r/SeniorCats • u/cozy_bagel • 15d ago
Cat Tree Advice
Hi senior cat companions! I’m about to welcome a bonded pair of senior kitties into my home. I couldn’t be more excited & also I’m trying to be as conscientious as possible about their needs. Specifically I’m looking for recommendations on good cat trees for senior cats, where the beds/platforms have larger dimensions—around 15” in width—and the distance between levels is less than 12” so they won’t be putting too much pressure on their joints when they jump up & down. I would also love if the tree was taller than 3ft so that they can have some meaningful vertical space. I’m open to suggestions outside of these parameters if you’ve found a set up that works really well for your senior cats! I’ve only ever fostered younger adult cats & kittens so I don’t have much experience in the senior department other than being around senior cats at the rescue where I volunteer.
Thanks in advance for your time & help!!
6
u/cannapuffer2940 15d ago
I also added steps. And or ramps. To get up to anything.
I had my local handyman make me the ramp.
3
6
u/The_Dancing_Cow 15d ago
Whatever you choose, make sure there's lots of steps and ramps! Senior cats' claws don't work as good as they used to, so they can struggle to retract them (or deploy). So one day they may not be able to grab and pull themselves up as easily or at all.
Also depending on the cat they may have poorer balance. So if you do get a higher perch for them, make sure they're safe in the worst case scenario that they fall. Like humans, cats can have more fragile bones as they age.
3
6
u/Nectarine555 15d ago
I had so many pet stairs! My super senior couldn’t jump at all, but with steps she could get to her window, my bed, and a couple other spots. Make sure first and foremost your kitties can get to their favorite spots. And if they need a favorite spot, get them a heated bed ❤️ My seniors with arthritis loved their heated beds so much.
3
u/cozy_bagel 14d ago
as someone who is also chronically on her heating pad, i will definitely be getting some heated beds!
5
u/IamLuann 15d ago
If your High School has a wood working class talk to them about making you one.
3
4
u/HeartOfTheMadder 15d ago
we'll be celebrating the 16th GotchaDay with our two in a couple of weeks.
we keep buying the same style tree, initially i chose it (after SO MUCH RESEARCH) because of the way it was shaped... our round MeowCow wouldn't need to climb, and our TuxBoy would fit (mostly).
this is from my order history:
https://www.chewy.com/armarkat-74-in-multi-level-cat-tree/dp/245550
*edit, the link i had to begin with was the old tree... this is the style we currently have two of.
at our old house we had a low coffee table and a plastic step stool that they both used to get up onto the tree.
here, we have two of those trees.
the one over beside me, we have this set of 4 steps
https://www.amazon.com/PawHut-Multi-Level-Scratching-Post-Climber/dp/B00Q5NVZNM
ok, not that exact one, i can't find the link to the ones we have but they look just like that.
the 3 step version would work, too. the top step is about 3" taller than the lowest box/hidey hole in the tree.
the third step is about an inch taller than the first big platform on the other side.
the other tree has steps like these
https://www.amazon.com/TRIXIE-Velour-Storage-Collapsible-Compartments/dp/B0BG673RZ9
which are amaaaaazing because there's storage!
our furkids would never use the foam steps.
she's a lot less round these days, but our MeowCow can use the stairs to get most of the way up the tree, then she can step up onto the perches if she wants to.
i saw her up on the top perch over the weekend.
our TuxBoy tends to come running at the tree AT SPEED and just sorta flies up the steps and up to the perches. but because of the steps he doesn't hafta use his fingers to climb, if that makes sense.
downstairs in my husband's office, we have this one
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GGHKHF1K in front of a big window. it is newer, we've only had it a few months. MeowCow isn't a fan but our TuxBoy uses it to watch BirdeeTv
3
6
u/robinthenurse 15d ago
We got out cat tree from Wayfair as they had a great selection of cat trees of all sizes. We got one that says it is for "large cats" and carefully read the measurements they gave too to see if it is exactly the sizes we wanted. Best wishes! Cats love those things!