Maine Coon Cat Tree Lessons from a Florist's Trial and Error
I finally admitted it: The ordinary cat tree just can't handle a Maine Coon cat.
(The real trial-and-error experiences of a flower arranger)
I always thought I was good at choosing things.
After all, I'm a florist and deal with structures every day. I can tell at a glance which branches can support and which flower containers are likely to tip over.
So, what's the result?
I messed up when it came to building the cat tree.
And I messed it up completely.
That morning, I almost threw the whole bunch of tulips onto the ground.
It happened on a particularly ordinary Tuesday.
I was in the kitchen arranging a large bunch of white tulips, preparing to deliver them to the client's home as table decorations in the afternoon.
Walter (our Maine Coon cat) climbed up to the top of its cat tree as it usually does.
Then —
Creak.
It wasn't very loud.
But it was very clear.
At that moment, my hand stopped moving.
I stared at that cat tree, and all that was left in my mind was a single image:
It fell down, and then my cat rolled down like a bowling ball.
It sounds a bit exaggerated, doesn't it?
But if you have a Maine Coon that weighs over 20 pounds, you'll understand what I'm saying.
The Maine Coon cat is not an ordinary cat. This fact is often underestimated by many people.
The first time I took Walter for a check-up, he was 8 months old.
I thought he was already quite big.
Then the veterinarian picked it up and placed it on the scale. He smiled and said:
“You know he's not done growing, right?”
I was stunned for a second.
Later, I learned that adult Maine Coon cats:
It's really huge.
It's not "a little big".
It's the kind of -
One that requires you to reconsider the size of the furniture.
Especially the cat tree.
I bought three cat trees, but in the end I kept only one.
The first one is the kind of common plush style.
It looks very soft, very cozy, and very "cat-friendly".
And the price is not expensive either.
It took about 4 months.
Then one day, I noticed that the top layer began to tilt slightly.
Just like a bouquet of flowers, if the bottom part is not properly fixed, it will gradually lean to one side.
At that moment, I knew:
This is not a question of whether it will break, but a question of when it will break.
The second tree, I deliberately chose one that "looked very sturdy".
The picture is extremely imposing.
There are many platforms and the colors are very attractive.
But after it was installed, I discovered a problem:
The platform is too small.
Every time Walter lay down, half of his body would stick out of the bed.
It looked like a long loaf of bread that had been stuffed into a small box.
It uses it.
But it never sleeps there.
What truly changed my perspective was a very simple detail.
One day later, my friend came to my studio to help me move the flower materials and also brought a new cat tree.
She said that recently many people who have large cats are using this brand, called Mewzoom.
At that time, I actually didn't pay much attention to it.
But when we began to assemble, I suddenly noticed a detail:
The base plate is very heavy.
Not that hollow feeling.
But rather the weight that, once you pick it up, you know it won't be easily moved.
As someone who is constantly moving flower buckets, flower stands and wooden frames every day, I am very sensitive to this feeling.
At that moment, I silently said to myself:
Well, this might be reliable.
As a flower arranger, when I look at a cat tree now, I only focus on three things.
Really, it's just three.
First: Is the base heavy enough?
If the base is light, no matter how tall it is, it won't be of any use.
It's like adding a large bouquet of sunflowers. If the vase is too light -
it will collapse sooner or later.
My current personal standard is:
If I could move it easily with one hand,
then it is very likely that it is not suitable for a Maine Coon.
Second: Is the platform "too large"?
Not exactly right.
It looks a bit exaggeratedly large.
Because Maine Coon cats don't sleep sitting up.
They sleep lying down.
And it can turn over.
It can also stretch its limbs.
Third: Is the column big enough?
This point is particularly important.
The problem with the slender columns is not that they are prone to breaking,
but that they tend to sway.
Once the cat feels unsteady, it will reduce its use.
This is the same as with humans.
If the chair is unstable, you wouldn't want to sit on it either.
Later on, I realized that the wicker cat bed is really suitable for long-haired cats.
Previously, I didn't have much feeling for rattan (tendon weaving).
I just thought it was a kind of decorative style.
Until last summer.
It was extremely hot at that time.
Here, we had temperatures above 90°F for several consecutive weeks.
Walter began to spend less time in the enclosed cat bed.
However, as long as it was a woven structure with good ventilation, he would stay there for a longer time.
At that moment, I finally realized:
Breathability is more important than softness.
Especially for long-haired cats like the Maine Coon.
Now I do a small thing every day.
When I change the water for the flowers in the morning, I also take the opportunity to glance at that cat tree.
It's not because I'm worried it might break.
Rather, it's because I have become accustomed to confirming:
It is firmly placed there.
Just like my flower stand.
Just like my scissors.
Just like the work desk I use every day.
These things don't need to be fancy.
All they need is reliability.
If you also have a Maine Coon cat at home, I sincerely recommend that you keep these 3 things in mind.
First:
Don't buy the size that is "just enough".
Buy a bigger one.
You won't regret it.
Second:
Stability is always more important than appearance.
Instagram won't catch the cat that falls from a height for you.
Third:
A good Maine Coon cat tree will make you feel more at ease.
It's not because it's so advanced.
Rather, it's because you don't have to worry every day.
At this point, I am sitting at the long table in my studio.
On the table is a bunch of freshly trimmed white roses.
There is a hint of eucalyptus smell in the air.
Walter was lying on the top of its cat tree, with its tail hanging down and swaying slowly.
Very quiet.
Very stable.
Very ordinary.
And now I can finally focus my attention on the flowers again, instead of worrying about whether the furniture might tip over.
This is probably the biggest change brought about by a good Maine Coon cat tree.
Not more beautiful.
Not more advanced.
Just --
More reassuring.