Play tower/scratchy post

[dinahsmum]

See - I don't even know what they are called - we never had them in the olden days!
Anyway, seeing as we have a reasonable home now, without the assistance of children to beat it up, I'd *like* the kittens to keep their claws off the furniture/stair carpet.
Can anybody give me advice on size/style for these things and, if you have it, a decent manufacturer/supplier (on-line fine or have a P@H near enough)

[Nicola]

There are so many different styles out there. My two have a little one but also a really tall one. The really tall one has quite a lot of weight to it so is quite sturdy. I am sure your puss cats will love whatever you choose

[yola]

My 3 completely ignored the big 'kitty condo' I got for them to the point that I gave it away to my colleagues at Cats Protection for their foster kitties. However I understand most cats (especially kittens) adore these (ok, so I have weird cats . . . ). They can be quite expensive either on line, mail order or via pet shops of varying magnitudes - over £100 in some cases, but I got mine for £20 thanks to BM's Lidl tip a few months ago.

I'm going to replace them with the smaller, single-scratch-post-on-base affair. However as the last time I bought one of these was about 8 years ago I can't remember for the life of me what they cost!!

[Fran]

I got my cat activity centre from Pets at home. I have seen it elsewhere a lot cheaper, however, so do shop around. It was a God send when Claude and Clooney where babies and even now they play/sleep on it. The new kittens are just taking and interest in it...so all though I paid over the odds, it has been worth every penny...

Here's mine..

[Hreow]

Scratch-posts need to be long/high enough for the cat to reach up and scratch, and they need to be stable. (And some cats don't scratch vertically, but horisontally (Carpeted stairs, Underside of sofas!!)) Fran's is good - the kittens have the right size posts and the adults can reach up to the first-floor ones for height. (Won't mean they do, but they need the possibility). Platform-wise I think anything high and in a place they can observe something (windows are good) will meet with approval.

Rover has a simple three-floor thing with a hidey-box at the bottom, two posts up to a platform with a dip in it (where he sleeps) and one post up from that with a small square platform where he complains at the birds, or washes.

[honeybunny]

I have a tall scratching post that was £25 in Lidl at some point early last year. We bought it thinking it's only £25, we'll see how it lasts and it doesn't matter if it doesn't last long and its still going strong! They've got a bit bored with it though so it may be time to hide it in the study for a few weeks and then bring it out again. I do tend to rotate their toys like that LOL

[Snoof]

http://www.zooplus.co.uk sell a range of scratching posts/activity centres. I'm planning to get one, but I want to wait until we get the kittens. I think Ninja might like it as it will enable him to be inside and also high up (which means he won't ever have to run away when he's on it) and I don't want him to get used to it being his safe space only to have it invaded by the kits

[dinahsmum]

Fran's one looks like I was thinking of. Big enough for two!? Do they sleep there too, or just play? Some have sleepy hammocks

[Fran]

Originally Posted by dinahsmum

Fran's one looks like I was thinking of. Big enough for two!? Do they sleep there too, or just play? Some have sleepy hammocks

Yes they do sleep on it. They fight over the top bunk! They both used to sleep up there together as kittens but now they are the size they are, there is only enough room for one at a time

[Julie84]

Lidl (when they have their offers on) or zooplus. Although both have been said already I think!