The Popular "Sunflower"

The Sunflower is proving to be one of our more popular cat trees. It is an extremely attractive piece of furniture that your cat will adapt to in about as long as it takes it to say "meow". The cat tree is compact, colorful, and its unique design allows the tree to fit into a corner. It has all the features of our much larger trees and brings the beauty of the outdoors into your home. Whether climbing, jumping, hiding, exploring, or its more common activity, sleeping, this is the perfect unit for your cat.

The cat tree is only 4 feet 4 inches tall, and 52 inches wide. The trunk is covered in a high grade commercial carpet and provides a scratching post for your cat. The top flower is 28 inches round with a padded center and a thermal liner to retain your cat's heat for added comfort. There are four holes each 9 inches in diameter that lead to the center of the trunk which is 12 inches in diameter. Four sculptured leaves surround the trunk providing layers for climbing or space for "snoozing". Not only does each leaf have our thermal liner, but each is attached to the trunk in such a way as to provide "flex" when the cat jumps onto the leaf making it easier on its joints and back. Older cats will get much more use out of a unit with this feature. The wide round base provides stability and guarantees the cat tree will not tip during normal use. This unique piece of cat furniture will be the focalpoint of activity for your cat, and the center of conversation among your friends.

Order your cat tree today ... you will be sure to have it before the Holidays.

See: www.greatlakescatfurniture.com to place your order, or to see our other product offerings.

Wall Accessories For Your Cat

Did you ever want to build a whole playground for your cat? If you have some open wall space you can now do that with our wall mount cat trees and our accessory grouping. The cat trees have been added to the website and can be ordered, but the accessories are not there yet. They will hopefully be added withing the next week. There will be four basic accessories: the wall cat shelf, the wall cat bed, the corner cat bed and the corner cat house. Please check back to see the full line of accessories. We have gotten a lot of public input taking prototype to various cat shows and we know this is going to be a very popular product.

"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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Did you get a new Kitten for Christmas?

If "yes" - congratulations. Now it's time to provide that kitten with a cat tree. Let us help you take the guess work out of selecting the best piece of cat furniture for your cat. Cat trees come in all shapes and sizes, as well as price ranges. You want to make sure you get the best value for the money spent. Cat trees are our only business and we take a lot of pride in our product. We have been making quality trees prefered more by cats than any other tree for over seven years. You will find our trees longer lasting because of the top quality materials used in construction, and there is a whole list of features built-in that result in increased usability and comfort for your cat. The cost of a tree begins as low as $65.00 and you can see the entire product line at:

www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Why not take a look right now?

Best Beds

Did you know that one of the best "beds" you can offer your cat is actually on top of a cat tree? This perch is perfect for snoozing, and many trees are the ideal height to set in front of a window to give your cat a view of the outside world or the opportunity to sun itself.

Purchasing one of our cat trees is the best investment you can make for your pet's enjoyment and comfort. Many features are built in specifically for your cat's wellbeing. An example is the thermal liner in all of the tops and contoured leaves that store your cat's body temperature creating a highly preferred comfort zone that is hard to leave even when your cat is hungry.

Take a look at the number one line of cat trees as voted by cats everywhere, at: http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/

New Year's Resolution

We're sorry if you didn't get that new cat tree for Christmas, but all is not lost because now is the time to make a New Year's resolution to either buy your cat a cat tree, buy yourself a piece of cat furniture, or to replace that old worn out tree that just doesn't look very good anymore. If you take a close look at our product we know you will be pleased. Construction is superb, material is of the highest quality, features are unmatched, and there is a size/color combination to fit any decor and space available.

Start thinking today about ordering that new cat tree. The first step should be to click over to the website and take a tour of our product offering. Read about the many features and benefits that are built into our cat trees. Learn how we make all our parts replaceable so if an area does get damaged or worn it can be replaced without spending a whole lot of money on a new tree.

After reading our product descriptions and seeing our pictures you will know why our cat tree furniture is preferred more by cats than that of any other manufacturer. And after reading the section on "Guarantee and Warranty", and taking a look at the Gallery, you'll know why our furniture is preferred more by cat owners than that of other manufacturers.

http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/

Some Plants are Poison for Pets

Beautiful holiday floral arrangements and some living plants may look great on the table, but can be lethal to pets. Recently, a 2 year old cat died from ingesting a stargazer lily that was part of a floral arrangement.

Ingestion of a toxic plant can cause a variety of symptoms, including drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, lethargy, and coma. If your cat displays any unusual symptoms after chewing on a house plant or flower arrangement, contact your veterinarian immediately.

If you are unsure about a plant's toxicity, ask your veterinarian. The National Animal Poison Control Information Center also offers a comprehensive list of plants toxic to cats on their website at http://www.aspca.org/

We also found a good article on the website of a local animal hospital - you can find it at http://www.chfa.net/

Be sure to check out the latest cat furniture, cat trees and cat condos from Great Lakes Cat Furniture. This is the furniture preferred most by cats. See our website: http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/

Higher the Better

Even though man has been able to domesticate many of the cat breeds, there remains imprinted in these domesticated cats a strong instinctive trait compelling them to find high places from which to observe their territory. The Savanah in the picture to the left has found what he thinks is the best spot at the TICA show held in Grand Rapids MI this year. Not only did the cat tree provide the highest point in the room, it also provided several hiding places and many comfortable and secure spots to relax and nap.

Our unique cat trees are built with your cat's instictive behavioral traits in mind. That's why our cat furniture is the number one choice of cats and cat lovers everywhere.

See all our special products at: www.greatlakescatfurniture.com

Scratching is Natural

You know they say scratching is as natural as breathing for a cat. If you don't provide a suitable place for your cat to scratch you can bet they will find a place, and it may not be one you approve of. Cat's can be trained to scratch were you want them to. You start by providing them with something to scratch and make sure it is conveniently located. We pride ourselves with building our larger cat trees with a high quality commercial carpet that's ideal for a cat to sink their claws into and pull. These trees have a built in scratching post, and along with the many other features we incorporate into our trees, make them the number one choice of cats and cat lover's. See our full line of cat trees at: http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/ and look for the blue or red cat paw which will tell you whether or not the tree is suitable for a clawed cat.

A Healthy Cat

A cat that increases its activity level will burn more calories, get in better cardiovascular shape and not experience as much boredom. Your cat needs exercise just as much as you do, and unfortunately most people don’t think about providing exercise opportunities for their cat, whereas they will for the family dog.

Providing good exercise opportunities for indoor cats can be a challenge. We thought about that when we planned our cat furniture and came up with designs to meet every need. The small cat trees are of particular interest to kittens and older cats that may have trouble climbing and jumping. Crawling over and under these trees is challenging and fun for all cats providing them a wonderful and safe exercise opportunity. The medium cat trees raise the bar another level by allowing the cats to climb and jump their way to the top of these trees, while at the same time tweaking their curiosity by giving them nooks and crannies to climb into and through. For the ultimate exercise experience you need one of our large cat trees. There is no end to the fun and activity that a cat can experience on one of these trees. Your cat can have as many as six levels on which to climb and up to nine holes to dart in and out of while constantly discovering new facets of their domain.

A cat tree from Great Lakes Cat Furniture is but one of many ways to entice your cat to get more exercise, and the units are very unique and colorful providing a focalpoint in any décor. See the full line of cat trees at: http://www.greatlakescatfuniture.com/

New Form of Payment

Great Lakes Cat Furniture now accepts eLayaway as an acceptable form of payment for our cat trees. eLayaway makes it easy to afford the things you want most. Like traditional layaway, eLayaway allows you to make payments on any of our cat trees, with delivery upon payment in full. Membership in eLayaway is FREE and there are no credit checks!

Sign up for your FREE account today at: http://www.elayaway.com/

The Big Oak

On our website The "Big Oak" is getting the most traffic of our product pages. It's no wonder because it's built like the real thing - very strong and durable. It stands seven feet tall and weights 150 lbs. It's large enough for seventeen cats to be on it at the same time. There are a total of twelve leaves, each sculptured for your cat's comfort and lined with our unique thermal layer to retains your cat's body heat. Nine holes are positioned in the truck providing many areas for exploration or hiding. The Cat Tree trunk is wrapped in commercial grade carpeting turning it into a scratching post and also giving your cat an ideal place to stretch. Our unique design allows for each piece to be easily replaced in the event of excessive wear and tear, or damage. You don't have to replace the entire tree because of an unsightly part - simply replace that part and continue enjoying the tree.

For those of you saying "seven feet - 150 lbs is just too big", we've made a smaller model. We call it the "Little Oak" (not a big stretch). It's only five feet tall and 115 lbs. Built with the same quality material and care to detail as the larger version. This might be just the right size your looking for.

Take a look at these and all our other products at: http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/

The Tropical Flower

This very colorful and unique Cat Tree is one of our more popular products. This specially designed piece of cat furniture is ideal to place in front of an outside window where your cat can spend hours being entertained while enjoying the special comfort features our cat trees provide. The unusual petal designed base makes the unit aesthetically pleasing while at the same time giving this cat tree greater stability. The entire cat tree is constructed with commercial grade carpeting ensuring years of trouble free wear. See the complete line of cat trees at: http://www.greatlakescatfurniture.com/