to the ceiling to work out how high and wide the branch could be, and don’t forget to allow for a base onto which the branch can be glued and screwed. Contact arborists in your area to find for a left-over branch the right size and trim to suit.
Wind sisal rope around the bottom of the branch for scratching. Alternatively wrap carpet around the post as this is easily replaced when shredded. Take care to avoid carpet with loops.
You could also add a few platforms if the branch isn’t wide enough to sleep on – just cover some wide pieces of pine with carpet left-overs and wedge into the forks.
Add a bit of variety if you can: a small cubby house, some dangling toys, perhaps a hammock. Remember you will need to clean these though to make sure you can vacuum the carpet on the platforms and remove the bedding from holes and hammocks. Your local recycling centre is sure to have some great wooden boxes you can attach to the tree.
The ideal placement for your cat tree is near a window so your cat can enjoy the view, and try to have resting platforms as high as practicable.