Wednesday, July 22, 2015

UPDATE: THE CAT TREE

I said, in my previous post earlier today, Blackwell would enjoy his cubbyhole until he got bored with it. Or, SWMBO said, until it gets too warm. 

It must have because this is where I found him after I returned from an errand-filled shopping trip.


Yes, that's the big black blob up on top, several stories up from his bungalow.


Meanwhile.

SWMBO asked me to take some pictures of the grooves in the wood support post and ask your opinions. They used to be covered with carpet like the rest of the tree. But much clawing tore it to a frazzled mess and she eventually removed it. That didn't stop the cats . . . predominately Muggles . . . who then proceeded to claw the wood.


Now I know cats claw trees when they're outside.

But this looks like it could be painful.

Maybe inflict splinters in tender paws.

I think it should be re-covered with the available carpet just waiting for it. But SWMBO said she's not sure.

So she asked me to poll you, Gentle Readers.

Should the wood be re-covered with plushy carpeting or should it be left bare, as it presently is.

Curious Oddballs want to know.


Muggles, in the meantime, is snoozing through it on the couch.

15 comments:

  1. I vote sisal and wheels on the base. You can keep moving them around the house to stave off boredom. We all know that a bored cat is not a good cat.

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    1. It's not that heavy. I can move it without wheels. Sisal would be a good idea but she has the carpet remnants just for this so she'll probably use them.

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  2. Leave it bare! Let them claw on the wild side!

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  3. For #€{+%<€}!!!! Sake....here I go for the fourth time. Okay....deep breath...either use carpet or a material that compliments your dining room set. Use gorilla glue and zip ties. Zip ties come in many different colors now. Either use ties until glue sets, or leave them on for decoration. Cut them to the actual clip so extra strap doesn't become a play toy for critters....I need to rest now....logging in took the best of me! Am I lame or....don't answer that!

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  4. Bare: Blackwell has to learn what nature looks like...

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    1. Actually he came around our door when he was a kitten and nature wasn't treating him well. He had open wounds around his neck, from dogs or something that was bullying him.

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  5. our cats claw raw wood on out door window trim, the deck, the post next to the gate, the paper tree, the back deck posts, a bench, a chair and probably places I have not seen. they seem capable of clawing without getting splinters however they do make a mess of the wood. Looks like they might be able to destroy the climbing post.

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  6. My mum said when she was very young their kitchen table leg was all furry from cat scratching, and for a long time she just thought that was how kitchen table legs were. Most cats I've known tend to prefer fabric of some kind anyway, but I always assumed they'd know what would harm them and how to scratch, cats have been clawing wood forever. That said, dogs have been chasing sticks forever, but a lot of people including vets say it's not a good idea, that horrible injuries do happen. Maybe if you've got the carpet bits and don't mind doing it covering might be best. Your cats are quite obliging using things provided for them, many won't!

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    1. Our cats use the scratching post, various chairs - bare or upholstered, table legs, my legs and whatever else appeals to them when they're in a scratching mood.

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  7. It's probably okay to let them claw the wood. Cats are smart and won't usually do anything that would hurt them.

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