CAT-FRIENDLY CHRISTMAS TREES
The First
We at Square Paws were likely the first people to fashion a Christmas tree for cats when we began designing various prototypes in the Summer of 2017. Year after year, we had seen funny videos online of cats climbing Douglas fir’s and Spruce’s, often knocking precious ornaments and baubles off the branches, and we thought, “Why aren’t there cat trees that can still provide the cats with the climbing and exercise that they crave while still giving the humans the satisfaction of having a decorative tree, albeit an artificial tree, in their home for the holidays. Thus was born our “3D Catmas Tree” the world’s first cat-friendly Christmas Tree!
If you’re familiar with Square Paws, then you know that we don’t strive for the ordinary, boring cat tree design with beige carpet and boxy enclosures; we make works of art! So we took our analyses of cat behavior with cat towers and created a replica of an evergreen tree in three dimensions, from the jagged-shaped edges of the platforms to the heaving tree-boughs of the vertical panels, all the while giving consideration for how the cats would interact with the tree as well as giving ample places for hanging cat-friendly (AKA non-breakable) ornaments.
It was in instant hit with our focus group, i.e. our own cats, and it has been an annual staple of our Christmas season every year since!
Two-dimensional
In 2018, we dreamt up a second concept for the Christmas cat tree: a two-dimensional, more abstract version for folks who might want a simpler, more modern design for their “Catmas tree.” After all, there are so many versions of artificial Christmas trees on the market, and we wanted to explore how to offer an alternative to the 3D tree we had created the year before.
In this 2D “Stackable” design, we began with a triangular front and back plate and a series of “ladder” like platforms for the cat to scale to the top. In addition, we made an intermediate “cat hole” at the center, since people often have multiple cats and because cats always need a second means of getting away from another feline that might show dominance.
This scheme proved to be just as workable as the first, testing very well with our cats! We also liked the concept of making this model with a nesting storage capability, making for an easy means of putting the tree away when the holiday season has ended.
Sizing
Since 2018, we’ve had requests for slightly smaller scale to our first two designs, and we gladly obliged. These scaled-down versions still provide ample space for cats but help accommodate those with less space in their homes for the cat trees as well as for their storage.
Blueprints
We’ve also recognized that our prices are on the high side relative to the price of cat trees one can buy at Walmart and big box pet stores. So we began to make the plans available to people with some woodworking propensities. The DIY blueprints began with the 3D and 2D Catmas trees but has been expanded to several of our other popular models.
Gingerbread houses…for cats
And, as always, our creative juices don’t stop flowing when it comes to fun alternative Christmas holiday items for cat-people. We’ve also been the first to make a Gingerbread house with cat appeal, scaled up for a cat to nest inside and on top with scratchable sisal side roof surfaces, catnip mats and catnip-filled wreath and candy canes.
And we developed the roof eaves to house the all-so-necessary cat treats that cat people have in their homes. After much testing, we found the right roof angle that would allow the treats to sit and stay in the divots and still be lickable by a cat.
Other religions
With Square Paws and our creativity, there are limitless possibilities to the things we can create for you and for your cats. Case in point: we created a Meownorah, the traditional candelabra used to celebrate Hanukkah. And we built it so that it can function as an elegant cat tree in the other times of the year.
And other holiday traditions
One year we received a special request to make a unique cat tree that would incorporate the iconic leg lamp from the holiday classic movie, A Christmas Story. We thoroughly enjoyed the creative process in the design of this one!
