by Julia Williams

Created on: February 09, 2009   Last Updated: March 28, 2010

If you scoff at the idea of furniture for felines, I think it's safe to say you probably don't have a cat. That's because anyone who does, knows that cat furniture is actually essential if one wants to have a contented cat. And we do, because a happy cat begets an even happier human whose own furniture (and carpeting) is not shredded to bits or covered in cat hair. Cat furniture provides our feline friends with their very own place to scratch, play, perch, nap and climb, usually all in one day!

Not so long ago, all you could find in the way of cat furniture was a wobbly scratching post that tipped over every time your kitty tried to sharpen his claws. Thankfully, the quality and selection of cat furniture has evolved and now includes cozy cat condos and multi-perch cat trees, carpeted cat ramps and steps, window perches, outdoor cat houses, concealed litter boxes and more.

Cat furniture prices are as wide-ranging as the pieces themselves. In general, a decent quality scratching post (with a wide, sturdy base) can be found for around $40. Prices for premium-quality cat condos and trees range from about $125 for small models, to $500 (and more) for towering cat trees that offer several perches, tunnels and other comfy sleeping spots, plus multiple scratching surfaces.

Of course, cheap cat furniture is still available and probably always will be. Cheap cat furniture is better than none at all, and still provides plenty of enjoyment for your kitty. But for those who want to pamper their pets with deluxe cat furniture, the choices are delightfully unlimited

Fun Ideas for Cat Furniture

Cat furniture makers have recently begun to incorporate more whimsical designs into their lines. You can find turtle-shaped sleeping pedestals, a charming cat-sized "cheese wedge" hideaway with multiple holes for your cat to run in and out of, and play tunnels with a peek-a-boo opening in the top. And for the ultimate feline fanciers of the world whose decorating scheme is "cat this" and "cat that," there are carpeted coffee tables featuring cat-themed designs on top, four scratching post legs and a kitty perch underneath.

The most popular cat furniture is multi-purpose; for example, cat condos with lots of dangling toys, or cat trees that include both sisal and carpeted scratching posts. Innovative stackable cat trees are also quite popular, because you can start with one or two sections, and later, add more to make it taller or wider. Stackable cat trees are also much easier to move around, and offer more creative design options than one big tree.

Build Cat Furniture on your Own

If you are handy with a hammer and have some free time, it's actually quite easy to build cat furniture that looks good and is just as durable as store-bought products. The Internet is a great place to find do-it-yourself plans for constructing cat furniture. You may want to choose a simple scratching post for your first project, but once you see how easy it is to build cat furniture on your own, you might never buy another piece.

Older cats may need a gentle sloping ramp attached to their cat tree or cat condo to improve accessibility and lessen the impact of jumping down from it. Attractive carpeted stairs (typically with just three or four steps) let kittens, older cats and arthritic cats climb up to their favorite sleeping or outdoor viewing spot. These practical cat furniture pieces are also ones you can easily build yourself, for a fraction of what they'd cost from a retail store!

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