Non-Toxic Cat Furniture: What to Look For

Cats spend hours a day on their trees, beds and scratchers — rubbing, kneading and sleeping on them. It’s worth knowing what they’re made of.

Materials to favor

• Solid wood or plywood with low-VOC finishes
• Natural sisal rope for scratching posts
• Washable, untreated fabrics and felt

Red flags

• Strong chemical smells straight out of the box
• Loose glue, staples or small parts that can be chewed off
• Wobbly bases — an unstable tree can scare a cat off for good

Placement matters too

Put trees near windows for bird-watching, and give scratchers a spot near where your cat sleeps — cats love a good stretch-and-scratch after a nap.