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.

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/