Cat tree - yes or no?

[tragichero]

Hi all,

I posted a couple of days ago for advice on my new adoption, who doesn't seem to like toys, and got some great recommendations (thanks all - this seems a lovely board - great advice without judgement!)

So, pay-day is coming up, and having seen my neighbour's many cat trees for her colony, I was wondering about getting one for my new kitty-cat. There are some fun looking, affordable ones on line and also a few nearly new ones going on Facebook marketplace which would be even better.

The thing is, is it worth it? Do yours actually use them? I am pretty sure that when I had cat trees before, they rarely got used.... While I am not on the breadline and can definitely afford to care for a cat if I am sensible, I don't really want to waste £30 or more on a strange living room ornament she will almost certainly ignore.... But it would be money well spent if it brings her pleasure!

If it's relevant, she is a young and very small cat, not very playful, does spend a lot of time chilling (and loves the hideaway I made her with blankets on the base layer of the coffee table....).

She's been on it a few times, though to be honest only when I have coated it in Dreamies at all levels! But at least she isn't scared of it - I have hopes she will use it more moving forwards.

And she has used the scratching post quite a few times which is good.

She has actually become obsessed with a cat bed my brother gave us - it's one of those cat cave ones - which she ignored for about 10 days, and now barely gets out of, so she is definitely a cat who needs to get used to the presence of things before she investigates (understandable).

Thanks again for everyone's advice - it was really helpful. This board is a great part of the site - I think I will be coming here often!

Come & join us on the Excellent Cats threads!

@tragichero
I wouldn’t get a cat tree with a pom-pom on elastic. Because when our 2 were kittens, one got the pompom elastic wrapped round and round her tail and was swinging mid air by her tail. If I hadn’t been in the same room and rescued her, the tail could have been permanently damaged. I was scratched to pieces because she was panicking.
i contacted Pets at Home customer services and they could not have been less interested.