Cat Condos

About Cat Condos

Imagine a place where your cat can climb, play, nap, scratch, and stalk to its heart content. A place from which your cat can survey its furry kingdom without being shooed off. Cat condos are just such places, and frankly, every cat ought to have some furniture of its own.

Anyone who's ever owned a cat has experienced at least a bit of their territorial behavior, and when that territory happens to include your furniture, there are more than just frayed nerves to consider. Cats have an insatiable need to mark the places they claim for their own by dragging their nails down every inch, depositing their own unique signature from the scent glands in their pads.

Left to their own devices, cats will choose their own territories without any consideration for what humans consider to be the proper "boundaries". This means your couches, chairs, bedding, and even the draperies may become fair game if your cat takes a liking to them.

If you already find yourself in this situation, and you're wondering what you can do to reclaim your household, try offering your ruler of the feline universe a cat condo.

Features to Look For

Here are some of the main features that make cat condos so enticing to felines.

Sturdiness

A kitty condo is only as good as its base. Look for units with wide, stable bases that will prevent them from tipping over during strenuous play.

Height

Cats love to climb, so cat condos usually have several levels to offer kitty the chance to rise above it all. This construction will likely include ramps, risers, ladders and stairs.

Textures

No doubt about it, cats are extremely attracted to rough textures, and the best condos are covered in carpeting from top to bottom. Some even have areas wrapped in sisal to encourage kitty to do her scratching business there instead of on your favorite chair.

Hide-Aways

Cats can be quite secretive by nature, and nothing pleases them more than having their own little hide-away. Nearly all cat condos have one or more enclosed areas that offer your cat a place to take a secluded nap, or to simply hide in while they plot their next move.

Styles

Cat condos come in a variety of styles. Let's look at a few of the most poplar.

Playgrounds

Condo playgrounds not only give your cat plenty of interesting surfaces to climb, they also include other features to keep your pet busy, such as hammocks, and dangling toys.

Trees

Cat trees are favorites with more athletic cats who appreciate a bit of climbing mixed with a few gymnastics in order to reach the top perch.

Towers

Cat towers tend to be more straightforward models, without too many added features. The simple construction of these types of condos are especially well suited for older, less active pets. They encourage them to get a little exercise, but they don't have to work too hard to reach a nice place to curl up.

Conclusion

Cat condos come in so many styles and configurations that the selection is nearly endless. When purchasing one, look to your own cat's unique personality for clues about which condo might be his/her perfect match.

External Links

• CozyCatFurniture.com, one of the widest selections of styles available.
• Angelical Cat Company, more terrific cat furniture.