Hello

Following on from my "cat nightmare" thread, I am keen to provide an interesting environment for our cat when we move into our new apartment soon.

Do any of you have a spare branch for me?! I would like something with a fork in it to support an observation platform. It would probably have to be 2-3m long and the thickness of an arm.

I also wonder if it would be permitted to help myself to an already cut/fallen branch from the forests (Basel and surroundings)? Any suggestions about that?

Ta!

You can not help yourself, the surrounding trees will see you, and call the police to report your crime.


....

come on just go and grab that wood stick in the forest!

Yes, and I would look just as silly as that poor cat coming home on the tram with half a tree over my shoulder!

Come on, you'd do anything to make kitty happy, no?

I think it's a good idea, I would maybe check whether some types of tree are better than others as some may be poisonous to cats? Also, bring her new smells, change things around in the home, hide some toys in the cellar and then bring them back again, they will be much more interesting. Cardboard boxes don't need to be recycled instantly, let them stand about for a bit, she'll love them, same goes for the paper Migros bags, cutting a hole in one side gives her the opportunity to peep out from it... And some cats are happy to walk on a leash, you could try that too.

Good suggestions, Kittster!

Our cat certainly loves sheets of paper - plenty of those around when packing boxes for a move. She hides under them or sleeps on them and scratches at them to indicate it is time for play.

This cat business is a full time job, what.

We've got two fabricated "cat trees" in our apartment, one which is almost to the ceiling in the corner kinda behind me and a smaller one that stands at the terrace doors.

The one behind me is right next to a deep bookcase we picked up at Ikea that goes along the wall next to my desk so our cat can hang out up there and watch me at my desk (often using the patch between me and keyboard to jump up and down from there actually).

The shorter one at the doors is just inside so that she can chill there and still look out, doors are open if it's not raining too hard (and we're home and alert). She is a "shade cat" - hates to be in direct sun - so she likes this one particularly in the middle of the day when it's sunny and hot out.

I like having a variety of perches for her with a variety of views, it helps keep her from being batty too often.


In addition to the perches, we've got a number of toys for her, some she can play with on her own and some to play with her. Even with these toys though, some of her favorite things to play with are used "stick" type things such as disposable chop sticks, straws and cotton swabs. If I don't keep her distracted when I'm throwing them away, she'll knock over the trash cans until she finds them, so usually I give her a fresh swab every few days.

As Kittster says also, cardboard can be a great "toy" too, if a bit on the messy side. If we have boxes due to get broken down, we usually let them be for a few days so Bonny can hop in and out and play games. We also have two "sheets" of cardboard that get tucked away and pulled back out every now and then, she loves to use them for scratching, just flat on the floor.

I could lend you my dog for a walk. He always carries around "sticks" of the size of a tree trunk...

Thanks.

If you lend me a dog I think it may not be returned! My husband would love to have a dog...

I know there are "cat trees" out there in shops but I do not like the look of them. I would much prefer a real tree branch.

Is anyone pruning trees in their garden?

Actually, my m-i-l has a hazelnut tree which she's planning to remove some branches from, I'll try to remember to let you know ahead of time when we'll do it (she wants my hubby to do it) in case we can figure out some way to get you and the branches united.

Hi Peg-A
That would be great, thank you. Please send a PM and I will be happy to organise something with you.