Exercise machine and sleep centre combined (Kalven Cat Scratching Post)

Member Name: laramax

Product:	Kalven Cat Scratching Post
Date:	10/04/08 (113 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sturdy, effective and easy to put together, long lasting

Disadvantages: More expensive than some but they do last a long time

Most cat owners love their pets and find that cats are pretty independent and adaptable. However inside every feline friend is a little beast waiting to test out its weaponry and those claws, which are kept sheathed during most of the day, need to be kept sharp by a little bit of daily exercise. That is fine just so long as they don't use your favourite furniture as part of the process.

Do you worry about your cats scratching your furniture? Are your cats bored with the silly little cat scratcher you bought from your local pet shop? Is your cat too tall for your scratching post? I answered yes to most of those questions so I set out to find a solution.

I disovered a company called Kalven, based in Yorkshire who can offer a solution with their wide range of cat furniture to suit almost any feline household.

I doubt I am the only person to worry when buying a cat about how to keep my furniture in good condition without them being tempted to use my chairs as a scratching post. However I am pleased to say that I appear to have found a great solution to that problem in the form of a Kalven cat scratching post.

Each one of their scratching posts and climbers is individually made and you can have a choice of colours - just tell the good people at Kalven what colours will match your furnishings and they will do their best to find a suitable match. I found that amazing, where else can you find a company so obliging and at no extra cost?

The climbers are well made, very sturdy (and heavy) and each has poles wrapped with sisal cord providing a great surface on which to exercise claws. They have a wide choice of designs some with beds (circular or oval), platforms or tunnels or a combination of all three and they come in a range of heights to suit your needs.

The unit is delivered dismantled with comprehensive instructions on how to put it together. The beds are all lined with vetbed which can easily be removed for washing or which can be easily replaced when they become worn. The rest of the climber is covered with carpet which can be vacuumed clean - in six years the sisal hasn't needed replacing but that should not prove difficult should it be necessary to do so as the whole unit can be easily dismantled.

After debating long and hard the model I bought stands about 5 foot tall and has three beds on it for the cats to settle down on (or if they feel like it to play 'king of the castle' on). Because it is so tall they are able to stretch out fully to scratch and they certainly seem to love to do that. They also love the height as cats generally enjoy finding a high vantage point to watch the world go by. My three also use it as an activity centre taking it in turns to claim the top bed and having great fun trying to dislodge each other when the mood takes them.

It is great, they get plenty of exercise which is especially important for indoor cats and they get that exercise in 'their' space without swinging off my curtains! They spend most of their day fast asleep in the beds as you can see from the photo at the top of this review - when I first bought the climber it had just two beds but when I bought a third cat and needed a third bed all it took was q uick phonecall to Kalven and they obliged.

My cats also seem to prefer sitting on it to sitting on my furniture and with three light coloured fluffy cats around that has huge benefits - I have tried to explain to friends that furniture is called 'furr' niture in this house for a reason but not everyone appreciates leaving with a white fluffy 'tail' attached to their clothing. Now that the cats rarely sit on the furniture that problem has almost gone away.

I have had my climber for about six years and apart from replacing the vetbed linings a couple of times because they got very grubby it has worn very well. It gets a 'five paws' rating from my three cats who tell me they simply adore it and it gets five stars from me from its sheer entertainment value when the cats are playing on it.

They are expensive - mine cost about £150 when I bought it six years ago but it has been money well spent as it has saved me wear and tear on the suite and provided three cat beds into the bargain. You can buy them mail order from Kalven at www.kalven.co.uk or at cat shows where they often have a display.

Would I recommend them?
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Yes I would they are sturdy, easy to put together, they come in a wide range of colours to match your decor and the people at Kalven and very helpful. They stock a wide range to suit all pockets and households and the furry members of my family think they are great too!

Summary: The most effective way I know to stop cats scratching furniture