In the contemporary Australian home, our interior aesthetic is a reflection of a balanced lifestyle; one that is centred on minimalist trends and pops of colour. But for people who live with cats, one decorating quandary looms large: how to indulge a pet’s primal urges without making the room look like something from National Geographic.
In the past, planning a cat-friendly home was all about bulky, ugly scratch posts and loud carpeted monstrosities, but in recent years “catification” has transformed into beautiful and stylish feline furniture that fits seamlessly within our existing decor. Picking the right cat furniture in Australia has become more than a simple ‘buy it and use it’ purchase; seen as an investment, it can also imbue your environment with that feline form and fashion.
To understand why you need a cat tree, it's important to see the world from a cat's perspective. Cats are inherently "vertical" creatures. Height means safety from predators, and hunting is often best done from a higher vantage point. Even in the privacy of an Australian suburban dwelling, such instincts are not easily lost.
A cat tree is more than an accessory, it’s a dedicated space for your kitty to climb and scratch as well as to hang out and sleep. You’re adding vertical territory when you add a cat tower. This ‘vertical territory’ is particularly beneficial for multi-cat households; the power to claim the ‘high ground’ can dissipate social friction and territorial aggression.
The wear and tear on your fine furniture is one of the biggest heartbreaks for pet owners. Cats have a need to scratch, the habit helps remove the dead outer layers of their claws, marks terrain with scent glands on their paws and stretches their muscles.
An intelligently designed cat tree provides a place for your feline to do his or her scratching and also keeps them off of sofas, armchairs, drapes and other items that are routinely victims of scratches. By including a more modern cat scratching post as part of a larger tree, you have an even stronger vertical piece for your cat to work out their instincts on. When incorporated in a multi-level design, the scratching surface becomes more attractive than furniture because it combines with the desire to climb.
The days of hideous, eyesore-ridden cat towers abandoned to the laundry room are pretty much over. The current hot style in the Australian market features wood cat trees and “nature-inspired” designs.
For homes decorated in Scandi or mid-century modern touches, a wooden cat tree provides a clean architectural aesthetic. The use of high quality plywood or solid timber in such models offers the right balance of sturdiness to withstand larger breeds, and blends in naturally, especially with timber floors or neutral colour schemes.
We’ve been seeing more and more stylish, sculptural pieces of cat furniture that are designed to look like flowers, cactuses, mushrooms. This design turns the cat tree into an actual conversation piece — a "jungle gym," if you like — bringing a pop of color and a sense of childlike abandon to any room. This design style is exemplified by brand names such as My Rainbow Pets and their playful, sculptural designs that are designed to be displayed, with the sensibility of an art piece.
When choosing a luxury cat tree the design is as important as durability. It's the materials used that will make the longevity of this piece last for years or perish within months.
Indoor cats have a tendency to be bored, which can lead to them acting out in destructive ways. And a multi-level cat tree allows your cats to jump and climb, promoting their physical activity and exercise in turn, aids in maintaining optimal weight as well as joint health. A lot of today’s designs come with integrated toys or hanging pieces that keep your cat engaged and entertained for hours.
There is no shortage supply of "Cat TV", a favorite pastime where they watch birds and squirrels perched on their indoor window seat. By setting up your cat tower in a good visual range, they can watch the outside while staying out of harm’s way which is very important for their emotional state of mind.
Like anything, if you want it to look good and last for a very long time, you need to maintain it. Vacuuming fabric areas and using a soft cloth to wipe down the wood works well, too. The structure is also safe for your cat’s daily acrobatics, and loose screws or worn-out sisal sections can be easily replaced.
When it comes to choosing the right cat tree, this is a reflection of your relationship with your pet. It recognizes that movement and security are just as important to them as the desire for a pretty, tidy house is for you. When you select a well-made, attractive cat home – like the durable and colourful products found at My Rainbow Pets – you are not getting just another pet accessory; you are also adding value to your cat’s life as well as to the decor of your Australian home.
In the end, an ideal cat tree is something that fulfills the cat’s instincts while also appealing to the owner aesthetically and helping strike the right balance for a happy environment for both.
