The ears on the top cubby belong to Morgan. The cat on the shelf is Hazel (resting after PT). There is a top shelf that isn’t shown on this photo.
My Christmas present came early this year. It came in a big box with parts that had to be put together. The instructions were in Swahili but we made do.
I knew it was coming and I couldn’t wait. Or more importantly, the cats couldn’t wait.
It is a very large cat tower. This purchase was planned for last spring but the cats spend most of the warm weather in the screened porch so it didn’t happen.
Some people prefer diamonds and rubies. Or perhaps a trip to the Bahamas. Or a new car in the driveway with a big red bow.
Those would be good too but they don’t happen at my house. You would more likely see catnip mice, ribbon and bows laying all over.
This cat tree has been entertainment for the whole family. Even the beloved husband has been amused. (He tries to hide it but I can see the mouth crinkles.)
It’s tall. When Morgan sits on the top shelf (header photo), she looks down at me. With an attitude! (Where did that come from?) Queen of the world!
Hazel has her physical therapy on it. Reluctantly of course but I can get her to climb it for a few pieces of kibble.
She will do most anything for a piece of kibble. Kibble is gold.
Even Mollie fell asleep in the upstairs cubby. That is, until there was an altercation. Morgan had booked it for the afternoon and was not happy about the double booking.
Jake’s not having any of it. He’s not much a climber these days. Arthritis you know. He will jump on a comfy chair, particularly if you want to sit there but he’s not climbing any freakin’ cat tree. Especially if it doesn’t smell of human butt!
There are doodles that hang from it. They are feathers on bouncy strings. The feathers lasted a day. What can I say? I have ninja attack cats.
Anything that happens on Christmas Day will be secondary to the wonder of the big cat tree.
It’s a hard act to follow. We are simple people.
Ahhh! People butt! I love that smell!
Views and Mews by Coffee Kat 
How absolutely FABULOUS! This is EXACTLY what we wanted for our cats this Christmas but have had no luck yet finding one (or rather, one that delivers to our part of the world 😦 ). However I have been “advised” that as SOON as we arrive home from Christmas break this is our mission, to secure the cats a climber because… “they deserve it, we don’t do enough to show them our love”, lol! It sure is tough being a cat at our houses isn’t it? 🙂 Merry Christmas xx
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No climber? I’m surprised they are not picketing for better living conditions! Good luck with finding one. There are plans on line to make one too but I opted not to do that.
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Lucky kitties! I’m sure you’ll all have fun with this.
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I hope so. You know cats. Play with something today, forgettabutit tomorrow!
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And the more expensive the toy, the faster they lose interest in it.
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Absolutely!
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Your cat tree is entertaining all the way through the blog-us-fear! I’m grinning right along with “beloved husband.” And I truly admire your “simple-people” ways of finding joy during the Christmas season! 🙂
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Maybe not like a cruise but they wouldn’t let me take the cats on a cruise anyway.
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Ooh, ooh! Our two cats are both envious of your kitties’ new toy and are now demanding one. What a delightful gift. I also understand Jake’s attraction to comfy chairs. Every day, I have to remind Reggie that the computer chair was not purchased for her. Sometimes, she reluctantly allows me to have a square inch of it so I can type. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours, Kate. 😉
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Morgan loves the computer chairs. I have had to put a cat bed on my computer desk because as she has gotten bigger my spot on the chair was getting smaller and smaller. She likes to be in the thick of things. She loves the tree best of all. I would say it’s easier to get cats accustomed to trees when they are young.
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We suspect that Reggie is part Maine Coon. She weighs about 17 or 18 pounds and takes up the WHOLE chair. When I insist on claiming the square inch she neglected to put her paws, body or tail on, she leaves in a huff shortly thereafter. 😉
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Very catlike behavior!
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A most heartwarming post for a chilly morning. I think I’m part of the Hazel fan club. Do you have t-shirts? Merry Christmas to you and the furries and the one with mouth crinkles.
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Perhaps I should have t-shirts made. I’ll have to think of a slogan! Merry Christmas!
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Your cats are sooooo spoiled!
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Yes they are!
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Big smiles. (Jake will have less competition for prime warm cushy seating now?) I always look at these longingly at the stores – RC smirks “Why? It’s so much better to leap on top of the closet shelves – on top of stacked clean towels ( toast warm from the dryer) or a nice soft pile of clothing….see? The items are pre-furred with samples of my lovely coat.” She probably still would like one….but not sure how to convince Molly it’s not a giant dog toy to drag down the hall. (a cat on top would be a real bonus!)
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It may be a problem with Molly. We did put two stabilizing 2x4s on the backside just to be safe. I’m hoping this keeps them off of shelves, mantels and things. (Who am I kidding?)
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Requesting updates on how it goesHopeful
Here, husband would insist on nailing it to the wall or something (always construction over-kill here)…so it wouldn’t wobbled when Molly leaped and climbed to the top?..she thinks she’s cat size or something.
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There is a bracket to attach to the wall. We do construction overkill here too and rightly so. Four cats acting in unison (or not) can be downright strong and destructive. I am not sure where it’s final resting place will be. Right now it’s in the dining room in front of a window but it will be moved. I doubt anyone wants to eat with a drooling cat looking over their shoulder.
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We thought about one in the bedroom…but the thought of a large cat hurdling to the bed in the middle of the night….Sunny window is good idea (by the dining table, RC would scan the food offerings, then invite herself to dinner…)
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By the dining table is a good idea. Very convenient!
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Hazel just kills me! I really feel a connection with her, especially after knowing she will do anything for kibble …. I probably would too! Glad to see every one is enjoying this new addition…hahaha!
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Hazel has a fan club. She doesn’t climb to the top but maybe after losing a few more pounds.
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YOU are the Cat’s MEOW!
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This is a cat’s house.
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Lovely!! I bought one for my sister’s two cats. As for my own three boys, my whole house is a cat condo for them. They climb and perch everywhere. Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
gmg
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It would be lovely if they keeps them off of the mantel and cabinets but I doubt it.
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What a nice Christmas gift for all of you! It looks like a cat condo. And cats do gravitate to the highest point of anything.
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Cat condo is another name for it!
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Kate, this is the funniest Christmas tree story I have ever read. Congratulations on putting it together. What you do for love! Although, it’s perfect in every way and fits the bill, maybe you could hang a bell from it for them to bat around. Lucky cats to have such fun paw-rents.
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With a bell they would drive us nuts at 3 a.m. I am just glad they like it. We have bought things that they didn’t look twice at.
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Kate, I’ve been smiling all morning and reading this post has really widened my smile plus added lots of giggles! How nice for your cats…aren’t they the posh-est? We have such a tiny house there’s hardly room for Michael, Gibby and me but I think I see a small tower looming in a nook for Gib’s Christmas…what fun. So what if cats rule…who cares? They give so much happiness! Hugs to all the cats, you and the guy who even crinkles a bit watching the fun.
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Thanks!
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Thet look very happy 🙂
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Yes, they told us it was about time!
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Hilarious, Kate! I wan’t one of those for Maurice and Lucy. Nothing beats human smell 🙂 Jake RUES!
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They do like human smell. They enjoy a nice nap in dirty laundry.
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I think yours might be the third post I’ve seen with cat towers being successfully employed. I used to have my doubts about them. Might need to reconsider.
Is that Jake on the lap? My 19 year-old Joey was never far from my lap the last few years. He was a heat-seeking missile, that boy.
Merry Christmas, Kate, to you and your household.
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Thanks and yes, that’s Jake on my lap. He does like warm spots.
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Lovely!!! Our cats love their cat tree that reaches almost to the ceiling. One of our best investments. Merry Christmas kitties! From Thomas, Stripe, Lily, Minh, Annie, Gabby, and Hiro.
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Thanks!
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I don’t own any pets. (no complaints) But reading about your cats and others’ dogs/birds etc, I feel like I do. All the fun without the bother. 🙂 Looks like it didn’t take long for your cats to find their special spot on the cat tower.
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The younger the cat the faster it went. Jake at almost 17 still hasn’t done anything but smell it. Morgan took to it in a nanosecond. The other two took a few days (the kibble didn’t hurt either). Thanks for stopping by. In the same vein of thought, I’m not a poet but enjoy your blog. All the fun without the worry of rhyming!
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We do share some silliness which helps one be worry free too. 🙂
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