Remember there are two places you can see our cat trees on display this month:
Cat Trees on display
September 11-12, 2010
National Capital Cat show
Dulles Expo and Conference Center
Chantilly, VA
September 18-19, 2010
Natural Cat Club Show
Hendricks Power Exhibition Hall
Hendricks County 4-H Fairgrounds
Danville, IN
If you live in, or will be visiting the area, please stop by these cat shows and visit our booth. Take a look first hand at the quality cat furniture we build. Everything we offer is made in the U.S., by hand, and of the finest quality material for long lasting cat satisfaction.
If you are unable to attend one of these shows you can still see our entire product line of cat furniture by visiting our website: www.greatlakespetfurniture.com
That is not as hard as you may think. You have to start with a good cat scratching post or cat tree and a good measure of patience. The scratching post or cat tree has to be sturdy and made of a material the cat will enjoy digging its’ claws into. The most popular scratching medium are sisal rope, sisal carpet and regular carpet of a commercial grade .
Once you have the post or tree in place you need to encourage your cat to use it. The best way to approach this is by teasing the cat with a cat toy, or perhaps a bit of catnip, and then piling on the praise when the cat digs in its claws. Simply by repeating these steps you will be able to modify your cats’ behavior and have it scratch only in the approved place. Cats are creatures of habit, so as soon as your cat knows where scratching is permissible, and as long as you keep a good scratching medium in place, you should not experience any problems with your cat scratching drapes or furniture.
See the complete list of products with approved cat scratchers
Our original small cat tree we called the Spider is still a very popular choice among cat owners.
Short Petals 'down'
We have kept the same design but have added a variety of color. Now it’s easier than ever to find a small cat bed to complement you’re home decor.
The Spider is only 1 foot 4 inches tall, and is reversible to appeal to both kittens and mature cats. With the small petals down there is about 4 inches of crawl space under the unit that your kitten will love to explore and spend quite in a secluded spot. As the kitten grows and becomes too big to get under the Spider with the small petals down simple turn the unit over putting the larger petal down and create a crawl space that is about 6 inches high.
Color Variation
Regardless of which way you position the Spider, the center bed on both sides is padded and lined with a heat retention liner to absorb and radiate back your cats’ body heat for added comfort. This is especially pleasing to senior cats who may be suffering from back or joint pain. The low profile of the Spider makes it easy for the senior cat to get into and out of.
Special orders don’t upset us … so if you would like a Spider in a different color please let us know and we will do all possible to match the colors as best we can.
See these and all our cat tree product on our website:
We start with a basic cat bed that is 17 inches in diameter and 5 inches deep. This is big enough for even a larger breed of cat to lay in comfortably. The bottom of the bed is padded for extra comfort, and the circle side supports your cats’ body for a more secure feeling the cat will love.
White-Red Cat Bed
For variety we add different styles of feet to the cat beds to raise them off the floor different heights and giving them a different look and feel. A bed that is 3 to 6 inches off the floor provides a wonderful playground for kittens underneath. When we place the cat bed on top of a cat tree we call it a POD. The POD raises the cat bed to a height of 2 feet 3 inches high, which when placed in front of an outdoor window will keep your cat entertained for hours. It’s also the right height to place next to your favorite chair or couch providing your cat a comfortable place it can call its own in close proximity to you.
Red Cat Bed
All our cat beds are reversible doubling the life and providing a ‘change of pace’ for your cat.
Cat beds begin as low as $39.00
Check out all our cat bed styles by visiting the website:
One of the best ways to save on quality cat furniture is to pick it up at a cat show and save the shipping cost.
This is a reminder that Great Lakes Pet Furniture will be participating in the National Capital Cat Show September 11 – 12, 2010 at the Dulles Expo and Conference Center in Chantilly, VA.
If you place your order with us for a new cat tree before September 01 we will be able to bring it and you can pick it up in Chantilly. It your not quite sure, that’s OK, please come and visit us at the show and take the opportunity to examine the quality product we make – you may find something you really like for that special feline in your life and you will still be able to save.
If you would like to get some terrific ideas of the kinds of cat trees available please visit us at:
USA Today this past weekend had an article about the new Mazda2 for 2011. One of the features was that the car has 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the back with the rear seats folded down. Why did that catch my attention?
Outdoor Cat Enclosure
Because the cat enclosure we have been advertising provides 27.5 cubic feet of “safe space” for your cat. Your cat can now enjoy the out-of-doors in the same roominess provided in a brand new car.
This cat enclosure is a one piece portable structure made of a light weight steel frame, surrounded by a durable water resistant netting, allowing your cat to enjoy sunshine, fresh air and a secure outside environment. With a couple of toys to occupy its attention, and with what’s going on in the neighborhood, your cat will spend hours entertaining itself and being entertained by the surrounding activity.
This cat enclosure easily folds down into a small compact size that fits into a carrying case with handles. And if you happen to own a new Mazda2, it will fit nicely in the back for that trip to the park or beach.
Simply visit our website to get all the details on this exciting outdoor cat enclosure.
What kind of Christmas present do you buy a cat that has everything?
A unique cat tree.
Christmas Cat Tree
If you haven’t checked out the design, workmanship and quality material we put into our cat tree furniture – shame on you. Why keep spending money on inferior products that don’t last as long, can’t withstand the normal wear and tear of everyday cat activity, and start looking shabby long before their usefulness is over.
Buying less expensive cat furniture can cost you more. Take a look at our product line. Every piece of cat furniture is hand made, using the best material, and building features into each unit that improve comfort and usability by your cat. At the same time we build cat furniture that will look good in your home.
We know we make some of the most expensive cat furniture in the market place. But we also know we make the highest quality cat furniture in the market place. If you are looking for value, check out our website and make that special feline in your life the happiest cat in the world on Christmas morning.
This giant cat tower stands 7 feet tall and is 53 inches wide from leaf tip to leaf tip. It has 12 large leaves (12″ wide by 20″ long) that are contoured and lined for added cat comfort. There are a total of 10 holes leading into one of three chambers in the trunk where your cats will love to sleep, play or hide. The tree is built on the 36 inch diameter base guaranteeing it will not tip over during normal cat usage. The top is called the “Eagles Nest” and has a 24 inch diameter and a sculptured rim that ranges in depth from 3 inches to 6 inches. A total of 17 cats could be on this tree at the same time.
The Black-Eyed-Susan stands 4 feet 7 inches tall and has a 30 inch round padded cat bed on top. The center of the cat bed has a special thermal liner to absorb and radiate back your cat’s body heat for added comfort. There are two large contoured leaves (12″ wide by 20″ long) and two smaller leaves (10″ wide by 18″ long). A total of four holes lead into two distinct chambers within the tree trunk. The bottom chamber is a great hiding place for your cat, and when not used by the cat will store toys keeping them out of sight. You have the option of adding a 4 inch wide by 24 inch long sisal scratching pad to the back of the cat tree to give your cat an approved scratching area.
Uniquely designed to fit anywhere and still be the focalpoint of your cat’s activity. This unit is totally reversible – the only difference will be the amount of crawl space under the flower. Ideal for kittens and mature cats suffering from arthritis or other joint or back problems. Total height is only 16 inches and the unit is 27 inches wide. The center on both sides is padded and lined with our heat retention material to absorb and radiate back your cat’s body heat for added comfort. The Spider is shipped in a single box and comes fully assembled.
For more information on these quality cat trees and many more to choose from visit our website: www.greatlakepetfurniture.com
Most cats don’t like commotion. When a normally quiet environment changes it can have an adverse effect on a cat. A change to routine can result in behavioral problems and/or litter box issues.
As a responsible cat owner you need to be aware of changes in your life that affect your cat. If your lifestyle turns upside down your cat will immediately feel the stress. One way cats handle stress is to seek out a quiet, dark, preferably hidden away spot to be alone.
Corner Cat House
You can provide your cat with this type of sanctuary by having a cat house or a cat condo. The most popular cat house or cat condo will be one that is incorporated into a cat tree. Many cat trees today will include an enclosure where your cat can hide when it wants time alone. The enclosure itself is not always labeled as a cat house or cat condo but certainly serves the same purpose.
If your current cat tree does not include a cat condo or cat house be sure to add that to your wish list when its time to shop for a replacement.
Cats are territorial. We know that’s by nature, and it’s important to provide your cat(s) as much space in your home as possible. When thinking about ‘cat space’ most people think about the floor space that’s available. But a great alternative is to also include vertical space provided by cat furniture.
Providing Vertical Space
The fastest solution to adding vertical space for your cat is to provide a cat tree. Most of the ‘cat space’ in or on a cat tree is vertical. In relationship to the over-all ‘cat space’ the footprint or floor space a cat tree is taking up is minimal. Because we know cats like to be high it’s important to buy a cat tree that is as tall as budget and room size allows. On the top of the cat tree should be a comfortable cat bed. Options include a flat surface that is covered and perhaps lined for comfort, or a cat bed that has a padded center and sides to support your cat laying against the side – which most cats would prefer. The cat tree should also have several levels your cat climbs to get to the top. The more levels the more exercise. Another consideration for a cat tree is to have one that incorporates hiding places and pass throughs to provide a spot for quite time or to tweak curiosity.
Another solution to providing vertical space is to use wall mounted cat furniture. Options are
Wall mounts provide height
quite varied. You can mount cat shelves, cat beds and even cat trees right to the wall. Using different or multiple pieces you can build an entire wall scape or playground for you cat. The design of your wall scape is limited only by your imagination. In many cases its more economical and satisfying for the cat to have a wall playground rather than a single cat tree.
So the next time you are thinking about adding ‘cat space’ be sure to think vertically as well as horizontally.
