If you’re anything like me, you love getting your cat new things. It’s so fun seeing them play and enjoy a new cat toy or cat tree. Even if you’re not like me and you’re only begrudgingly getting cat furniture (sorry, you need it), you probably want your cat to use their new cat furniture. Otherwise, it’s an expensive waste of space and doesn’t help manage your cat’s behavior.
How do you help introduce your cat to new cat furniture so they’ll actually use it? There is a right way and a wrong way, but it’s easier than it seem.
Placement Matters
After you’ve assembled the new cat tree or scratching post, the next step is setting it up in the right location. A few general guidelines:
- Cat trees: These should be in prominent locations near socially significant places. Placement near windows (or getting a cat tree that sticks TO your window) is a good idea, too, but there should be a variety of vertical space in different locations.
- Scratchers: Around the periphery of your cat’s territory, but especially in intersections. If your cat is scratching somewhere, place a scratching post nearby.
- Litter boxes: Out of the way locations that are still easily accessible. There should be one on each floor of your home and your cat shouldn’t have to search too hard to find one.
The placement matters in relation to each other as well. Don’t put your litter box near your cat’s food and keep scratchers elsewhere, too.
Let Your Cat Discover It
A lot of people feel that they need to show their cat where new furniture or a litter box is located. I’ve always found this line of thinking odd because cats aren’t dumb creatures. They’ll figure out where the resources they need are as long as you provide them with something they’ll like.
In other words, there’s no need to pick up your cat and put them on the new cat tree, in the litter box when you move, or put their paws on their scratching post. In fact, you absolutely should not do that last one. It’s very aversive for your cat. Any of these could be aversive for your cat, actually, and may cause them to not like the new cat furniture.
This is a case where less is more: just let your cat figure it out on their own. Cats can be neophobic, meaning they don’t necessarily like new things. They might be curious about the new item, but still need to figure out that it’s not a threat. Give them time.
Gentle Guidance Might Help
If you really feel the need to do something, some things could help. Scratching your fingernails on a scratching post can be helpful as long as your cat still chooses to use the post themselves. Better yet, a bit of catnip or silver vine powder rubbed on the scratching post can naturally draw your cat in.
You can use catnip, silver vine powder, or some tasty snacks near a cat tree and, eventually, on the cat tree. Give your cat some time to adjust to the new cat furniture before trying this. Even if it’s a positive thing you’re giving them, sometimes it can be aversive if you’re not careful about how you do it.
Don’t Forget About Play
People under estimate how much their cats like and need to play. Yes, that includes your cat that you don’t think likes to play! A friend recently posted a video of her 20 year old cat playing so you’re never too old to play. If your cat doesn’t seem to play, you may need to try a different toy or change how you’re playing. I suggest picking up a copy of Play With Your Cat to learn more about play that cats love.
That aside, once you get your cat playing, they’ll be having a great time! Playing with them near their new cat furniture (except their litter box) can help get them curious about the big, new strange thing that suddenly appeared in a very positive way. You can try playing with them on the cat furniture once they seem more comfortable being near it to see if it gets them interested in using it
Be Patient
My biggest tip for getting your cat to use their new cat furniture? Be patient.
It can take cats weeks to want to try something new and they may naturally rotate which pieces of cat furniture they use. Nothing wrong with that and it doesn’t mean your should ditch the furniture. Give them time to be curious cats. If you haven’t seen them use it after a month or two, move it to a more appealing location to your cat (not to you; your cat’s perspective matters more) for another month or two.
If they still don’t use it, you can try again or it may be that your cat just isn’t interested. Maybe they prefer a different type of scratcher or a cat tree that allows them to climb higher than the one you got. That’s okay! Try something different and you’ll get it right eventually.
