A Cat Tree That’s a Castle

Cats need places to climb to the top to survey their domain, to hide for escape for the environment, and to scratch. There are several types of furniture that provide these individual needs, but it's even better when a piece of furniture provides all of this in one piece!

We  love the Vesper Furniture from Catit®. As we discussed in a previous blog post, with an interview with Kate Benjamin about Catification, we should provide furniture and items for our felines that meet their need to climb, scratch, and hide. In addition, the furniture is sturdy and has a design that should blend into any home décor. The Vesper High Base meets all of these! 

Brulee goes straight for the hanging rattan ball toy on the Catit Vesper High Base

When I had my previous Persian Cat, Praline, I thought Persians didn't climb or like to be high because she never jumped or climbed. I was quite surprised when Truffle and Brulee came to live with me as kittens. The first week Truffle was here, she climbed to the top of the cat tree I'd purchased and then proceeded to jump on top of my tall secretary desk! I quickly learned I needed to place the cat trees in a location that was a little more safe. Brulee joined us 2 months later and it didn't take long for her to join Truffle at the top of the tree. Brulee eventually claimed the top of our old cat tree for herself and Truffle was left to the lower levels. Truffle didn't begin sleeping on top of the cat tree until we brought the Vesper High Base XL into our home. This cat tree stays in our guest bedroom where it's quiet and Truffle enjoy the calm on the top of the tree surveying her world. Brulee continues sleeping on the top shelf of the older cat tree in the living room. I knew I needed to get a newer cat tree because the older tree doesn't blend in with my living room furniture and it's not as sturdy as the Vesper cat tree.

The Vesper High Base provides what Brulee needs because it's a tall piece of furniture for cats that love to sit up high. I'm in the process of cleaning out my home office from the years I was a college professor and want to "catify" my home office for my cats since I spend so much time at the computer and both like being in there with me. I've purchased a new desk and some shelves that are glass and black. I was very excited to learn that the Vesper High Base is now available in black!!! 

Vesper High Base Description

The Vesper High Base has a contemporary design and is sturdy. It has extra-long seagrass scratching posts to satisfy the cats' need to scratch while stretching. There is a tall observation platform with a memory-foam cushion for comfort. The High Base also includes a cozy cubed den with two entrances that also has a memory-foam cushion for where your cat can curl up for a nap. The two opening provides a sense of security for your cat because she won't feel cornered and has an escape door. It's made of high-quality MDF with a black laminate finish. The parts can be easily removed for cleaning. The cushions and the small sisal pad are hand-washable. Replacement parts are available in case any part of the scratcher becomes worn out. There is also a rattan ball toy that is attached to the top platform. The Vesper High Base is available in black, walnut, and oak and retails around $120 - 140m, depending on which finish you choose. The Vesper High Base can be purchased on the Catit website or other online or brick and mortar pet supply stores. It's currently on sale on the Catit website.

Truffle claims the top of the Vesper High Base Cat Tree

Assembling the Vesper High Base

The box is a little heavy, so be prepared to have someone help you bring it inside and move it to the chosen location in your home. I had to slide it across the floor to move it from the front of the house to the guest bedroom. There were not small pieces to put together (except the screws and other attachments needed). There were instructional diagrams to help put the Vesper High Base together. A small Phillips-head screwdriver/Allen wrench is included in the box to help put the tree together. I chose to use a battery-operated screwdriver to put the tree together because of the arthritis in my hands. From opening the box to completion, it took me a little less than 1 hour to put together. 

Here is a short video from Catit-Vesper on assembling the Vesper High Base. I'm very visual, so watching the video helped me understand the pieces and how they connected.

Our Review

Brulee checking out her cubed den

I love the design of the Vesper furniture and the Vesper High Base is no exception. It's made of a simple geometric design which gives it a modern appeal and should blend in with any décor in your home. The cat tree is probably appropriate for the average sized cat. The memory-foam cushions are attached with Velcro which makes them easy to attach and easy to remove for cleaning. This cat tree appears to be pretty sturdy, but if you have larger cats or multiple cats that like to run and jump on the tree, you may need to anchor it.

Both Truffle and Brulee have explored the lower parts of the tree within the first week. Currently, it's in my bedroom because I'm in the middle of cleaning out my home office to make room for new furniture for both myself and my cats. I believe once the tree is in front of the window, both girls will show more interest in climbing to higher levels to look outside. It took Truffle several weeks to climb to the top of our Vesper High Base XL and now I can usually find her either on top or the tree or inside the cubed den. 

The only recommendation I would make about the Vesper High Base would be to extend out the different levels to make it easier for cats to get down from the top. Persian cats have flatter faces and they can't really see directly below them like many cats. I've had to place other pieces of cat furniture beside the taller cat trees so the girls can see their way down easier. They've both resorted to jumping from the top perch to the ground which scares me because of their cobby bodies. Truffle jumps from the top of her Vesper High Base XL onto the daybed in the guest room for a soft landing.

See more items from Vesper on the Catit website and social media.

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Giveaway

We're excited to announce that one of our readers has the opportunity to win a Catit Vesper High Base.  No purchase necessary. The giveaway is open to residents of the United States 18+ years, except where prohibited by law. The giveaway will run from December 16 - January 4, ending at 11:59 pm ET. The winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter (powered by Random.org) and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to claim her prize; failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the prize and a new winner will be randomly chosen. To qualify for the giveaway, a comment must be left on our blog post.  Other entry options are available after a comment is left.  Please check your email and be sure to add sweetpurrfections@sc.rr.com to your address book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway