Cat Tree - How to Get Your Kitten to Use It

You have just brought home a new kitten. Everything has been lovingly picked out and put into place; food, bed, toys and litter box. The kitten is everything that you had hoped for and more, except for the fact that his fur is all over your furniture. You love your kitten, but not his fur on your sofa. So what do you do?

The answer is to buy a cat tree. This is a wonderful item created for your cat that can be modest in size to a towering monolith. It is usually covered in carpet or sisal material, or both. The larger the cat tree the more perches available for snoozing along with extras like hanging toys. It is very important to give you kitten a proper place to relax and sleep. This will keep your home cleaner.

You don't want to buy an inferior cat tree. It needs to be strong and stable. When your cat gets a little older this will be to your benefit as it will be able to accommodate the weight and size of your cat. It will also resist tipping over. You might have to secure the cat tree to the wall if you cat is really plump or you have multiple active cats.

Once a decision is made regarding the type of cat tree, you will have to instruct him to continue using it exclusively. This can be done several ways.

One of the methods to teach your kitten would be to take him to the new tree. Make this an enjoyable time, play with him on the tree. It is always good to leave a little cat nip somewhere on the tree. Get a toy and play with him there. Another trick is to leave a recently worn article of clothing. This will give him the feeling of being close to you. Praise him whenever he is on the cat tree, he will want to go back again and again.

When you see the kitten starting to use something other than the tree, tell him no in a firm voice and redirect him to his spot. Please do not use physical punishment, it really has no place in training. Using catnip and toys to entice the kitten to the tree is a very good way to reinforce that this is where you want him to be.

These steps will need to be consistently re-enforced with the kitten until he learns the rules. It will be work, but will be worth it. The results of a kitten that uses a cat tree are many, including fur-free furniture and a loving relationship with your pet. This is just one of many cat health and cat care ideas.