Cat Furniture: Beds, Trees, and Scratching Posts

A cat bed listed for sale may be exactly the same as a dog bed, and why not?  The simple version has a padded bottom and a nice, soft cushion sides for the cat to lay next to.  Others make accommodations for cats’ dispositions.  These are nice hiding places where the bed is inside and the entire piece has a cover.  Of course there is a large hole for the cat to enter and exit.  I can just see a cat preferring this style, especially when the cat would like a little solitude.  Yet another type takes the desire to be elevated into consideration, and cats do like to be up high.  Dogs are not into climbing, but cats relish going to a high place. 

But you cannot buy them all, so which ne will you choose?  A better question is which type would your cat choose?  No human cat owner will ever know, since cats are so mysterious and rarely reveal what they want.

Another consideration is the placement of the cat bed.  If it is to be seen by visitors it should be nice.  Remember, the cat is sharing its home with you, and you should work around the cat’s furniture, but you do have a say in what you bring into the home to become the cat’s furniture.  Once it is inside, the cat will take control.

A dog can roll around on the ground and be fine with it, but cats prefer to walk up to a scratching post and rub against it.  A scratching post must be a texture that works, so buying one from a company that has researched such things works better than building your own.  Face it, smooth silk would be a poor choice.  There needs to be some roughness to it.  You cannot simply cover a piece of wood with any piece of material.

Remember, the scratching post only works where the cat stays most often, so work it into your decorating scheme in the cat’s favorite room.  Pick a compatible color, and try to make it blend, or block it from places easily viewed with other furniture placement.

Would you like your cat climbing your drapes?  Well, provide the cat with an alternative that is preferred by the cat.  Get the cat a tree.  Climbing trees work best if there are several levels at which the cat can stop, and an easy route to them.  If the climb is too difficult the cat will climb other things in the room.  And a good tree has platforms large enough for the cat to lay down and survey the room.

So, the cat needs three pieces of furniture.  But, the climbing tree can also have the scratching post built it, and an elevated bed for higher naps or a hiding place where the cat can have solitude can be part of the same piece.  This allows you to have but one item for the cat, and your home will be simplified.  There might even be room for your furniture.  And, if you place that high item in front of your television you can only blame yourself.

While it should not be a living room or den item, cats do like a private area for doing their business.  Place a litter box in an accessible, but well hidden, place.  And it is up to you to clean it.  It is a requirement of cat ownership.

This article contains links to affiliate programs and Adsense advertising.  These must use cookies to allow for proper crediting. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.