Cat trees experience please (and kitten photos)

[ScoopyDoo]

I have recently acquired two kittens. They are about 4 months old now and had them since December.
They both love to climb, although the girl kitten is much better at it and her brother often has to look up at her jealously from the floor.

I was wondering if a cat tree would be a good investment as they both love being up high. I don't really have high shelves/furniture that is suitable. I'm not planning on spending lots, and would like something narrow-ish as I don't have a huge house.

Or, it may be that once they have outside access (not neutered yet, happening soon though) there will be plenty climbing opportunities then and it'll be a waste of money.

Anyone have one who could advise please?

[QforCucumber]

Our cats are 7 and 4 years old and we have 2 cat trees, one at the top of the stairs outside of the airing cupboard and the other in a corner in the dining room, both are well used even though the cats go outside too.
They like to sit high up and watch things going on, got both from ebay stores - just under 2 meters high each and were under £35 each too.

[Kirjava]

I got one recently for my nearly 4 year old cat. He seems to love it - gives him a good vantage point and includes a scratching post. the one I got was a lot bigger than I thought it would be! But I've got used to it. Have a look on zooplus. My cat goes outside, and has lots of other places to sleep and play but still gets lots of use out of it.

[TranquilityofSolitude]

I think it very much depends on the cat (gorgeous kittens by the way!). I bought a tree with a box at the bottom and two platforms higher up, connected by scratching posts. I can say with absolute confidence that he has never climbed it or used the scratching posts. In fact, the only time he's ever been near it was when I put a handful of Dreamies in the box and turned the hoover on.

That said, he's not much of a climber and is generally somewhat inactive. I bought it to stop him scratching the furniture but it hasn't worked.

[ScoopyDoo]

Thank you. Good to hear that they are still used in these circumstances. I have seen a couple on Zooplus that look about right, but I'll search ebay too.

[ScoopyDoo]

Ah thanks Tranquility.

My two are definitely climbers!

[Kirjava]

My contrary cat took quite a while before he bothered with the top level of ours, but now he loves it (probably because he realises he's hidden from humans bothering him!)

[Diamogs]

Mine had a cat tree in their pen in the sanctuary that they were often on when I went to first meet them, so I bought one for home.

It has never been used. The doors, windows, cupboards, trees etc get climbed, the carpet is used for scratching (trying unsuccessfully to re-train that), and beds and sofas are used for sleeping on.

[ScoopyDoo]

Right, so cheap/ebay/freecycle is the way to go just to test the waters then (as longs as it's steady and safe, obvs).

[QforCucumber]

This s the one we got from ebay - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321919658571

they don't use the house but like to sit on the top platforms.

[ScoopyDoo]

Thanks Q.
Good price! Is the quality ok?

[Feeches]

Cat trees are an excellent investment. Cats love them. They have a natural instinct to be up high and having one with scratching posts save your furniture.

Online is definitely the way to go. We got a very good one from Amazon.

[iloveeverykindofcat]

Oh yes, my two love their trees. They both climb and scratch on them and Bibi uses it as a launchpad to the top of the wardrobe. I got a 2m one from Amazon for £35. Bit of a pain to assemble but I got there in the end.

[QforCucumber]

Yea quality is spot on, it's moved backwArds and forwards all the time to get into the airing cupboard and so far they haven't managed to wrestle any of the dangly mice off it either

[Icequeen01]

We bought a cat tree from Pets at Home about a year ago and our cats love it. They have clawed the poles so much now that it really needs re-roping. (not sure if that's a word!). They particularly like sleeping on the top level and especially like it when we are eating (we have ours in our dining room) and they have a birds eye view of what we are eating. Here is a photo of my two on their tree. You can't really see how night it is but I would say about 4ft.

[ScoopyDoo]

Fantastic cats, Icequeen.
Ok, I'm off to search out a cat tree bargain. Thanks everyone

[HortonWho]

When I win the lottery, I want one of these for my cats.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I think they are great, but after a recent patients experience they need to be sited well away from radiators. Kitten jumped from cat tree, but on the way down caught back leg on radiator (glancing blow) and so far the surgical repair has come to just under £5,000. They need to be in a location so that as the cat jumps down there is nothing they could bang on on the way down.

[TranquilityofSolitude]

If anyone is anywhere near York they're welcome to ours!

[iloveeverykindofcat]

My dream house. For serious.

[patienceisvirtuous]

My two have always loved their cat trees. Got mine from zooplus - quite often have sales on and good customer service. Make sure you get one high enough so they're not disappointed 😄

[patienceisvirtuous]

Here they are 😊

[Wolfiefan]

We have this one. It's confidence cat tree from Amazon. £25. Bargain. They mainly sleep in the hammock bit!

[patienceisvirtuous]

This one is canny I think

m.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/scratching_posts/large/large_cat_trees_height_180_cm/539113

[patienceisvirtuous]

This is mine in the pics, it's half price at mo. I did get it from Petplanet - also a good site. It's a big one but the mogs love it:

m.petplanet.co.uk/p17705/purrshire_giant_tower_cat_activity_centre.aspx

[ScoopyDoo]

That house is amazing, but I don't think I can recreate it .
Lots of good ideas on here. Will chat with DP over the weekend and update you all when we have one in situ. Many thanks again for all the good advice and cat tree photos.