Customer Reviews

Feline Furniture Stairway to Cat Heaven

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought my first set of this furniture at a store back in 1996. My cats chose it as their favorite furniture back then. I kept my first piece for 9 years and it was rather tattered, but I didn't want to throw it out because my cats loved it so much. Fortunately I was finally able to replace it. I am onto my 2nd and 3rd additions to my second set. Over the last 11 years I have had 12 cats pass through my house. All 12 cats choose this furniture to any other furniture in my apartment.

There are many reasons this is a great product:

1. Replacement parts are available for when a component has become overly loved.

2. It can be designed in many configurations.

3. It can be added onto.

4. It can be moved easily because it can be taken apart.

5. No tools are needed for assembly

6. It functions as a bed, jungle gym and scratching post.

Most important reason of all

7. Cats love it and prefer it to anything else.

I have found no downsides to this product. It is well worth the money.

I've had mine for two years now and my two "moose" kittens Ralphie and Norton love it. Some of the tubes can use a little help during assembly from a rubber mallet. I love being able to replace the tubes as the carpet gets worn out due to enthusiastic scratching, and love that new options have become available like sisal or bare beams to replace the original carpeted beams. My two current kitties (my moose boys) who have inherited this furniture from my elderly angel kitty (petite granny girl) are 9 and 10 months old, and each weigh around 10 pounds. (I've had them 3 months and they have gained a pound a month and still haven't grow into their paws!) Will definitely be buying more from this product line!!!

Everything the two original reviewers described is true. Cats love this structure so much because every square inch is "scratchable." In my apartment (nine stories up),the structure is in my bedroom in front of a double window. The cats hang out there and watch the world go by.

There are a couple of issues, although I still must give this plaything a 5 and intend to keep on buying parts in spite of these issues. Just be aware of them when you buy (and these are probably only issues in multiple cat households).

(1) because all surfaces are carpeted (similar to velgro), the cats pluck at it nonstop, and it soon develops a fuzzy appearance that catches and holds cat hair during shedding season. You can pull some off and vacuum around, but you just have to get used to the fuzzy, hairy appearance. The cats could care less and they really need to scratch.

(2) the base should have support bars (the same bars as the rest of the climber) and the joiners as well because cats leaping on and off eventually causes the legs on the bottom to wobble loose so the structure wobbles. It's a good idea to count all the legs and order enough extra bars and joiners that you can make the bottom legs sturdy.

I've had my climber for a year and it has taken huge abuse from eight cats, so I can't call the problems above real weaknesses in the design or material. One or two cats will probably not do this kind of damage in ten years.

One more thing, I'm just now needing to buy replacement bars because of looseness to the structure and scratched-off carpet (can the manufacturer find a better glue?) But I'm also turning the whole structure around to expose the wall side and upending the legs on the bottom for a tighter fit. This will help for awhile.

It just looks like, to me, that I'll have about $100 worth of purchasing about once a year--and since there's no other cat play device out there that can match this one, I feel it's well worth the price.

One final thought: The structure is slim and therefore elegant--not taking up all the air in the room with a bulky presence the way almost all other cat climbers do.

I wish this company made nervy cat walks for walking around the room near the ceiling (with plexiglas on the room side for safety.) I'd pay.

I had been looking at this product for quite a while and based on the other positive review decided to go for it. Our cats are indoor cats, and I wanted to add some excitement to the apartment for them. This product does cost a fair ammount, but the cats love it. They love being able to climb up so high, and they love climbing on and around all of the poles - like a child playing on a jungle gym or an outdoor cat climbing trees. You also can change the shape of the condo fairly easily and also buy more add on products which I will no doubt do in the near future. The only drawback thus far is that my young male cat has already ripped some of the carpeting stuff off of one of the poles - I'm going to duck tape it and assume that that will take care of it, but just a word to the wise - young crazy male cats might be a little rough on this product. Still, me and my cats love it - it is very easy to put together and very lightweight, and lends itself to all kinds of customization (we put a cat tunnel under the lower level, and they love that too). Lastly, it gives me a little time off from the kitties as it can accupy them for quite a while. Highly highly recommended for cats and 'serious' cat owners.