Many people are concerned that their cat may ruin their furniture by using it as a scratching post, but this can be avoided by simply providing your cat with a better alternative! In fact, most furniture is not of the texture that cats prefer for scratching. In nature, wild cats prefer the rough bark of trees for scratching. If you can give your cat a rough, sturdy post or cat tree to scratch, then your soft upholstered furniture just won't measure up, and you shouldn't need to worry.

Accessories like dangling mice, spring balls and hanging ropes provide hours of entertainment. Some tress with multiple levels, ladders and ramps are aptly labeled "kitty gyms." These are great for homes with multiple cats that love chasing each other and playing hide and seek.

Now, once you get your cat tree your cat or kitten might not shy away from it at first. In this case you need to coax them onto it by pretending to scratch it yourself or capturing their attention by pulling a string slowly up it for them to pounce on. If they catch on quickly give them lots of praise and maybe even a treat. Most importantly you need a lot of patience. Eventually you will break them of their old habits of scratching your furniture and drapes. In fact you will probably have a hard time getting them to come down off of their tree.

How many times have you "lost" your cat inside your own home? They love to hide in tight, cozy, out-of-sight places. Often you find her in the same spot. A cat tree house will give her a place of her own. Many cat trees come with at least one "cabin", or enclosed sleeping area. Some come with hammocks or perches with edges for snoozing in the open. All are carpeted or covered in faux fur or faux fleece so they are cozy for your furry little friend. Some come with removable, washable plush beds or you can add one of your own.

Scratching

All cat tree houses come with scratching posts that double as the columns that hold the various platforms. Some have curvy slide-like scratching surfaces or scratching ramps. Most scratching surfaces are covered in sisal, however, some are covered in carpet. Whatever the size or shape of the scratching surfaces, cats love them and you'll love that your furniture is not the recipient of said scratching.

Whereas the cat furniture of our grandmother's day may have been more "retro" than we care to embrace, today's models are designed to complement the d©cor of your living room or bedroom than ever before.

A cat tree should be a staple fixture in any cat owner's home because if you do not have one, then you are going to have problems if your cat has no way of playing to release some of its energy. Normally, one will feature a basic tree type design, with different limbs and levels. The thing is, there has been some modifications made to this design and now there are actually a lot of different options available, which is great for you because you can easily find one that will fit into your home. For e