Types of Trees Used to Build Cat Trees

Cat trees are cat accessories developed for the indoor cat. These trees provide climbing activities and perches for the cat when it does not have access to actual trees outdoors. Several types of wood are used for cat trees. The type of wood is linked to the quality, durablility and price of the cat tree.

  1. Sisal

    • Sisal is very durable and strong. It is frequently used for rugs and as covering material on cat trees as a scratching surface. Sisal material is ideal for scratching as it has grain and texture that is ideal for cat shredding. Sisal is agave plant fiber extracted by crushing the agave leaves and scraping away the pulp. It is the pulp that contains the fibers used to create sisal ropes and material.

    Plywood

    • Plywood is typically used for the cat tree base and any perching areas. Plywood is ideal as it can easily be cut into square or rectangular pieces. Additionally cat trees that use plywood for parts of the structure will be less expensive as plywood is a cheaper wood. The plywood is covered with material, such as sisal, to provide a comfortable perching spot. Other materials used for covering can include a rug, faux fur or fleece.

    Driftwood

    • The main pole or trunk of the cat tree can be made of driftwood. In fact driftwod provides a fully functional but also unique cat tree. If you are interested in providing a piece of art for your cat to relax on then driftwood provides this aspect, as no two pieces are exactly the same. There are no chemicals used when creating a driftwood cat tree as the ocean has already treated the wood. Driftwood is also a good material for cats to scratch and does not need to be covered with material.

    Cedar

    • Cedar is used for very tall cat trees that are 5- to -6 feet in height. Cat trees made of cedar tend to be taller because the long cedar branches can be cut down to size. It is not advisable to glue together several branches to create a tall cat tree as this unsteady. Cedar is also known as an aromatic wood and gives off a lovely odor when the wood is unsealed. A cat tree made of cedar can be used both indoors and outdoors. Cedar wood is excellent scratching wood as it is hard but will not splinter or hurt your cat's paws.