As you may know, cats enjoy having places they can call their own. If you want to give your cat the perfect place to play, explore, sleep, and hide away from the world, it’s important to get them the right cat play house—one that suits their needs, their personality, and their size. Here are 10 tips to help you find the best cat play house and ensure your cat has plenty of fun!
1) Style
Why do you want to buy a cat play house? If you’re looking for a safe and affordable way to keep your cat entertained when she’s home alone, consider purchasing a cat play house. These fun little structures are perfect because they provide cats with something to climb, claw and hide in while keeping them active at home. As with any purchase, there are several factors to consider before buying your new house.
2) Quality
Cats play in order to exercise their bodies and minds. While they can do plenty of things with just their minds, it’s a good idea to give them some toys so they can keep themselves busy. Purchasing a cat play house provides not only physical stimulation but mental stimulation as well. Here are 10 tips for purchasing a great one.
3) Design
No other element of your house is more important than your cat play house. Before you start shopping, you need to think about what kind of play space you want and how much space it’ll take up in your home. You may also want to create a checklist of things that you’ll need to purchase with your play house, like toys or an appropriate litter box. Once you’ve thought these things through, it’s time to shop!
4) Size
Ideally, your cat play house should be big enough that your cat can comfortably fit inside. That said, it’s okay if she doesn’t want to—it’s totally up to her! Don’t try to force her into a space she doesn’t feel comfortable in. It will end poorly. However, do keep in mind that most cats like cozy spaces more than large ones.
5) Accessibility
Make sure your new pet play house is going to be accessible to your cat. Cats like enclosed spaces, but they also need to be able to get in and out easily. If you have an older or mobility-challenged kitty, make sure he will be able to access his new toy easily. He’ll appreciate it! Consider buying a carpeted cat tree house with extra space under so that kitty can get in and out of his room easily, especially if he has arthritis.
6) Durability
Before buying a cat play house, it’s important to know if it’s going to hold up. Make sure that you can easily clean out hair and debris from your cat play house, so it doesn’t become a place of perpetual build-up. This will make cleaning much easier down the road and prevent nasty odors from building up inside your cat play house.
7) Safety
You want to keep your cat happy and healthy, so don’t purchase any cat playhouse that does not meet ASTM standards. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide consistent and reliable technical standards in order to support international product development. If a cat playhouse doesn’t meet these standards, there may be design flaws that could put your cat at risk.
8) Storage
If you’re planning on buying a cat play house that is designed to be inside your home, choose one with ample storage space. The ideal model should have a number of shelves and cabinets that allow you to hide belongings and decorate them, too.
9) Aesthetics
If you’re planning on buying a house, you’ll want to consider how it will look in your home. That said, some play houses can be painted to match your interior decor; many are just meant to complement any home décor. If you plan on moving soon or don’t have much space where you live, opt for something that won’t stick out like a sore thumb—or out of place!
10) Value/Price
A cat play house is an expensive purchase, so it’s important to understand what you’re buying and how much it will cost. It’s also important to make sure that your cat actually enjoys using their play house because if they don’t, then it could be a wasted investment. When comparing cat houses, you should compare in terms of value and price per square inch.
