A cat tree

Look what I bought the other day... Didn't I just say that I don't seem to mind spending money on my animals? I guess not. I can't think of anything that we /they don't need more but I went ahead and bought this. A cat tree.

Every time I go to the pet section to buy cat and dog food I look at the cat tree displays. In America I look at Cost Co's ultimate cat trees with envy. The first thing I look for when I hit the recycle shops is cat trees. I see cat blogs with lovely little cat trees and I've even pondered making my own... But would my cats use the fool thing even if I spent the money for one? Would I be able to find a place for one in my small house? Don't these cats have enough hiding places in the closets, ON the closets, on the piano, under the sofa, under the futon, on the heated toilet seat, and of course on all seats and chairs that are supposed to be for human use?

The other day I was buying cat sand at the local home ware store and as usual I made a detour past the cat trees.

"Oh look! They're on sale for half-price!!! Ooh.. There's even a choice!"

I stood in front of the display for about ten minutes debating whether I really wanted to BUY a cat tree now that I'd found one affordable.

"The big one is too big. I'd have to get rid of my sofa. The medium size one is nice and maybe all 5 cats could play on it at the same time. But seeing that all 5 cats can't stand to be in the same room together at the same time I guess I don't need that size either. The little one is cute. Ooh. Three choices in this size too!"

I wandered away from the cat tree section to ponder and debate whether I was really going to spend this extra money.

"No, Tanya. Don't do it. There are far more important things in life that you need to spend your money on."

"Do it. How much time have you wasted all these years looking at the fool things anyway. You'll never find them at half price again."

Back to the cat tree section.

"This little one has the box on the floor. Hmm. Not much different from being under the sofa. This one has a hole that the cats could play peek-a-boo. That might be fun. This one has a grooming brush that they could rub up against. If they would use it that would be one way to battle the fur floating around the house."

I took a deep breath and PURCHASED the smallest sized cat tree that was the tallest, had a box on the middle level, and a dangling toy mouse. (And half-price off!)

The next morning I presented my box to Tetsu.

"I bought a cat tree. Half-price off. (That seems to be a very strong point in my mind.) All you have to do is put it together."

So Tetsu started out with screwdrivers and bolts and put the cat tree together. Actually there was some minor swearing because it didn't go together as easily as the box claimed it would but in the end... TA DA! A wonderful cat tree! Now will the cats use it? Hmmm. They seem to be having more fun playing in the empty box. Get that box out of the house so that they will play with their new cat tree!

I'd say it was a successful purchase. Toi loves it. He plays on it, in it, bats the mouse around etc. Chip too finds it quite a nice place to take a nap and I have even seen Patora and Cleo take a quick sit. I don't think Vel has the slightest interest whatsoever. The mouse is the most popular (I could have bought one of those at the dollar store) and the scratching posts but none of the cats pay the slightest attention to the grooming brush. Sigh. I guess I still have the floating fur problem...