Living in High Places

 

By nature, cats are hunters. Unfortunately, they are also hunted by larger animals like dogs, coyotes, and the other big cat species. Trees and other high spaces offer them safety. Most domestic cats prefer high places to sleep or hang out. 

A cat tree (sometimes called cat tree house, kitty condo, cat stand or cat tower) is an artificial structure for a cat to relax and sleep on. Cat trees usually have rope-covered scratching posts for the cats. 

Role 

Cat trees have an important role in a cat’s life. They are a source of many functions which helps a cat’s will-being. For one, the climbing poles double up as a scratching post. This helps cats take care of their claws and exercise the surrounding limb muscles. 

Scratching also leaves the cat’s scent on the pole which is very important for a cat. The climbing tree also enables the cat to feel secure in a high place away from people or dogs and serves as its lookout in his territory. (Climbing is a natural action for outdoor cats.) 

As a piece of furniture in the house, this belongs solely for the cats. Look for the right place to find a space for it. Cats will surely love it and will even usually sleep on them away from the distractions from people and other animals on the floor. 

Cats 

Trees and walls often offer a good place for cats in scanning its surrounding neighborhoods for enemies and sometimes prey. Most cats, however, love more in pouncing on their prey (birds, mice, other small animals) on the ground. 

Cats are good climbers because their claws (which are extendable) allow them to grip a tree trunk when their powerful rear legs propel them upwards. They naturally know how to hold their bodies in order not to fall backwards. Leopards (another species of cats) can climb down a tree head first. Cats climb down backwards. 

Climbing is part of cat’s nature. The biggest cats (lions and tigers) rarely climb trees as adults. This is probably due to their heavy weights. Margay (a small wildcat from South America) spends almost all its time atop on trees. 

Need 

For households where a cat lives, there is a need to have a cat tree. Cat trees serve multiple important purposes. Like a litter box, a cat tree meets the cat’s physical and behavioral needs. 

Experts tell us that cats are excellent at navigating vertical spaces, and a tree can provide the cat with an appropriate place to climb. A well-placed cat tree can provide a good spot for the cat to keep an eye on their surroundings. 

They also feel secure when they have a spot, preferably high, to survey their territory. 

Availability 

There is a wide variety of sizes and styles for cat trees. You can get a single post topped with one platform to multiple-level models with many different shapes and sizes of platforms and posts. 

You can have a two-level sized model that fit for your apartment or a model with multi-level platforms which should be big enough if you have a good-sized living room.