"Look What's New!"

We took several of our Great Lakes Cat Trees to the Livonia MI TICA show this weekend where we participated as a vendor. We introduced a new half tree or wall mount (still working on a good name). This uniquely designed cat furniture will attach easily to your wall, is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and provides a world of fun and security to your cat.

The new design will be ideal for people living in apartments, or for those of you who have limited floor space and can't fit a large tree.

We were amazed at the enthusiasm and support we got from cat breeders for this new product. Everyone we talked with thought it will be a great success. I don't have the half tree on the website yet, still working on verbiage for the descriptions and production is working on packaging so we can ship it at the lowest possible cost. Hope to have it up and available in the next two weeks. Keep an eye on this blog or the website for information as to when the new wall mount will be available.

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Where You Will Find Our Cat Furniture

Many people ask where they can see our cat furniture first hand. Unfortunately we don't have a retail distribution network and once we get beyond Western Michigan the only place to "touch and feel" our product is at the cat shows we participate in. Here is the planned schedule for cat show participation. If you live in the area, or can conveniently travel to the show, we would love to see you.

• November 15 - 16, 2008
  TICA - Glass CITICAts
  Radisson Hotel
  17123 N Laurel Park Dr
  Livonia, MI
  
  
• November 21 - 23, 2008
  CFA International Cat Show
  Georgia International Convention Center
  Atlanta, GA
  
  
• November 29 - 30, 2008
  CFA Chicago Short Hair
  DePage County Fairgrounds
  Wheaton, IL
  
  
• January 10 - 11, 2009
  CFA - Lucas County Rec Center
  Maumee, OH
  
  
• January 24 - 25, 2009
  CFA - Midwest Persian Tabby Fanciers
  Allen Park Community Center
  Allen Park, MI

Don't forget, you can see all our cat furniture on our website:

www.greatlakespetfurniture.com

Our Cat Trees are Environmentally Safe

Recently we had a customer ask if there is any danger to their cat from gasses or toxins given off by the carpet we use on our cat trees. To my knowledge its the first time we have been asked that, and rather than just give a quick "sales answer" I decided to do some research and learn something about "outgassing". We do use only quality carpet from such manufacturers as Shaw and Mohawk, and that actually made it a little easier to get some answers. I contacted the customer service department of both companies and they were very happy to answer my questions. Basically both reported the same information: At the time carpet is made there can be barely traceable amounts of gas or toxin left in the product. The carpet is rolled, shrink wrapped and sent to a dealer. Those unwanted trace elements remain in that roll until the carpet is unrolled for display or installation. Once that roll has been opened and exposed to the environment any traceable gas or toxin is 100% dissipated within 72 hours. Our cat tree manufacturing process has the carpet we're using exposed to the air a lot longer than 72 hours before that cat tree is even shipped. So, by the time our product gets to your home there is absolutely no possible warm that can be done to your pet or your family.

As a sidebar, I did learn that modern carpet manufacturing methods call for the use of agricultural products, such as corn, instead of petroleum based products. This new method doesn't leave any trace of gas or toxins in the finished product and is 100% safe.

One more reason to check out our "safe", "environmentally friendly" cat furniture.

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Artsy Catsy Gallery - Unique Gifts

Here is a spot were you can find one-of-a-kind artistic creations for pet lovers. Not only is it a very unique blog, they must be commended for donating part of the proceeds to organizations that help cats in need; also to individual cats needing help with vet expenses.

If you are looking for a unique Christmas gift for that hard to buy for cat lover, take a look here where you will find cat jewelry and some great ideas for a stocking stuffer. I particularly liked their humorous cards. If you decide to buy, know you will be supporting a worthwhile cause.

www.artsycatsygallery.blogspot.com

October Newsletter

Our October Newsletter has been published. This month we feature The Black-Eyed-Susan cat tree which is designed to fit closer to a wall, or in front of a window better than most of our larger product offering because of the way the leaves are positioned on the trunk. All of the same great features are included in this cat tree that cats and cat lovers have come to expect from us.

We have an article on how the economic hard times are putting a strain on animal shelters and discuss what you can do to save money and at the same time provide a high level of care for your cat.

Is your cat showing signs of depression? How would you recognize if your cat is depressed and what can you do to prevent more serious problems that can result from not treating a depressed cat.

And finally ... Cody has to have the last word. We're sure you have always wanted to know what a "clowder" was, or what are the most unusual cat names today, or perhaps what's the life expectancy of an indoor cat. You will find answers to these pressing questions in Cody's Corner.

Click on this link to display our most recent newsletter - be sure to sign up so you can get your personal copy when we publish.

October Newsletter

Treating Depression in your Cat

How to help your cat if it suffers from depression.
Best way of course is to avoid it - and how do you do that?

1. Routine vet exams - can prevent depression caused by medical condition
2. Keep to a daily schedule - meals, quality play time, grooming sessions all at the same time each day
3. Provide stress relievers such as scratching posts, cat trees, perches, toys, etc
4. Always keep a clean litter box
5. Establish a quiet safe place for your cat to be alone
6. Regular interactive playtime for 20 minutes twice a day
7. Be an immediate peace keeper if there is conflict between pets

You have tried them all, and nothing seems to help, so now what?
You may have to engage the help of an animal behavior counselor to work with you and your cat to find the root cause of the problem and come up with suggestions to help the situation. The last resort would be working with your vet and putting your cat on some type of antidepressant medication.

Most depression can be totally avoided but it means you must have a behavioral baseline to compare your cat to what is 'normal' for it. Then once you see subtle changes you can modify behavior or the situation to prevent your cat from becoming depressed.

If you think a new cat tree is a possible solution be sure to take a look at our many stress relievers.

Cat Depression Busters

Cat Depression

Is your cat suffering from depression? Many people don't realize that cats' can become depressed just like their owner, and for many of the same reasons. The worse thing you can do is to ignore it, hoping it will go away and the cat will return to its normal obnoxious self. Sometimes its very difficult to recognize depression in your pet because some of the tell-tale signs are so subtle that if you are not conscious of and looking for, you will miss them. Here is a quick list of cat behavior that may be an indication your pet is suffering from depression:

• Constant meowing
• Neediness
• Change in grooming habits
• Increased sleeping
• Overeating
• Change in playing habits - may be disinterested
• Signs of aggression (biting, scratching or hissing)
• Not using the litter box
• Hair loss
• Spots of different color in the fur

If you notice some of these changes in your cat the first course of action is to make a vet appointment to rule out a medical cause. Once that has been done you should follow the advice of your vet to bring your cat out of its depression.

For more information on cat depression go to our website and sign up for our newsletter.

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Trick-or-Treat

You can have a new cat tree for your favorite side-kick before Holloween if you order within the next few days. We choose only the finest materials and raise the standard of workmanship by handcrafting our trees so that you will never find a ghoul or a goblin in one of our trees that will give you a problem after you get it home.

Take a look at the many options you can choose from by clicking on the link below.

Great Lakes Cat Furniture

More Product Features

In our last post we mentioned some of the product features included in our cat trees. Here are a couple more for your consideration:
4. An extra wide base - added to our cat trees to provide greater stability and prevents tipping under normal use.
5. Modular design - allows you to replace any piece of the cat tree without replacing the entire tree. This is of great value because it extends the use of the tree.
6. We offer a wide array of shapes and sizes to choose from providing you with a piece of quality cat furniture this is both affordable and functional.

Check out all the details on our website:

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Quality Cat Furniture

The craftsmen of Great Lakes Pet Furniture have over 40 years experience designing and building cat trees. Our cat tree product has evolved into the 'top choice' of cats and cat lovers everywhere. many features are built into our product, including:
1. Molded Leaves - that are designed to "flex" which cushions the landing and prevents excessive wear and tear on joints, especially for older cats, when they jump onto the tree.
2. Commercial or high grade carpeting - is used throughout the cat tree, including the lining inside the holes in the trunk.
3. All beds and large leaves have a 'thermal' lining that retains the cats' body heat providing greater comfort.

To see more product features go to our website:

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Color Choice For Your Cat Tree

We have had a number of inquiries lately as to whether or not we allow a change in carpet color on our cat trees. The answer is yes. If you want a different color on any of our cat trees you can choose from any color we are currently using. We do charge a $25.00 set up fee to do that, but that's pretty inexpensive to get something you're going to like better. If by chance you select carpet for color and we don't feel the quality would hold up under normal wear and tear for the part of the cat tree you want it on, we will notify you and give you our reasons so that you can make an informed decision. We do this because your satisfaction is more important to us than making a sale.

Remember that only the POD and the Spider are cat trees that ship as an assembled unit. All other trees are assembled in a way that the parts can be replaced without the need to replace the entire tree. If Fido chews on a leaf, you can replace just the leaf and don't have to discard the tree. Both the tops and the bases are also easily replaced.

Please take a look at our entire product offering by clicking on the link below:

Great Lakes Cat Furniture

Confused About Cat Trees?

Let us take the "puzzle" out of selecting a cat tree.
The craftsmen at Great Lakes Cat Furniture have over 40 years combined experience building quality cat trees that have been the "top choice" of cats and cat lovers everywhere. Our success is due to the fact that our cat trees are engineered and hand constructed of only the highest quality materials providing years of trouble free use. Our cat tree products come in a variety of types and sizes to ensure you finding that special piece of cat furniture for the most finicky cat or hard to fit area of your home. We offer a wide selection of colors so that you can select a unit and choose your colors to harmonize with the surrounding area. Our goal is to provide an affordable and functional piece of cat furniture that will give you and your cat years of pleasure and security.

The value of our product is greater than its price.

To see all our product offering visit the website below:

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

"Chipping" - a Permanent ID

Thousands of animals are lost every year because the people who find them have no way of reuniting the animal with its rightful owner. This problem could all but be eliminated if owners would simply "chip" their pets. The term "chip" is slang for microchip. A microchip is a small piece of material that allows for a unique identification number to be encrypted on it and read by electronic scanners. The chip is no bigger than a grain of rice and is inserted under the cats skin between the shoulder blades. Its no more discomforting than a vaccination

If you would like to learn more about "chipping", please read the article we have in our current newsletter.

Current Newsletter

September Newsletter

We have just published our September newsletter. This month we are featuring the Little Oak cat tree, the advantage of a permanent ID for your cat, Q&A regarding spaying and neutering, and a regular inclusion called Cody's Corner. If you are not on our distribution list to receive your copy of the monthly newsletter, open our website and register. Do it now before you forget.

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

A Will or Trust to Protect your cat?

The Cat Channel recently published an article about protecting your cat(s) after the death of the owner. Death not only affects family and friends, it also affects our cat(s). You have to plan ahead if you want a "say" in what will happen to your pet(s) rather than leaving that decision up to an executor who may not feel the same about your pet as you do. Careful planning is the best way to protect your cat, and this article contains a checklist that will help you develop a plan best for you and your cat.

Planning Ahead

Cat Food Safety

The Food and Drug Administration warns us that improper storing and serving of cat food can result in food-borne illnesses. Here are a few very simple steps that you as a responsible pet owner can follow to lessen the chance your cat will come in contact with something that is not good for it.

• Store all food according to the manufacturers recommendation
• Promptly discard or refrigerate any leftover wet food
• Buy only products in packaging that is in good condition
• Serve only the amount of food you cat will eat in a reasonable amount of time
• Wash your hands before handling pet food so you don't contaminate the food
• And, its a good idea to wash any bowls, dishes or utensils after their use

There is a lot of information on the internet concerning pet food safety, but one of the best sites we have found is at: Cat Food Safety

Providing our cat with the opportunity to exercise is another way to maintain or improve health. Sometimes because of scheduling, commitments and other influences, our best laid plans take a left turn. A cat tree, large enough for your cat to climb, may be the solution to get your pet "moving" and reap some of the benefits of exercise. Take a look at the products on our website - we offer good variety and all our cat trees are value priced.

Cat Tree Furniture

Looking for some new cat related reading material before the end of summer?
We have compiled a list of some of the more popular books on various cat subjects and you can save time simply by clicking on this link - New Read

Does your fur ball with the mashed potato spread need a little exercise?
You may want to consider a new cat tree. We have several different pieces of cat furniture in various colors and sizes. Great Lakes Cat Furniture is preferred by more cats than any other cat furniture.

The New Jersey Fat Cat

Did you hear about the 44 pound cat in New Jersey that's been making the national news lately? Poor thing is only two pounds short of the record weight for a cat. We all know that extra weight on a cat can be very harmful to its health and a real strain on your wallet.

There is an article on the internet by Kim Boatman, who is a journalist in Northern California, that talks about The Seven Signs Your Cat's Eating Right. One of the signs concerns the optimum weight for your cat. If you think your pet has a weight problem this article certainly is worth taking a look at, just click on the link of the title.

Another way to help your cat maintain its slim, trim, physique of a young healthy cat is to make sure it gets plenty of exercise. A good way to do that is to provide your cat with a cat tree large enough to allow the cat to be in continuous motion while it is playing on the tree or running up and down the tree. We pride ourselves in building trees that will afford your cat the opportunity to get plenty of exercise. Take a look at our complete product offering at:

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Delivery for Christmas

It's hard to think about Christmas in July. The way time flies however, it will be here before we know it. We just want to remind you that you have the eLayaway payment option when you order our cat furniture. eLayaway works the same as layaway in a department store. You order your cat tree of choice - select eLayaway as the form of payment - make convenient monthly payments according to your selections, and the tree is shipped to you after your final payment is made.

There is a 1.9% transaction fee charged by eLayaway - but that sure beats the 18 plus percent charged by most credit card companies. With credit card as form of payment you receive the product you ordered and you continue to pay for it for several months after. With eLayaway the payments are made before receiving the product, so when you get your new cat tree there are no additional payments that have to be made.

If you would like to have a new cat tree for Christmas but simply don't have the extra means to buy it at this time, consider the eLayaway option. If you order your tree today and make eLayaway your form of payment option, it could be fully paid for and delivered before Christmas. When was the last time you could say your Christmas presents were paid for before Christmas.

You can check it all out at:

Great Lakes Cat Furniture

Top Reasons to See the Vet

Have you ever wondered why cat owners take their pets' to the vet? Veterinary Pet Insurance, the oldest and largest pet insurance company in America, answers that question. The top ten reasons cats visit the vet are:

1. Urinary tract infection
2. Gastritis/vomiting
3. Chronic renal failure
4. Enteritis/diarrhea
5. Diabetes mellitus
6. Skin allergy
7. Colitis/constipation
8. Ear infection
9. Respiratory infection
10. Hyperthyroidism

It's true that as our pets age medical problems usually increase but it was pointed out by the insurance company that any of these ten reasons can occur at any age. Another interesting fact was the average cost of a vet visit for non-routine medical problems. $500.00 per pet was the most expensive and that occurs in California. New Jersey cat owners pay an average $437.00 per pet, and Mississippi had the lowest cost per pet for a non-routine visit at $207.00. You can find additional information and more data at petinsurance.com

It's estimated that less than one percent of pet owners in the U.S. have pet insurance. How can you afford not to have it? With the sky-rocketing cost of everything from bread, to gasoline, and now to vet bills, pet insurance is the only way you can assure your pet will continue to receive the necessary veterinarian care at a time when everyone wants a little more of what's left in your wallet.

We have provided a lot of information recently in some of our newsletters where we discussed reasons why you should have insurance for your pet, and provided many links so you could do some comparative shopping to get the best price for insurance. If you are not a regular subscriber to our newsletter I strongly urge you to visit our website and sign up to receive your monthly issue. You can also find all our back-dated issues of the Newsletter on the site so you can get a full update on the insurance issue.

Great Lakes Cat Furniture

New Pictures in Photo Gallery

We have just added several new pictures to the photo gallery on the website. These pictures show our customers' cats enjoying our uniquely made cat furniture. Our wide choice of size and color options assures you of finding the right cat tree for the space and decor of your room.

Our full product line can be seen on the website:

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

If you have any special request for design or color combination please email us for we would be happy to see if we can't accommodate the request.

Latest Newsletter Available

The June issue of our newsletter has been archived and is now available by clicking the link below. In this issue we feature the new "Little Jack" which is a smaller version of the Jack-n-Beanstalk cat tree and made to fit in smaller spaces like an apartment or small room. We mention two more companies offering pet insurance because it is becoming more important to have it so you can control cost of cat health care. We all know that a sick cat is an expensive cat, and one of the biggest benefits to a good pet insurance policy is preventative care. The newsletter also includes tips on protecting your cat from Summer's Heat. Now that we are into July and August you need to be aware of how excessive heat affects your cat and what can be done to keep it comfortable - kitty will thank you. And then lastly, Cody offers some suggestions on what you can do to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster. Hope you enjoy.

June Newsletter

Request for Information - Litter Cabinets

I need input from people who have litter cabinets as to how you helped your cat adjust to a new litter box. Did you introduce the litter cabinet to a kitten so as it was getting use to a new environment the cabinet was just part of the process? Or did you bring a litter cabinet into your home where a mature cat lived, and if so, did you have any special adjustment problems to overcome? Do you have any tips you could share as to how to make the adjustment for your cat easier.

Your input would be greatly appreciated. Please add comments to this blog. Thank you.

Shopping For Information and Supplies Made Easy

Do you know how to sort through the thousands and thousands of cat associated items on the internet to narrow down your search to the best products or most popular publications? If you are a frequent user of one or more of the major product sites then I would say you probably have a good idea. However, if you normally don't spend time on these sites then I would venture to say it may take you two or three times longer to complete a search for cat products, then you may still be questioning if you really have found the best deals or most popular products.

Amazon.com has come up with a way for us to help you find the better or targeted information more quickly. We eliminate the need for you to search through category layers looking for the right spot. Just click on the link below and it will take you right to the information you need about the newest and best cat books, cat supplies and products for your feline friend. Purchasing through Amazon.com is also convenient and secure. So if you have been looking for that "special" product, or perhaps you want a "special" gift, take a look at the site below.

Cat Books, Products and Supplies

Don't forget to check out our website to see all the quality cat furniture we offer.

Great Lakes Cat Furniture

The Cat Furniture preferred by more cats

A recent poll conducted by the Cat Channel asked visitors "What type of surface does your cat prefer to scratch?"

The results revealed that 33% of cats prefer carpet, 19% sisal, 19% expensive furniture, 14% cardboard, and the remaining 15% was lumped together under the heading of 'other'.

We realized when we first started building cat trees that a high grade commercial carpet would wear better and outlast sisal. We try to build to a higher standard and to provide a quality product that not only looks good, but will last for years. It costs more to build them the way we do, but we think the added value is worth it and in the end preferred more by our customer.

If you want to see our entire product line, which is preferred more by cats than any other cat furniture, click on the link below.

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

New Cat Tree

We have just introduced a smaller version of the popular Jack-n-Beanstalk cat tree. This smaller piece of cat furniture is the ideal size for your smaller room or apartment. The "Little Jack" stands only five feet tall and has six large sculptured leaves around the trunk that are padded for your cats' comfort and security. Just like its big brother is has a four inch serpentine vain that goes around the trunk to tweak your cats' curiosity and add beauty to the cat tree. Your cat reaches the top "cloud" platform by going through one of two holes in the large top that measures 32 inches by 42 inches - plenty of room for more than one cat. We have kept the thermal liner in the top platform which retains your cats' body heat while asleep or performing that all important activity of keeping track of its human subjects. The large round base adds stability and prevents the cat tree from tipping over during normal cat activity.

Order the "Little Jack" for your feline friend today.

Click here for all the details of the "Little Jack" cat tree.

May Newsletter Published

A little late ... but made it before the end of the month. Our May Newsletter was finally published late last week and below is a link you can click on that will take you to our latest news about our cat trees and other information we hope you will find interesting.

There are two ways you can sign up for our newsletter. The first is by clicking on the "Join Our Mailing List" button on the left side of the newsletter itself, and the second way is by clicking on the newsletter button on our website. Either way will get your email address added to our distribution list. We thank you in advance for your interest.

May Newsletter
www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Medium Black Eyed Susan

The original Black Eyed Susan is a very popular tree and many customers commented they liked the design but would like to see something a little smaller that wouldn't stick out so far from the wall and could be put in front of a window. So we scaled back the size of the original tree and made the "medium" version which is only 3 feet tall - ideal for in front of the window. There is only one set of opposing leaves which allows you to snug the tree closer to the wall. The trunk of the tree is wrapped in commercial grade carpet and there is room for your cat to reach from the floor high up the trunk, dig its claws in, and get that all to good feeling s-t-r-e-a-c-h. The large base provides stability and the low center of gravity makes this tree impossible to tip over under normal cat use.

See: The Medium Black-Eyed-Susan on our website.

American Airlines Pet Travel

This is the fourth is a series of articles on the rules and regulations of traveling by air with your cat. In this article we feature American Airlines. At the moment American is the largest domestic U.S. carrier and as such carries more pets than other airlines. We all know that the American airline industry has been going through some very serious financial troubles, and in recent months just about every carrier has increased the cost of pet travel as a way to offset some of their financial losses. Fair or not, its a fact of life, if you want to bring your cat along its going to cost more. For the latest information regarding travel on American Airlines click on the link below.

Travel with your cat on American Airlines

Other related pet travel articles include:
General information on pet air travel
Travel with your cat on Northwest Airlines
Travel with your cat on Delta Airlines

Archived Newsletter

We have been publishing our Newsletter for the past four months. In each issue we try to have meaningful content that is of value. We feature our cat tree product, cat health, a vendor partner and numerous links we think you will find informative and helpful. We have now been able to archive our past issues and if you follow the link below you will have access to all our past newsletters. Thank you for your support.

Archived Newsletter

Discontinuing Two Trees

Do to low sales volume we are discontinuing the "Acorn" and "Palm Tree" effective May 01, 2008. These trees have already been removed from the website, and going forward you will not be able to place an order for either tree on the site. The trees will be produced in the future only as a "custom order" and if you are interested in one

you will have to order via email.

Be sure to visit the website to see all the fine cat furniture that is available. We're sure you will find that perfect cat tree for the special feline in your life.

Visit: www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Cat Health Insurance?

Is buying health insurance for your cat the right thing to do? That certainly is a personal question that only you can answer. We do know that the cost of your pets' health care and medical treatment continues to increase. Pet owners are spending over 12 billion dollars a year in veterinary care. As more and more advancement in science and medicine takes place the cost will continue to rise. More Americans are trying to control out of pocket expenses by buying cat health insurance.

As with most things, there are choices that can be made. We have tried taking some of the guesswork out of buying insurance, and have tried giving some sound advise when comparing policies from different companies. To check out the details click here: Cat health insurance

Cat Travel - Delta Airlines

The summer travel season is fast approaching and there may be some of you who would like to take you cat along on vacation. If your travel plans include going be air there are a number of rules and regulations you need to be aware of. Our latest article covers the rules and requirements for Delta Airlines. If you are thinking about traveling with you cat on Delta Airlines we encourage you to click on the link below and get the latest information on how to go about making arrangements to transport your feline friend.

Cat Travel on Delta Airlines

March Newsletter

The March Newsletter has been publishes and features information on the health and care of older cats, Rags2Riches Ragdoll cattery, The Sunflower as the featured cat tree and Cody's tips for your cat's wellbeing. There is also a list of favorite links supplying a variety of worthwhile information that I'm sure many of you are already aware of, but perhaps there is the new cat owner among you who will find this to be new information. If you are not receiving a copy of the monthly newsletter visit our website and sign up for it. We are trying to be responsive to the wishes of our readers so if there is something you would like to see featured please let us know and we will do our best to include the item.

Sign up for the newsletter at: www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Health and Care for Older Cats

Maintaining a good health program for your cat will help increase its longevity and quality of life. Today it is not uncommon to have a household cat live 18 plus years. Success is dependant upon regular veterinarian visits and proper nutrition, both of which have been instrumental in prolonging the average cats' life.

The aging process in cats is natural and brings along changes in hormone balance, caloric burn rates, normal behavior and even changes in the physical appearance of your cat. Its important to work together as a team with your veterinarian to look for subtle changes that may be early signs of a more serious health challenge.

The relationship with your veterinarian begins the very first time you visit the office with your new kitten or cat. The questions you ask, the information you receive, establish a baseline from which you evaluate change in your cat as you move forward. As your cat matures the questions and information change but the intent is to always add to the knowledge base and be able to evaluate the current health condition of your pet.

For more information regarding what you should be looking for when you take your cat to the veterinarian, and what you can do in your home environment to make your older cat more comfortable, see: Tips for Health and Care of Older Cats

As many cats get older they develop arthritis and many of their activities like running, jumping, climbing have to be curtailed. We have designed and built our cat tree furniture so that even an older cat can enjoy features and comforts unique for its age. Our leaves are attached so that they "flex" when a cat climbs or jumps onto them making it easier on its joints and back. The leaves are offset around the truck of the tree allowing an easy path to the top of the cat tree. The top of each tree is padded with an extra layer of cushioning material for greater comfort. And each large leaf and the top of each tree is built with a heat retention layer that holds your cats body temperature increasing its feeling of well being and security. Take a look at our website for a list of all our product and read about the many features and benefits we built into our trees for your cats comfort: www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Traveling With Your Cat on Northwest Airlines

Making arrangements to travel with your cat, or to ship your cat, via a commercial airline is not difficult. Most major airlines will allow your pet to travel one of three different ways. In the passenger cabin with you, in the luggage compartment of the same flight you are on, or via the airline when you are not traveling (cargo). The rules and regulations for each type of travel differ, and they may be different according to the airline you are traveling. We have started a series of hubpages that explain all the basics of pet travel via a commercial flight. We are going to organize them by commercial airline company. The first detailed document produced is for Northwest Airlines. If you are planning to travel by air this year and are considering taking your cat along you will want to read "Traveling with your Cat on Northwest Airlines"

Cat Furniture for Large Cats

Our large cat trees can easily accommodate some of the larger breeds such as the Ragdoll, Main Coon, Bengal or Siberian. If you own an 18+ pound cat and are looking for a unique cat tree you need to consider The Big Oak, The Jack-N-Beanstalk, or the Little Oak. These trees in particular have larger leaves and a wider base for stability when a large cat jumps onto or from the cat tree. To learn more about any of these trees click on the picture.



Our craftsmen will try to accommodate any special request you may have regarding size and or color. The best way to contact us is through the website: www.greatlakescatfurniture.com
We welcome any comments you have regarding our product as we are always looking for ways to improve it.

Luxury Cat Beds and Furniture

We make some of the most unique cat furniture in the industry. All our cat trees are hand crafted of only the finest materials to assure long lasting satisfaction. We also have a five year limited warranty on the construction of the tree.

Some of the features we build into our cat furniture include:
- All our leaves are contoured so your cat 'molds' into the leaf providing a higher comfort index.
- Our large leaves and tops have a thermal liner that retains your cat's body heat for greater comfort.
- Leaves are designed to 'flex' when your cat climbs or jumps on them, so they act as a shock absorber, making it easier on your cat's joints.
- The extra wide base on every cat tree insures stability and prevents tipping.
- A wide variety of sizes and colors helps you find the perfect unit for the most finicky of cats or hard to fit area.
- All the tops, leaves and bases are easily replaced in the event of damage or wear thus giving you an affordable way of extending the life of the cat tree.

Our goal is to provide a quality piece of cat furniture that is both functional and cost effective and that will give you and your cat(s) years of pleasure and security while maintaining our lead in the category of luxury cat beds and furniture.

Save 15% If Ordered In March 2008

The unique Jack-N-Beanstalk cat tree is on sale during the month of March 2008. Order this cat tree from our website and save 15% on the cost of the tree (that's a $120.00 savings). The Jack-N-Beanstalk is the most widely commented on piece of cat furniture we sell. Its unique design is meant to bring back memories of the childhood fairytale of the same name. This tree is a huge entertainment and comfort center for your cat or cats because several cats can fit on this tree. The top is a 30" by 40" platform shaped like a "cloud", and has two holes through which your cat can climb. The top bed is padded and contains our special thermal liner to retain your cat's body heat while they are sleeping or just relaxing above the "cloud". A total of 10 large sculptured leaves surround the trunk. Each leaf is contoured to "snuggle" your cat and is lined with the same heat retention layer that is built into the top. A 4" round vain has been added to the trunk in a serpentine affect to make it appear more like a beanstalk and provide another feature to entertain your cat. The base is 34" round for stability and guaranteed not to tip during normal cat. The entire cat tree is lined with high grade carpeting giving you and your cat years of trouble free wear and tear. A great value for the cost. This special design complements any setting and will be the focalpoint of conversation. Orders yours today!

Frequent Flyer Miles for Your Cat

People are beginning to think about Spring Break and Summer Vacations. Many people would like to bring their feline companion along on vacation, but unless they are driving, are not sure how to go about making arrangements. We are in the process of creating a series of articles that will take the guesswork out of making arrangements for your cat to fly with you in the event you are planning to use air transportation. The first article has been posted and discusses general rules and regulations of the airline industry. Here you will learn about the need for advance arrangements, the three ways your cat can travel, embargoes on account of temperature extremes, what container or kennel to use, health certificate requirements, the use of tranquilizers and more general information. To read the full article click Air Travel for Domestic Cats.

It is planned that from this main article you will be able to click on the airline you are flying and get specific information as to what their rules and regulations are. The first airline we have listed is Northwest Airlines. Over the next couple weeks we will add all the main domestic U.S. carriers. So if you are planning to travel by air the Spring or Summer and would like to take your cat along here is the first source to check to see how you go about making arrangements.

Most Popular Tree

Ever wonder what our best selling cat tree is? Well, so far in 2008 it has been the Little Oak. The design and size is perfect whether you have one cat or several. There is plenty of room for your cat or cats to be very active, moving from leaf to leaf, and darting in and out of the many holes. Your cat's curiosity will be constantly challenged. And after a period of activity each one of the leaves and the top platform are welcoming spots for a well deserved nap. The leaves are molded and lined with a thermal liner to store your cat's body heat for added comfort. Once your cat has snuggled-in even the sound of the can opener may not be enough to get them to move.

The Little Oak is approximately five feet tall and four and a half feet wide (from leaf tip to leaf tip). The trunk diameter is twelve inches. The large round base adds stability and guarantees the cat tree will not tip during normal use.

To see more details on this, and other products, visit: http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

National Pet Dental Health Month

If you subscribe to any of the national pet magazines or if you are a frequent visitor to one of the major pet websites you are aware that February is designated "National Pet Dental Health Month". Here it is the end of the month and I guess you could say we are catching up because we are just getting around to adding a relevant post to the blog. It's not that we haven't been busy and I hope you will find the work we have been doing behind the scenes will be of interest to you. In reference to Dental Health we have created a Hubpage that talks about the importance of good dental hygiene for your cat and how to spot the early warning signs that there could be trouble in your cat's mouth. I know just by researching material to write the article on feline dental health I learned more about a cat's mouth than I ever thought I would know. I encourage you to go out and read the article and please send me your comments.
Click here to read the Hubpage on Dental Health.

First Newsletter Sent

This week we distributed our first Great Lakes Cat Tree Newsletter. And wouldn't you know, as hard as we tried to make it perfect - we had two typos that resulted in links not working. Darn. Next month we will try to make it better. Our purpose in generating the Newsletter is to bring you useful information about cats and cat products. We plan to feature informative links you will find beneficial and that will help you enhance the bond you have with your pet. We are always open to your suggestions and encourage you to email us with any ideas or comments about the content, as well as suggestions or ideas of what you would like to see it the Newsletter. If you are not a subsriber and would like to be put on the distribution list please visit our website http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/ and there you can sign up.

NEW PRODUCT - THE POD

We are proud to announce a new product line called “The POD”. The POD is a smaller piece of cat furniture that will fit almost anywhere in your home or apartment. Its tall enough if placed in front of a window to give your cat hours of enjoyment tracking outdoor activity. Or if your cat likes to spend time with you, you can place the POD next to your favorite spot in the kitchen or living room and have quiet quality time together. The bed is five inches deep providing security and comfort for your feline friend. This piece of cat furniture is designed and made with the same attention to detail and quality materials as our larger cat trees, cat condos and cat houses, providing years of trouble free use. Click here to get a better look at the POD. Order yours today.