cat trees- yay or nay?

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artem

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Andrya said:
Mine has the half-pipe on top, some of them have them on both levels. All my kitties love the half-pipe for some reason. They barely touch the circles or the hammocks.
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Would like to second this suggestion as Hunter has, and loves, the exact one in the picture.  :)  I have a full cat tree as well but place this next to the window to give Hunter a good vantage point and he uses it all the time.  With his claws trimmed (actually took me a little while to pinpoint the source of the problem and I only realized what was going on the second time we trimmed them), however, he can have some trouble climbing it.  Now that he's about four months, he can generally jump but before then I turned over a basket to make it easier for him.  He'd still forget how to get down and get stuck sometimes, but it worked pretty well.
 
micknsnicks2mom

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i have 3 of the armarkat cat tree that @Kat0121 posted a link to, and 3 of a two platform with one cubby house armarkat cat tree. i love those two particular models the most because their bases are wide/long enough that they've very stable, and because with two cats (at the time i bought the cat trees) i want at least two platforms on the tall cat trees (so no fighting over platforms).

and i have a solid wood armarkat cat tree that my snick enjoys every day.

i also love the armarkat cat trees because i can buy replacement parts, including sisal wrapped posts, as needed -- though i've never needed to buy a replacement part in the 5 or 6 years that i've owned some of them.

i also have one shorter cat tree that has a "half pipe" set on two posts, one post of which is sisal wrapped and the other is wrapped in carpet.
 
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alyssam

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I am trying to convince my boyfriend to add kitty shelves to the walls in our bedroom. We don't have a cat tree due to lack of space. However, about a year ago I did clear out a shelf half way up our bookcase for her and she adores it. It's only an arm's reach from my side of the bed and she just hops over when she wants to eat (it's big enough for her food bowl), or just to hang out. 

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alyssam

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Oh, sure they can!
As long as don't want a curvy shaped one they can absolutely be made. All you need is some wood, screws and a little bit of elbow grease! Maybe a rug you can cut into appropriately sized pieces to put on the top of the kitty shelf for comfort. But yes, just a trip to the hardware store! I'm not sure how much store bought cat shelves cost since the PetSmart here doesn't have any (I've looked every time we go). 

Besides, it would give us something to do together and feel awesome about creating on our own. 
 
rachelinaz

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Have you made them? I would love to see how you hooked them to the wall. I know my kids (human) would love some in their rooms for the cats.
If I could put them on hinges in case we have to use the front door (we never do unless someone knocks or we have a huge Costco load) so we could fold them to the wall and open the door the entire way. But it is the perfect place.

I still wish i was smart enough to create my own cat tree(s).. they love the small one we have but they do not all fit and of course Costco doesn't have them now. My husband wanted to wait...


AlyssaM said:
Oh, sure they can!

As long as don't want a curvy shaped one they can absolutely be made. All you need is some wood, screws and a little bit of elbow grease! Maybe a rug you can cut into appropriately sized pieces to put on the top of the kitty shelf for comfort. But yes, just a trip to the hardware store! I'm not sure how much store bought cat shelves cost since the PetSmart here doesn't have any (I've looked every time we go). 


Besides, it would give us something to do together and feel awesome about creating on our own. :D
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oceanbreathes

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I have one Armarkat tree and I'd say it's the best made of all the trees we have.  We bought it on Amazon.  I see the same tree priced for $60-80, shipping included, on many sites.

I have two smaller Go Pet Club trees that were VERY CHEAP(under $50) on ebay(shipping included).  One of them() looks pretty torn up and my cats aren't even that big on scratching(aside from corrugated cardboard); it's just poorly made.  The other is in excellent shape.

I have one of these: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+10345+1887+2959&pcatid=2959  - purchased from someone off craiglist.  There's something about the big tunnel that makes the cats go crazy; they love it.  It's a very well made tree but their trees tend to be too pricey.

The tree I would most recommended(after any Armarkat tree) is this one: http://www.wayfair.com/Go-Pet-Club-60-Cat-Tree-and-Scratcher-Post-GPC1176.html  I have it in black and it's a nice looking tree.  It's very accessible for my declawed(found as a stray, already done, unfortunately) senior cat.  When he's excited, he'll quickly zig zag up to the highest perch.  I've seen the same tree sold for around $60(shipping included) on ebay.  I paid $75(I believe) with a coupon code on Wayfair.  

Shelves and shelving units are great too.  
 
purrrdy

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OceanBreathes said:
 
I have one Armarkat tree and I'd say it's the best made of all the trees we have.  We bought it on Amazon.  I see the same tree priced for $60-80, shipping included, on many sites.
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Do you happen to have a link the Armar you like the most off Amazon?

Great info, thank you.
 
oceanbreathes

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Purrrdy said:
 
Do you happen to have a link the Armar you like the most off Amazon?

Great info, thank you.
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That would have been helpful to include.  Here it is: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3261+10345+27836&pcatid=27836&r=1391 and here as well: 
I would check Ebay as well.  Also, I think they have a good reputation for making quality trees so most of the models should be good.  They have one slightly larger than that one with an extra step, too.  
 
oceanbreathes

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And this is the Go Pet Club one that is still in excellent condition: 
I got it for $30(shipping included) off Ebay and was surprised by how much they like it.  It's not appropriate for cats with disabilities/age-related mobility issues/etc, though.  It's very difficult for them to get to the top perch.
 
purrrdy

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micknsnicks2mom

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rachelinaz said:
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can you see the L-brackets under the shelves? the L-brackets have 3 screws attaching each bracket to the wall and three screws attaching them to the underside of the cat shelves.

the wall lounger has slightly different L-brackets that attach to the wall above the lounger, and also stabilizing hardware that attaches to just the drywall (but i used those plastic things you insert into the pilot hole in the drywall first, then the screws screw into those plastic things -- so the drywall doesn't get torn up or disintegrate over time).
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catinmyhat

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All of your cat trees and set up are so nice. I just adopted my 6 year old Momo a couple weeks ago and looking at some cat trees at the moment, but I'm afraid he might not use it since he was front declawed by his former owners. He jumps onto my bed from time to time but I not sure if he will be fine with going further up a bit higher.
 
oceanbreathes

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CatinMyHat said:
 
All of your cat trees and set up are so nice. I just adopted my 6 year old Momo a couple weeks ago and looking at some cat trees at the moment, but I'm afraid he might not use it since he was front declawed by his former owners. He jumps onto my bed from time to time but I not sure if he will be fine with going further up a bit higher.
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That is a really nice set up.  If you look at my post, I mentioned that my declawed(also done by his former people :/) senior cat does really well with the Armarkat and Go Pet Club trees.  He's enjoying the highest perch of the Armarkat tree right now, actually.  I would go ahead and get him a tree and maybe incorporate some shelves.  My guy is a lot happier with the many accessible high places he has now.  
 
MoochNNoodles

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mickNsnicks2mom said:
SUNP0015.JPG

SUNP0015.JPG


can you see the L-brackets under the shelves? the L-brackets have 3 screws attaching each bracket to the wall and three screws attaching them to the underside of the cat shelves.

the wall lounger has slightly different L-brackets that attach to the wall above the lounger, and also stabilizing hardware that attaches to just the drywall (but i used those plastic things you insert into the pilot hole in the drywall first, then the screws screw into those plastic things -- so the drywall doesn't get torn up or disintegrate over time).
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That is a little cat paradise there! 

CatinMyHat said:
 
All of your cat trees and set up are so nice. I just adopted my 6 year old Momo a couple weeks ago and looking at some cat trees at the moment, but I'm afraid he might not use it since he was front declawed by his former owners. He jumps onto my bed from time to time but I not sure if he will be fine with going further up a bit higher.
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I've heard most do fine.  I would just think a tree with several platforms would be easier than one that is extremely vertical with narrow perches.  My mother and I both have trees from Armarkat and they have held up well!  Both are about 7 years old now I think.  I've kind of forgotten when we bought them! 

ETA: My mother has the same or a very similar one to the tree on the far right in mickNsnicks2mom's top photo.  She has 3 cats and my 2 year old has tried to climb it as well...
 
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