Cat Supplies - Window Perch

We've talked about buying a window perch for the cats to try for a long time. At stores such as Petsmart or on our trusted online Doctors Foster and Smith website, they are pretty pricey. When I saw one in a Lakeside Collection catalog, I got it immediately. It was 10 bucks, so I knew we could give it a try. Besides, Aphrodite had taken to sleeping on the window ledge in our bedroom that was about three times smaller than her body. I knew she would love a larger, comfy platform.

Although the Lakeside Collection is not a pet supply company, they sometimes have pet items. They're sort of like the general gift store of the internet. Unfortunately, they sell an item and then it's gone. They have a random selection of items that constantly change. At the same time, everything we've ever gotten from them has been wonderful. I also get a lot of Christmas gifts out of that catalog and website.

The window perch came in pieces in a bag. I therefore put it in the closet for a day in the future when I would feel particularly confident in my tool-y skills. That day didn't come for about 2 months (my bad). My desire to try to nail or screw this thing into the wall was zero. All the times the curtain rods fell out rested heavy in the back of my thoughts. I sort of assumed the perch may go up but that it would also inevitably come down. Perhaps immediately.

Finally, somewhat out of frustration but mostly out of my determination to cross it off the list, I got it out. The directions were really difficult to read. I was starting to get a little nervous. But, there weren't that many pieces in the bag. Basically, there was a board, the foam that goes on the board, and a washable cover that goes over the foam. A small bag of screws, 2 metal arms, and 2 metal half circle things. There were already drilled holes to put the arms and metal half circle things, so I just screwed them on and looked at it. It ended up being really simple. Best part? NO nailing or screwing into the wall. The little half moon pieces just slipped into the lip of the part where the window slides when it's opened, and the arms had a rubber piece on the end that holds it against the wall underneath the shelf without hurting the wall.

Here is a shot of underside of the finished perch. Hermes and Aphrodite came to help model it as well.

The shelf was an immediate hit. Pandora was up and comfortable before I could put away the screwdriver.

Isley and Aphrodite were next after Pandora had enjoyed it for an hour or two.

As the week went on, it was Mary Lou who frequented it the most.

She's stretch out on it. She'd sleep in a tiny ball, covering 25% of it. She'd play with her tail. Roll on her back. Stretch out her toes and nails. Sit straight up on it. Then start all over again.

The only thing I wished once it was put together and up was that it had come with a larger, better fitting cover or, at the very least, a spare cover. Still, I've had it out for about 2 weeks and that cover has stayed put and put up with wear extremely well. I immediately thought I would make a spare cover out of an old shirt headed to the Goodwill, or something along those lines. As time's gone on, I don't know if I'll need to do that or not. I had to take back my original, less than enthused thoughts about the cover. The only thing I wish now is that we'd got one or two more.

Aphrodite was the original reason we got it, and although it hasn't yet been tried out fully by all the cats in the house, it has definitely been popular for 4-5 of them. Pandora sleeps next to me and Mav the few hours in the morning before we rise (her day does not start until ours does). She's taken to getting on the perch if it's light out and watching the birds in the trees in the backyard until we rise. I wake up to see her little head going back and forth, her body tensed like she's gonna get 'em. Then, the dog and I stumble out of bed. She comes right back to her own inside-the-house world and leaves the perch to follow us around on our morning routine. Usually, Aphrodite takes her spot pretty quickly.

Even if no one else cared about it, it still would have been worth it. For Aphrodite.

There is nothing better than a happy Aphrodite.