The Cat Tree

Dining Room Furniture

For the past seven years, we haven't had one stitch of furniture in the dining room. But it is empty no more!

We stopped by one of our local pet stores and picked up a cat tree with three perches. Of course, being cats, when we set it up in front of one of the big picture windows, they wanted nothing to do with this new thing in their lives. I sprinkled some catnip on each perch and walked away. Scout was the first to venture in, followed shortly thereafter by Emma (seen here in the covered perch). Sam was a harder sell but after finally trying it out, he has rarely left it since. And he isn't just sleeping on it, during the afternoon he was swinging all around the thing like a gymnast on the uneven bars.

So Em, Do You Like the Cat Tree?

Em? Emma? I'll take that as a yes.

Orange and Black

Did I mention that Emma has taken to the cat tree?

Cat in a Tube

Sam has also really taken to the cat tree, preferring the middle perch that is covered like a tube. Scout is the only one who doesn't often sleep in the tree, but she doesn't change her sleeping spots so casually. Even the sweltering temperatures of a heat wave don't drive her from her favorite locations in the upper floors.

Our cat Sam playing with a string in the cat tree

Aren't I the Cutest?

I originally grabbed the camera to take a picture of Scout, but Sam started playing with his favorite string and I couldn't resist a picture when he struck this pose. Though taken late in the morning next to a big picture window, there was so little light from outside that I turned on the lamp for a little more light. It has a much warmer color than the outside light but that goes well with Sam's orange fur.

I See You There Little Squirrel! Pewww Pewww!

Sam sets his sights on the wildlife outside the picture window. I especially love his little gun sounds.

Our cats Sam and Emma playing in the cat tree

Cat and Mouse

Emma sneaks down from the top of the cat tree and catches Sam helpless and unaware …

… well, maybe not so helpless.

Green Dog

We got the cat tree came from a fantastic pet store, Green Dog Pet Supply, a locally owned shop not far from our neighborhood in NE Portland. They also have a blog with updates on pet food news as well links to the occasional video, such as a cat with a humorous drinking technique. And I used to think that Templeton had a drinking problem. We also get our pet treats from Green Dog, and in fact they are the folks that turned us on to Wildside Salmon that the cats go crazy for. It is also the place where we get our Dog Toys to End All Dog Toys, the family of hedgehogs that Ellie loves so much. So Green Dog comes highly recommended not just from us, but all of our little ones as well.

A head shot of our cat Sam resting on the cat tree

A head shot of our cat Sam sleeping on the cat tree

Circles & Squares

Sam sleeping in the cat tube, a difference of perspective changes the view from circles to squares.

Lady Em's Second Favorite Tree

The Christmas tree will always be Emma's favorite, with this tree her second favorite. I took these pictures of her on the cat tree after I got my new camera, the Canon 7D, as I was using her as my test subject for using the off-center focus points.

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