When you have indoor cats (as I do) and when space is kind of limited (as it is here) then you have to give very careful consideration to the needs of your cats. It's simply not good enough to confine a cat, or multiple cats, in a small space and not to make sure the environment is cat friendly.
Cats like to be high up, and they like to hide and have privacy and they like to scratch, and so no indoor home is complete without a cat 'tree' or two... or in our case, five! It's well worth making room in your house for one of these, and really, the bigger the better. All of my trees are well used by my feline family and they are an important part of enriching the environment for an indoor cat.
Above is a picture of Sofia on the top third of our biggest tree, her favourite. This giant has a 60x60 cm base and almost reaches the ceiling and it is FABULOUS. The cats can also reach the top of the wardrobe from it, complete with cat beds. Theo likes to be up high on this post, whilst Ava prefers the cubby hole, she feels nice and secure in there whilst still being able to see all around her. It IS a big piece of kit when space is limited, but I've never regretted buying it. If you really don't have the room, there are lots of smaller ones available.
We have a slightly smaller floor to ceiling tree in another room, which leads to 4m of bookshelves to stalk about on, Theo and Indigo are big fans of this one. In the same room is a medium sized tree with cubbyholes. We also have a small tree that the cats mainly use as a scratching post, although all the trees have sisal posts for claw sharpening.
The last tree is in storage at the moment but I will soon get it out- it's a diddly little kitten sized tree that's seen all my cats through kittenhood and they have all loved it. Can't wait to see it used by our own kittens!
Of course cat trees are only a part of enrichment for an indoor cat, but I have found them invaluable. It's well worth getting one (or two, or... er... five)
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