cat wont use cat tree?

Question

I adopted a cat a few weeks ago. white British short hair mix, 1 year old. i raw feed her and give her Wellness dry food and cans. she has been in 2 shelters previously before i got her, the owner before me brought her back to the shelter because she is not a normal cat. she is very shy and finicky. she is not aggressive, but runs away easily. she mainly stays under my bed. but she now walks around my room when i'm there and she eats in front of me. she lets me pet her and i play with her several times a day for about 10 minute sessions each. i made my room to be as suited for a cat as possible,  becasue she is very afraid to leave my room. i bought an Amarakat tree, an 8 foot one. i have put treats on the tree and she still wont climb it. i have put her on several levels of the tree and she jumps down. she does however, like a small cat cube i have on the floor. how can i get her to use the tree?

oh, also, she does use the scratching post on the tree but doesn't play with the toys i put on the tree or lay in the cat condos on the tree. do the condos remind her of another cage or something?
my other indoor/outdoor cat doesn't like the tree either....and the two cats do not interact and mostly ignore each other. probably because my white cat lives mostly under my bed.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Kelly,

You could consider something like the SkratchKabin.

It provides cats with a place to sleep/relax- simply chill out, and it's exterior is a scratching surface.

If she enjoys the cat cube already, then the SkratchKabin is, in essence, a combination of both. You'll find that when your cat wants to scratch, she'll simply step out of the SkratchKabin and use its exterior scratching surface to give her claws a workout.

Best of luck!

Montreal Gal · Answer

She is a very normal cat.Maybe she is shy and finicky because no one has loved her as she should be loved.She is only 1 year old and already been in 2 shelters.How sad.Hopefully you will be her final owner.She deserves to be loved and have stability.She will come to you with time .Be patient with her.If she wants to stay under your bed leave her.When she comes out praise her and love her and giver her treats.As for your  Amarakat tree.Cats basically do what they want to.If she wanted to be up it she would.I think you should leave her alone with this and let her get used to it herself.She may never use it and  be happy.I have a tuxedo cat I rescued and she is like yours.The main thing is that you are showing and giving your cat lots of love. My friend wasted 200 dollars on one and her cats have never even sniffed it. Just let your cat do her own thing and if she thrives then she is happy .

cat lover · Answer

You want her to use the tree, and being a cat, she won't.  Or at least won't allow herself to be caught using the cat tree.  Just give her time, and she will probably start to use the tree.  After all, cats love to be up high.

I doubt the condos remind her of a cage.  Most cats like things like cardboard boxes to jump in and out of, so those are little different.

Ellie 5 · Answer

One of my cats was similar.  She just likes the cube on the floor.  Maybe the cat does not like heights.  I have heard that putting catnip on things will make the cat more attracted to it.  So maybe catnip might help.  I never had a tree, but hope this helps.  Just keep trying to get the cat to trust you.  Cats need to adapt gradually.

poohluv29 · Answer

give her time.  If she wants to play with the tree she will.  YOu just got her, she's still adjusting.  She is just getting to know you.  Spend some one on one time with her, petting, brushing her.  while you're sitting on the floor, play with a shoestring or piece of yarn in front of you.  She's just starting to trust you.

TOOTAl2 · Answer

i bet your likes the box it came in

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cat wont use cat tree?

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