Getting rid of cat podium

[RedRobyn2021]

I'm considering getting rid of our cat podium, our family has grown and the space in our house hasn't so we're constantly doing clear outs to stay on top of it and the cat podium takes up so much room.

My cats do use it though.

Just wanted suggestion on alternatives? It would make all the difference if we could find something more space saving.

We can't even get a Christmas tree this year because we don't have the room

Do you mean a cat tree, if the cats use it for scratching and sleeping seems a bit unfair to get rid. You do however get cat shelves and wall mounted scratchers.

Can you get a wall mounted version? You can get entire systems that have sleeping bits / steps / scratchers on. Seems sad to get rid of it if they use it!

@Ludo19 @monsteronahill

I know it is sad, we have taken good care of it too, I've had it for 8 years. We replace all the scratching posts regularly and keeping it clean etc It's only that we have so little room.

Can you replace it with a couple of smaller ones?

Normal size scratching posts take up less room and if you get a couple of those to put around the house plus a single/smaller tree it might be better.

I have one of these
CA&T Ultimate Scratching Post amzn.eu/d/6m433U9

If I got rid of my girl’s tree she would definitely end my life while I was sleeping! She still has her first one that I got her when she was a tiny 16 week baby. She’s now 5 and her fat arse hangs off it, squishes herself into a tight roll to fit.

I bought a new one once and started dismantling the old one. She was fast asleep but woke up immediately. As I was unscrewing to top platform she jumped on it and swiped. I had to duck and dive her swipes while screwing it back on!

This is a dilemma I've had too with small space living (it's such a bulky item!), but ultimately decided I couldn't get rid without providing an alternative. I had a cat behaviourist in when my cat was young and he explained that cats view space vertically rather than horizontally like we do and it was essential to make sure they had accessible high places to go.

I tried a floor to ceiling cat tree without great success as much smaller footprint and felt like it could be a good solution as could tuck neatly in corner - the one I bought just didn't feel stable for my cat's quite energetic play though. But reviews seemed good so perhaps worth investigating as you might have more luck.

Currently considering some cat shelves from The Range (which seem more reasonably priced than others I've seen) - but I'm a bit resistant due to interior design concerns (why is all cat stuff so ugly). Plus, spending money on a wall-mounted system and get someone around to mount it feels like a way to guarantee that the little dick will reject it whole heartedly!

Will be watching this thread in case anyone has a great solution that isn't £££ and also doesn't involve your home looking like some kind of cat sanctuary!

It’s risky. We bought the Bengal a different scratch post once and he sprayed the side of our bed in protest.

I had to take it back to pets at home to swap it.

Dh dismantled ours and attached it in the utility room up and around the back door ending at a cosy igloo on top of the tumble drier... A big hit here!

If you take away the podium, where will they make their speeches?

Speeches? Surely they dance on it in a bikini??

😆

Nah,bottom of the stairs gives the best accoutists, it echoes all around the house 🥶🥺

Christ, tell me about it. We live in a 3 storey house and ours has discovered an acoustic sweet spot at the middle of the landing that echoes through the whole house and can even be heard outside through closed windows on a good day.

Ah I've been thinking about this recently, we got rid of ours last year but I felt guilty about it almost immediately. I'm considering getting another to go next to my office desk...its by the radiator and window so perfect for my nosey girls who like to survey the neighbourhood! Anybody care to share a pic of their cat towers for inspiration?

Our son has a floor to ceiling one in his bedroom as his Siamese were using his Tv ( attached to the wall ) to gain access to the tops of the wardrobes . He fitted the floor to ceiling cat pole and put a shelf above the tv so they can walk from one wardrobe to the other . They don’t sit on the pole but it’s definitely sturdy enough to go up and down and one of his cats is over 4 kg .

We just have a small scratching post near the back door. When they scratch it I know they want to go out! If they want to get up high they sit on the back of the sofa or sometimes the top of the fridge or kitchen cupboards!
I think they'd soon adapt to not having a cat tree and find alternative spots to sleep.