When a cat lives outdoors, the world is his gym. But an inside cat needs to have furniture, just as people do. Today we’re talking about the cat gym . (This link shows a nice example.)
Cats need specialized furniture for different needs. They need their bed for sleeping, their post for scratching, their “cave” for security, their litter box for … well, you get the picture. One very important piece of equipment for your cat is a “cat gym”. This is pretty much the same as what’s often called a “cat tree”. In fact, frequently the whole shebang — bed, scratching posts, cave, climbing and exercise area — are all incorporated into one piece of furniture. However, it is useful to consider each function separately.
Your kitty needs his Cat Gym
The cat gym is the portion of your cat’s furniture where he gets his exercise. It should encourage him to climb, jump, chase, swat, scratch and whatever cats like to do. Exercise is necessary for cats (as it is for people) to keep them from getting too fat, to keep them interested, and –basically — to keep them feeling young and happy. Cats can get depressed (again, just as people can) and exercise is the number one way to overcome that.
One more reason to make sure your cat has his very own cat gym to play on is the maintenance of your own sanity — not to mention your own furniture. Cats are going to play. It’s their nature. (Why would you even want one if they didn’t? You could just get a stuffed toy and set it on a pillow!) So if you don’t provide him a place to release that playful energy, it’s your own fault when he climbs your curtain or sharpens his claws on your couch! (Now, I’m not saying that he won’t do those things if you buy him a fancy cat tree … I’m just saying, how can you scold him when you’ve given him no alternative?)
Pick a Cat Gym to please both the cat and yourself
With all this in mind, what should you look for when you pick out this piece of furniture for your cat? Obviously, you have to start from considerations of your budget and space available. On these two points, there’s a great range of options available. You can choose from small do-it-yourself set-ups on up to huge, expensive, classy pieces that look like something from the museum of modern art. (Here’s a cute example of a very simple diy cat gym.)
You do, in fact, need to honor your own sense of aesthetics in this choice. Your cat has certain preferences and requirements (which I’m coming to …), but appearance isn’t high on his list. But for you and your family, this is an object that you’ll be seeing every day. It’ll probably sit right in your living room and will be the focal point that draws all eyes as that cute kitty puts on his performance. So get something you can stand to look at.
Okay, now let’s consider the cat’s point of view. There should be enough bells and whistles on the cat gym to keep it interesting for him. He loves to climb! So the higher you can make it, the better. Also, having different climbing branches is fun. That’s especially important if you have more than one cat. A nice touch would be a couple of holes to hide in for ambush games.
Several sections for cats to scratch on are a must. The scratching area should be high enough that your cat can reach up and have a good stretch. Again, if you have more that one cat, several scratching areas are needed. Often cats won’t share their scratching posts; it’s their own personal territorial marker.
Dangling toys are always good for a bit of excitement. It’s best if the toys are not permanently attached. That way you can move them around and exchange them for new ones from time to time. Otherwise, the toys will become boring and the cat will ignore them. Flimsy toys will be demolished in short order.
This outfit will probably have a few platforms or perches as climbing destinations. These need to be big enough and strong enough to safely hold one or more cats — depending on the number of cats in the household. I don’t really place these perches into the same category as the actual “cat perch”. (Although it can serve in that capacity too ..) When I speak of a “cat perch”, I’m referring to a place to lounge, nap, or watch the world go by. That’s another functional area which we’ll get to in a later post. Your cat gym platforms are considered more as playground equipment. As such, the important factors are not so much the soft padding as the sturdiness and placement.
Above all, be sure it’s sturdy!
The whole cat gym needs to be sturdy and solid. If it rocks, shakes, or totters, the cat will not trust it. And if it ever should actually fall … Heaven help us all! It would endanger life and limb of the family — human and feline alike. Windows, furniture, and anything else in the room would likely end up in pieces. And the cat would never go near the thing again.
This possibility is not as far-fetched as it sounds. It’s amazing how much stress a couple of hurtling, bouncing kitty cats can apply to a piece of furniture! And when they take those powerful claws to a poorly constructed scratching post, they can have it stripped in a week. My rule of thumb is, however strong you think it ought to be — make it a little stronger!
A side note on “those powerful claws”: If you’re thinking of declawing, please read this information on declawing cats. It’s a harmful practice. Please don’t do it. When you bring an animal into your habitat, you expect it to adapt to your conditions. But you have to be willing to adapt also and meet them halfway. If you’re not willing or able to do that, just don’t bring the pet into your home in the first place. Okay … sermon over.
All in all, a good cat gym is one of the most basic items of cat furniture your pet needs. Choosing the right one will give you and your cat hours of enjoyment. Your cat will be happier, healthier, and will love you even more!
