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Aggravating as they can be, we all love our kitties and want the very best for them. The many things you’d like to give your cat probably include an infinite supply of slow-moving mice, the ability to unleash ferocious roars at the neighbour’s dog, and the power of speech. Alas, such a feline paradise is not to be.
You can, however, provide them with their very own palace. You also don’t need to follow Enya’s example to do so: she is a once-famous musician who retired to live a life of peace and seclusion with her cats in a castle by the Irish seaside. Throw in some nicer weather, and this is a lifestyle I personally aspire to emulate.
The answer, of course, is to give them their very own home within your house. This Yaheetech cat tree provides them with a special spot they can call their own, somewhere they won’t be shooed from just because they need to sit down.
What Use Is a Cat Tree Anyway?
For all their grace and languor, cats can actually be pretty nervous little creatures. Even if they’ve never known anything but love and luxury, the smallest fright can send them scurrying for a hiding place. Given that they sleep up to 16 hours a day, they definitely need a bed that feels cosy and safe to curl up in.
A cat tree’s height gives them this feeling of security. When they’re awake, they also like to sit or lie on the platforms, resting comfortably while staring out a window or observing what you’re up to. Whether you’re clacking away on a keyboard or peeling potatoes, the focus of your attention is always interesting to your kitty.
While most cats enjoy having a raised perch (especially one that allows them to look down on their fellow felines! ), they also prize a den-like enclosure, like the one on the bottom level of this cat tower. This lets them observe the world while they think they’re hiding. Cats love this, which is presumably why mine dart into any open closet as soon as my back is turned. More importantly, this kind of sanctuary gives shy or newly adopted kitties a place from which they can spy on your household’s goings-on until they feel like emerging.
The other thing you need to enhance your cat’s happiness is a scratching post. This way, they’ll only ruin your furniture by shedding hair, not by shredding it with their claws. The other solution, declawing, actually means surgically removing the last knuckle from each toe – a pretty cruel thing to do just to protect your upholstery! This procedure is, thank goodness, illegal in the United Kingdom and several other countries; there’s also no need for it as long as you just install a cat-scratching post.
The Yaheetech Cat Tower in a Nutshell
The first thing you’ll notice, even before opening the shipping box, is that you’ll need to assemble it yourself. Never fear, though: even if putting together an end table from Ikea has given you nightmares in the past, you’ll have no trouble with this one. The instructions are childishly simple, and all the tools you’ll need are included. The whole process takes about five minutes from start to end.
What about quality? The synthetic, non-allergenic plush fabric covering the perches and enclosure is soft but substantial—this is glued on, though, so you’ll have to clean it by wiping it with a damp rag.
The little fuzzy ball dangling from the upper platform is not going to last forever, nor is it meant to. It hangs from a discreet metal loop, so it’s easy enough to replace with another toy once it’s worn out.
Speaking as somebody who’s owned more than a few cat towers and even cobbled a few together myself, the more important factor is the durability of the cat scratching posts. It seems like Yaheetech has done a pretty good job of attaching the natural fibre rope intended to let your kitty work off his frustrations. This often comes loose easily on cheaper cat trees, at which point you might as well throw it away.
Yaheetech Cat Tree Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Material | Synthetic, non-allergenic plush fabric |
| Assembly | Easy to assemble; takes about 5 minutes |
| Durability | Durable natural fiber rope for scratching posts; fabric is glued on and can be cleaned with a damp rag |
| Size | 33 by 44 centimeters (17 by 13 inches); not suitable for very large cats |
| Platforms | Two platforms; close together, suitable for a single cat household |
| Enclosure | Bottom level den-like enclosure for hiding and observing |
| Accessories | Includes a replaceable fuzzy ball hanging from the upper platform |
| Stability | Stable for small to medium cats; may not be suitable for very large cats |
| Suitability | Best for indoor cats and small spaces; good for testing if a cat takes to a cat tree |
| Colors | Available in light or dark grey |
What’s It Like to Own a Yaheetech Cat Tree?
As you would expect after looking at the price, this inexpensive cat tower isn’t even hip-high. Its narrow footprint (33 by 44 centimeters, or 17 by 13 inches), makes it easy to find room for it in a small flat or studio. On the other hand, while I haven’t had the opportunity to test it with the help of a feline volunteer weighing over three stone, I get the feeling that it’s not suitable for very large cats. The perches are a little too small to accommodate them comfortably, and they may even manage to topple the whole thing while climbing up it.
The two platforms are also quite close together, meaning that this cat tree is best suited for a single-cat household—nobody likes to have their tail batted around when they’re trying to sleep. This Yaheetech cat tree may be best for indoor cats who aren’t used to having trees, hedges, and other objects to climb.
Then again, this cat tower is definitely an economy model: a good buy for someone who only has one cat and may not be sure if they’ll take to the concept. If you have multiple kitties who’d each like a perch of their own, this larger model (also from Yaheetech) may fit the bill. (Naturally, it also costs more, but I personally think it looks fantastic.)
Overall, this Yaheetech cat tower is a pretty good buy unless you’re specifically looking for something larger. It should last you a good few years and provide everything your cat might want from a cat tower. Available in light or dark grey, it can sit unobtrusively in a corner of your living room, home office, or bedroom. Once your cat realizes that it’s truly a space just for them, they’ll appreciate having their own little pied-à-terre in which they can dream of chasing that special red dot, think deep philosophical thoughts, or make plans for taking over the world.