Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
What is a cat tree?
This is a piece of cat furniture that looks somewhat like a tree with perches of various shapes and sizes. It’s something that is strictly for the benefit of your cat. A quick search online will show you just how popular and beneficial they are for indoor cats. A quick search will also show you that the sky’s the limit in terms of design, size, and of course, cost. It doesn’t have to break the bank though. A well-made cat tree will be a sound investment for the lifetime of your cat.
A cat tree isn’t just an extravagant purchase for a cat parent, it’s actually a beneficial addition to the indoor environment. Humans live in a horizontal world but cats live in a vertical one and they depend on elevated areas for safety, comfort, exercise, and fun. If you’ve ever had to retrieve your cat from the top of the refrigerator or bookcase you know how much they enjoy being on the tallest perch in the room.
Cat Trees Provide Exercise
Cats love to climb, jump, and play. A cat tree provides your cat with the opportunity for exercise in a fun way. Just make sure the tree you select is sturdy.
Cat Trees Can Help Keep the Peace
In a multicat environment, vertical territory can help maintain peace because the higher-ranking cat can claim the top perch as a show of status. In some cases where two cats might’ve normally engaged in a physical confrontation, the availability of a high perch can enable the higher-ranking cat to display his position by climbing up there instead of actually having to fight physically. It can often be a way of maintaining harmony when you have more than one cat.
Safety for Timid Cats
For a frightened or timid cat, a cat tree can provide a safe haven for to stay relatively out in the open while maintaining a sense of security. When the cat is on a high perch he can more easily see his environment and have more visual warning time of any advancing opponent. The tree can also provide comfort to a timid cat who may opt to stay in the room more often, rather than flee under a bed or behind the furniture. The tree becomes a place that’s exclusively owned by the cat because it doesn’t contain unfamiliar scents that a sofa or chair would have.
You can even find cat trees that have some degree of cover on them in the form of artificial leaves (you can cover the tree with artificial branches yourself as well). For cats who want to remain on an elevated area but also need to feel invisible, this can be a way to provide camouflage. You can also choose a tree that has a cave-style perch as well if you’d prefer not to use branches.
Sharing Made Easy With Cat Trees
A multi-perched tree allows more than one cat to share a close space while maintaining the pecking order. Two cats or three cats in the home who wouldn’t normally share a window ledge in peace, may each comfortably claim a perch in order to enjoy watching the birds outdoors. Each cat maintains their status and feels safe while being in close proximity to each other.
A cat tree can serve more than one function for your cat as well. In addition to being a great place to perch, the support posts can sometimes serve double-duty as scratching posts. You can find cat trees that have sisal covering the posts (cats love sisal) or even bare wood. If you currently have a tree that has carpeted support posts you can wrap them with rope to create more scratching options for your cat. Just make sure the rope is untreated.
Photo: Pam Johnson-Bennett
Shopping for a Cat Tree
When shopping for a cat tree, keep your cat’s size and personality in mind. If you have a large cat, don’t choose a tree with small, flat perches or he’ll be hanging over the perch – and that can leave him feeling very vulnerable to attack. Choose a tree with perches that are an appropriate size. Perches that are in a “U” shape are great because the cat can rest his back against the side. Cats often feel more secure when they have their backs against something because they feel less vulnerable from a blind ambush.
There are many cat trees on the market. You can find them in your local pet product store as well as online. Prices vary, depending upon whether you want a basic tree or an elaborate one. What matters most to your cat though will be the sturdiness, height and comfort of the tree. If the tree wobbles when he leaps to a perch from the floor, The cat will avoid the tree and you will have wasted your money. And, after the age of three months, those little kitten condos are a waste of money. They aren’t tall enough and the cat quickly outgrows the ability to squeeze into the little enclosure. Condos with enclosures also limit the cat’s escape potential as well. In a multicat household, the ability to have advance visual warning of an approaching potential opponent becomes important, as does the ability to escape in the other direction.
Cat trees come in many different configurations. Some cats like to be visible while on the tree and you may have a cat who prefers to remain hidden. If that’s the case, look for a tree that has both open perches and at least one cave-style perch or tunnel.
Where to Place the Cat Tree
Placement of the cat tree can make a difference in whether it gets used. Typically, a great option is to put the tree by a window so your cat can watch the outdoor goings-on. If you want your cat to spend time in the room where the family spends time, place the post there. You don’t want him spending all his time in the upstairs bedroom in his tree when the family spends most of the time in the bonus room every night.
The Cat’s Personal Space
A cat tree can provide safety for a cat who shares his home with a dog or small children. Whenever the cat feels threatened or just doesn’t want to interact, he can escape to a top perch, just out of reach. It’s also important to train the dog that the cat tree is off-limits. Teach your children as well that when the cat is in the tree it means he wants to be left alone.
If you have a timid cat, are dealing with multicat issues or if you simply want to provide more environmental enrichment, think about adding a cat tree to the environment. Even though it may initially appear to be a big expense, a good quality tree will last a very long time.
Need More Information?
For more information on cat behavior and training, check out the best-selling books by Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included Amazon links here on our website.
