Christmas-Themed Cat Trees
Give your kitty her own Christmas tree this season. Maybe she'll leave yours alone, then! (If not, you can try a cat-proof tree solution or alternative). Rotating your cat's furniture (as well as toys) is a great way to keep kitty interested and engaged and burning her energy with appropriate play. So use these Christmas-themed cat trees as part cat enrichment, part holiday decor for your home.
Christmas Tree Sisal Cat Scratching Post with Dangling Ornament Toys
Found on Amazon
This is a holiday novelty cat tree but it has some great features that you'd expect to find on any piece of cat furniture. The bottom part of the main post is wrapped in sisal, while the tree-shaped top has a plush carpet surface. The different materials add scratching interest. Attached and dangling toys also add interest. The wide base makes this a sturdy piece of cat furniture.
Fun Christmas-Themed Cat Tree Play Furniture
Found on Amazon
This is a cute multi-level Christmas tree shaped cat tree with soft faux fur levels. The base has a sisal rope surface to encourage proper scratching. Toys hang, dangle, or can be hidden in several spots on the tree. This piece is easy to assemble and users report that it can be disassembled for storage once Christmas is over.
Garden Cat Grass Planter Pack of 3
Indoor kitties can enjoy a taste of the outdoors when you offer them cat grass. Our previous cats were real cat grass connoisseurs and we'd often have a small planter available for them upon which to munch. Sometimes they'd get out of balance and the grass would make them vomit, so we'd have to keep an eye on them. Some cats love grass and use it to keep their digestive systems in balance. If you think you'd like to offer your indoor cats a taste of cat grass, this affordable pack of three window planters is a great way to try it out.
With this purchase you'll get three bags for window planters, along with wheatgrass seed, also known as cat grass. Follow the easy instructions to get started and within a week or so you'll be read to serve up some grass to your kitty.
Update: Popular Jumbo Cat-Scratching Post
Almost four years ago we featured this sturdy sisal scratching post that our cats loved. This year we realized this extremely popular scratching post was showing serious signs of wear and it might be a good idea to replace it.
Sisal rope scratching posts are often preferred by cats because of the material's feel. Owners like it because it's a sturdy and long-lasting substance. But sisal can only hold on for so long. It's a natural rope material made of an agave plant and with extensive use, wear is expected.
All three of our boys use this scratching post multiple times each day. The post is tall so they can really stretch out when they scratch their front paws on this post.
With the extensive wear, we decided to purchase a replacement post. Besides the obvious wear to the sisal, you can see how the post became discolored after years of use and abuse from little kitty paws.
Our cats took to the new post immediately, recognizing it is a special piece of furniture just for them.
On the old scratching post, you can see that the most wear is towards the top. My next project is to see if I can flip the base and the top on the old post and place it somewhere else in our house for twice the scratching fun for our boys.
Gumby models the new post, shown next to the old post
Compressed Catnip & Silvervine Kitty Station
This is an interesting product that has three different types of plant materials that are known attractants for cats. Clumps of catnip, silvervine, and gall nut have been compressed into ball shapes. The three balls fit into a mount that can be attached to the wall or just set on the ground for kitty to investigate. The idea is for your kitty to rub, lick, and/or scratch the materials for benefits to mental and physical health.
Read the reviews of this popular cat treat product to get an idea if it might be worth a try for you and your kitties. We have offered our cats silvervine sticks and they don't seem to show any interest. We have also offered compressed catnip balls and our cats are far less interested in those than in catnip flakes or fresh nip. But after looking at the cute photos with the reviews for this Peteast Catnip Toy, I think we'd give it a try.
Alternative Use: Kitchen Cart as Kitty Station
Kitchen carts designed to hold microwaves or other appliances are usually sturdy pieces of furniture. Consider using a multiple shelf unit like this one, highly rated for its intended use, as a piece of furniture for your cat! There are several different space-saving ways you can use this free-standing baker's rack cart for your cat.
Use idea: Litter box station with storage
Keep your appropriately-sized litter box on the bottom shelf of this unit and use the other shelves for storage of litter box supplies like bags, extra litter, scoop, liner, and more. The shelf above the box will act like a hood to prevent extra scattering of litter as kitty exits the box. You can DIY a curtain or other barrier around three sides of the box, easy to hang from the shelf above, to prevent even more litter from scattering.
Use idea: Cat feeding station with storage
Feed kitty on one of the shelves of this unit. Let your cat free-feed by placing her food on an upper shelf, away from other pets. Store dry food and cans, extra dishes, and other cat supplies on the other shelves.
Use idea: Multiple level cat tree
Simply add cushions, blankets, or pillows to the different shelves to turn this rack into a multiple-level snooze zone for your cat! Hang toys from the top shelf for fun. Add scratch zones by attaching sisal rope or cardboard to the legs of the cart.
Folding Cat Tree Scratch Tower & Bed
This is a fun activity furniture for cats that includes scratching surfaces, hiding and napping spots, and toys on strings. The little piece of cat furniture folds up flat so it can be used in small spaces temporarily, or be used when kitty has to travel.
This mini cat tower unfolds in an X shape, with a plush hammock bed on top and an enclosed hiding spot at the bottom. A large surface of sisal is ideal for scratching and a pair of ball toys to bat are other fun activities for kitty.
This little cat tree folds up to be easily stored. You rotate availability of toys to keep kitty interested -- this easy-to-store cat furniture can also easily be rotated for occasional use! The folding furniture is also ideal for travel or when kitty has to visit her cat-sitter.
Happy National Black Cat Apprecation Day!
Black Cat Appreciation Day is meant to bring awareness to the fact that black cats have the lowest adoption rate among shelter cats. Many shelters offer special rates on black cat adoptions, especially on this date. Black Cat Appreciation Day is on August 17th every year.
Happy International Cat Day!
The International Fund for Animal Welfare established the first International Cat Day on August 8, 2002. The honorary holiday takes place each year on this date. The holiday is meant to bring awareness to cat care and welfare. We believe that keeping cats indoors is a great way for cats and native wildlife to stay safe. To learn more about this issue, look at the American Bird Conservancy's Cats Indoors site.
Happy International Cat Day to all!
Value Variety Pack of Cat Toys
Don't let kitty get bored! A bored kitty can might start scratching where she shouldn't or acting out in other ways. Pick up an affordable multi-pack of cat toys like this one to help alleviate kitty's boredom.
This cat toy variety pack includes 20 different toys. There is something for every cat's taste. You'll get feather toys, plush catnip pillows, hollow balls with bells, mice made of different materials, bouncing balls, caged furry toys, and more.
Activity Board Toy for Cats
This is a fun enrichment activity toy for cats that offers a variety of different games to engage kitty's natural behaviors and have fun too. Hide objects or treats in the different configurations to get kitty excited for intelligent play!
Small clear bowls can trap treats and toys that kitty has to fish out with her paws. Pegs, lines, and small openings can hold little treats, soft food, or small toys for sniffing out and devouring or capturing. A long tunnel at the end of the activity board is great for stimulating kitty to reach for desired objects like treats and favorite toys.
Kitty will have fun playing with this activity board and since you'll have to replenish the treats or strategically place the toys, it's fun for you, too!