Saturday, May 26, 2012

Numerous Helpful Details About Getting Cat Poles And How They Are Made

By Robert Baker


Cat poles, often called scratching posts, are made to amuse cats and detract them from destroying home furnishings. Cats naturally rake their claws on things to both clean and manicure them; however, this is not good if it is on your sofa or best chair! Depending on the cat poles and how they are made, they may be simple and serve their purpose or could be more complex to be more entertaining for the animals.

Basic designs are made from a piece of wood acting as a stabilizer, with a pole attached heading upright. Bases are normally covered with fabric that is durable, such as like carpet and the actual pole is normally wrapped around with rope. Some models may have carpeted posts, but cats greatly favour rope for claw sharpening, they enjoy the feeling of trying to shred it.

Toys dangling from the pole will make it more attractive to cats. Toy mice and balls hanging from the pole will encourage cats to use it. A fabric covered wooden box with a hole on the front can be used by your cat as a hiding place or as a nesting place. At playtime they can dive in and out of it and when exhausted from play, can curl up inside the box on cosy cushions.

If you are someone who cares about the environment, there are environmentally friendly versions. The wood to make these can be sourced from sustainable forests. Natural sisal may be used as an alternative to rope made from synthetic fibre. If any stain is used, it will be non-toxic. Some designers of outdoor cat poles use cedar, which does not need to be stained.

The positioning of your cat pole is entirely up to you. Many models can be used on hard floors because of rubber grips attached to the base, making them non-slip. You are also able to team up the fabric from the wide selection on offer to match your colour scheme.

Cat breeders often use these poles as first play areas for younger kittens. Set out with a short pole for safety and soft toys for safe play. Once the kittens are re-homed, they are then fully aware of the right places to scratch.

If the base is heavy enough, more layers can be added to the pole to turn it from a scratching area into a real play-zone, such as dangling toys and boxes with hidey-holes. This is ideal for the house bound cat, unable to get out and play. Having one of these in your home will not only entertain your cat, but will also serve as a good form of exercise, helping in keeping your beloved pet healthy.

Should you be a feline fanatic, and find yourself with a home full of cats, knowing about cat poles and how they are made, will help you ensure that you have one that fits from the floor to the ceiling. Usually these have more than one upright, and sometimes two bases, this allows for many playthings and sleep boxes. These boxes are great fun for your cat family and at the same time offer less worry for you and your soft furnishings!




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