A cat tree condo can be your cat’s best friend. A place where he finds shelter and safety from the big scary world he sees everyday. Being up high will make him feel safer and give him a place beside your counters, tables, fridge etc to lounge around on. Many cats love cat tree condos, but some prefer their natural surroundings more. Which is something you may want to think about when buying their condos, trees, etc.
While many of these cat trees are safe and sturdy in terms of structure, the way they are manufactured isn’t ideal for your cat. Most cat condo manufacturers use finished and painted wood for these structures. The wood and paint can contain deadly and harmful chemicals that simply aren’t good for your cat.
The fabrics and carpeting used on the cat towers are also treated and dyed with harsh chemicals, and the glue used to bond the fabric can also be harmful for your cat as well. Many people are unaware of this, and you can’t exactly count on the manufacturers to tell you. It simply would be bad business, obviously.
This is why you want to find a cat tree condo that is made from as many natural materials as possible. Such things as unfinished wood or bamboo are great alternatives. You will also want to find natural fabrics such as bamboo fibers which are well known for their durability and toughness. Also, there are many natural bonding agents that can be used as well. The best place to find these are online or to ask your local pet store employees if they have any catalogs that sell natural cat trees and condos.
It is your job to find out what kind of material is in the cat houses you are looking at and to put a little extra effort into finding the ones made with as many all natural materials as is possible.