How to Buy a Cat Condo

A cat condo can offer your cat a special place to take a nap or spend some time alone.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Carpet Cleaner
• Scratching Posts
• Carpet Cleaner
• Cat Collars
• Cat Condo
• Cat Dishes
• Cat Hammocks
• Cat Nail Clippers
• Cat Shampoos
• Cat Toys
• Cat Treats

1. Visit a pet store, discount store or online pet store to shop for a cat condo.

2. Check out all the types that exist. They come in many shapes and sizes. Decide if you prefer a one-, two- or three-story structure.

3. Remember that most condos are covered with carpeting so your cat can climb and scratch on the condo. Look for carpeting that's easy to clean and not apt to fade quickly.

4. Understand that a condo with a built-in scratching post can help save your furniture from your cat's claws.

5. Select a stable condo that's well-balanced and won't tip when your cat scratches it or jumps on it.

6. Make sure that the levels of the structure will be easy for your cat to climb.

7. Check to see if the carpeting is attached securely so it won't get pulled up. Some of the less expensive condos use glue that may loosen over time.

8. Find a condo that matches the color and style of your home so it will blend into its surroundings.

9. Consider customizing your own condo if you can't find a ready-made one in the style you like.

10. Realize that the price for a condo varies depending on the features you select and where you shop, but it can often be $100, or even much more.

11. Make sure that whatever condo you select will be big enough for your cat to be comfortable inside.

Tips & Warnings

• Cats are genetically programmed to climb. By providing a safe structure for your cat to climb, you allow her to follow her instincts while you protect the furniture in your house.

on 8/8/2006
Independent pet stores usually purchase cat condos built by local merchants. Usually they are more expensive, but they are built better. If cost is a factor (as it was with me) ask when the store sells their "floor models" and what the discount is.

on 2/7/2006 When shopping in a store, look very carefully at the Kitty Condo for urine stains. Some pet stores allow dogs to come into the stores and the dogs mark their territory.

on 11/22/2005 When deciding to purchase a scratching post, bear in mind that it must be balanced and reasonably heavy. Think of the "Pyramid Principle" - wide at the base, narrow at the top. All the weight is at the bottom, so the post cannot tip over. Choose the design as if you were the cat.

on 11/22/2005 Be sure that the cat condo you purchase will last for a long time. My family bought one over 20 years ago, and it has survived five cats and two small children (who would use it for everything from a coffee table to a chair to something to launch matchbox cars). Amazingly, it is still in one piece! Be sure that if you have multiple cats and/or small children, the condo will withstand many years of being knocked around.

on 11/22/2005 I paid a lot of money for a tall cat tower (7 feet.) that my cats used for about a week. Once they became comfortable enough, their climbing got a little crazy and tipped the tower over. Both my cats jumped off before it hit the floor and weren't hurt, but neither one has gone near it since. I recently bought another one that attached to the wall, so I know it won't fall down. They really go crazy on this one, and so far it's working out great. The first one was an expensive lesson.