Best cat trees

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2004
Best cat trees
10
Thu, 02-03-2005 - 5:47pm
Does anyone else have a cat tree that tends to shake when the cat jumps on it? Is that going to be a deterrent for the cat, in that they don't use it because it seems unstable to them? I recently installed a cute one that goes to the ceiling but it does shake when they jump on the ledges. Their other furniture -- condos that were more expensive -- are far more solid and don't do that...
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: eeave
Thu, 02-03-2005 - 6:07pm

Hi Eeave. *Welcome* to Cats.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
In reply to: eeave
Fri, 02-04-2005 - 9:21am
I'm like you, have several cat trees that are very sturdy and then I bought a cheap one from walmarts that has 3 small ledges and goes to the ceiling, I really wouldn't recommend it, I do have one or two cats that go crazy on it, hanging on it like gymnasts. Right now it is leaning like the paris? tower. One cat still runs on it, I think she likes the shaking. This tree is good if you have a different type also that has more room to stretch out and is stable. Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2004
In reply to: eeave
Fri, 02-04-2005 - 12:07pm
Thank you all for the helpful input!! One of my cats climbed it - but only once. I put it up a week ago, after spending two days reupholstering it. It came from an auction site, and the photo made it look better than what arrived. The ledges are made of hard wood but are wrapped in a cheap cloth that could get get shredded and not cushion enough. So I put on a rugged blue carpeting that matched other cat condos. They're both four year olds, about 10 pounds each. The tree goes to the ceiling with five ledges that aren't positioned like stepping stones, more like on top of one another, so I guess the designer thought the cats would claw up the sisal posts (not made with 2 by 4s but some other material that's not as sturdy). Ty pulled herself over each ledge to the top. But that was it. (I got it on video, fortunately -- it's a riot the way she does it.) I got the tree in the first place because it goes to the ceiling, unlike their condos, and would give them exercise, but am worried they won't use the thing. Hopefully they'll take to it ... you all make me feel like i don't have the worst judgement in the world!! Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
In reply to: eeave
Fri, 02-04-2005 - 1:17pm
I bought a wonderful cat tree from petsplus. $138. regular $198. It is taller than me, have four curved ledges they can sleep on, spirals around and up like a staircase, they can get up so much easier, tunnel with window near the floor. One sisal rope post and the others are cedar. They LOVE to climb up the cedar posts and also scratch the posts. Its the best cat tree! Also bought a small cat house. House is on top of platform. Not as tall as me. Carpeted. The cats like it, they look out the window and watch the birds. Sit in or on top of the house. Never order from pet fiesta, I thinks the name, I did, it was worthless and over $100. They use fake fur which shows cat hair-badly and their is no cushion. It fell apart, really, within 6 mos. I hope I haven't posted this to you already, I have posted this info before, I just love the petsplus tree so much, want everyone to know how great it is! Did I mention look on petco.com, fostersmith.com and petsmart.com? Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2004
In reply to: eeave
Fri, 02-04-2005 - 4:49pm
Thanks, Donna. No, this is a first post. I agree that some of the trees are iffy but even if i make a mistake, i'd like to know they can get some use out of it. I'll check pestplus, that sounds really thrilling for my girls!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
In reply to: eeave
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 9:23am
If it goes to the ceiling and does not quite make it maybe you can put a little board or something to make it more tight?


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-17-2005
In reply to: eeave
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 10:57am

I GOT MY POST FROM A PLACE CALL INTERWOOD CORP. I ORDER THEM AND THEY ARE GREAT WITH 13 CATS AND WEIGHTING 16LB. TO 1O IT HAS HELD UP REALLY WELL . I HAVE THEM ABOUT 10 YEARS. THEY ARE VERY BALANCED AND HEAVEY. IF YOU WANT MORE INF. LET ME KNOW THEY ARE NOT CHEAP. JOANN

     

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2004
In reply to: eeave
Sun, 02-06-2005 - 11:48am

Thanks, maifoxy. I think I'm stuck at the moment because i don't want to trash the cheap one quite yet. I'm going to wait and see if they take to it. The tree does have an extender that goes to the ceiling, to hold it in place. My solid cat condos use two 2 by fours that were wrapped in sisal or carpeting. This cat tree had hollow but fairly-sturdy tubes that fit into four ledges and a little house. The 2 by 4's would have made it stronger.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2004
In reply to: eeave
Tue, 02-08-2005 - 3:46pm

I also bought one of the cheaper ones (a tall, hollow, cardboard tube with three platforms. The extender goes up to the ceiling to adjust the height) and it was pretty shaky. Instead of buying a new one (the ones at Petsmart I like are $300!), we ran a length of 2" x 2" wood down the center tube for stability. We then put some screws right beneath the platforms, from the outside of the tube, to tighten those up against the sections of center tube. It's better - good enough until it falls apart, anyhow. We also covered the bottom portion of the tube with sisal rope so they wouldn't complete destroy the cheap carpeting when scratching on it.

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2004
In reply to: eeave
Tue, 02-08-2005 - 4:00pm
Amy - tx for the information on supports. Yes, this had to be completely recarpeted. I got the carpet at Home Depot and cut it up, then screwed the carpeting into each platform, by putting in a bottom piece, then a larger piece that wrapped around the edges of the platform. The screws went into the larger piece's flaps under the platform and out of the way of the cats (also not visible to them, they're so tightly screwed in). It looks terrific, but you're right, the thing is shaky and what it came originally as, with that thin cloth, would have been torn up in no time. Tyler has gone up it once, and the other two times, because I put her on the top shelf once and in the little hut another time. I could tell she had great fun!!! It took her awhile to figure out how to come down, but that would be stimulating to a cat. At least she was stimulated. Both my girls need a bolder, savvier cat to show them how to do something. Jasmine is usually the pioneer who blasts up the sides of things, like a twin bed I have leaning against a wall, the reason i got the tree in the first place, thinking she'd like to climb, and it'd give her some exercise, and up a more appropriate object. But for some reason she avoids this tree. It goes to the ceiling and has a nice extender that tightens against the ceiling. Will think about the 2 by 2's -- quite clever!!! Thank you all for input, it's immensely helpful....