Hi everyone and welcome to my video  on how to put together a cat tree  
Hi everyone and welcome to my video  on how to put together a cat tree  

now more important than how we're also going  to talk about the why why would we want to add  
now more important than how we're also going  to talk about the why why would we want to add  

this questionable aesthetically questionable  piece of furniture to our boat and joining me  
this questionable aesthetically questionable  piece of furniture to our boat and joining me  

for this video besides the usual crew of mr  pirate and claudia who's circling down there  
for this video besides the usual crew of mr  pirate and claudia who's circling down there  

is my fiancee the inestimable the  lovely and the incomparable sin hello so  
is my fiancee the inestimable the  lovely and the incomparable sin hello so  

feel free to leave congratulations in the  comments below so sims are going to join me  
feel free to leave congratulations in the  comments below so sims are going to join me  

in assembling this cat tree that we order  off amazon uh how did you pick this cat tree  
in assembling this cat tree that we order  off amazon uh how did you pick this cat tree  

so much you picked this with a minor input from  me yes so i looked through about 80 different cat  
so much you picked this with a minor input from  me yes so i looked through about 80 different cat  

tree options and clearly this one set out now in  reality there were a few different dimensions we  
tree options and clearly this one set out now in  reality there were a few different dimensions we  

were looking at and i was trying to find kind of  a narrower one but one that had low down perches  
were looking at and i was trying to find kind of  a narrower one but one that had low down perches  

for pirate and um higher ones for claudia so we  kind of picked this one to just fit in behind the  
for pirate and um higher ones for claudia so we  kind of picked this one to just fit in behind the  

couch because pirate is a bit of a senior cat so  he's not going to be as jumpy as a young cat like  
couch because pirate is a bit of a senior cat so  he's not going to be as jumpy as a young cat like  

claudia might be so he wanted something that has  easy access right he has minimal upward thrust  
claudia might be so he wanted something that has  easy access right he has minimal upward thrust  

so um as to why we would want to add a cat tree  to our home well there's a couple of really good  
so um as to why we would want to add a cat tree  to our home well there's a couple of really good  

reasons the most important one is that cats  love looking down on us and we're going to  
reasons the most important one is that cats  love looking down on us and we're going to  

talk about that a little bit more in a moment  um another one is that cat trees typically come  
talk about that a little bit more in a moment  um another one is that cat trees typically come  

with scratching posts so a good cat tree  will provide your cats with an appropriate  
with scratching posts so a good cat tree  will provide your cats with an appropriate  

place to scratch and avoid scratching in  inappropriate places like your couch or your sofa
place to scratch and avoid scratching in  inappropriate places like your couch or your sofa

which actually can be assisted with lots of nail  trimming oh yes yes and for advice on how to trim  
which actually can be assisted with lots of nail  trimming oh yes yes and for advice on how to trim  

your cat's nails i have two videos out on that  i'll throw links to them in the comments below  
your cat's nails i have two videos out on that  i'll throw links to them in the comments below  

once your paint needs to be these guys don't  really scratch the leather for some reason and  
once your paint needs to be these guys don't  really scratch the leather for some reason and  

it's probably because of yuri's uh facilities nail  trimming it's for a clear reason to trim their  
it's probably because of yuri's uh facilities nail  trimming it's for a clear reason to trim their  

hands so um and we provide them with alternatives  to scratch on and i mean of course the third and  
hands so um and we provide them with alternatives  to scratch on and i mean of course the third and  

maybe the most important reason to have a cat  tree so you can actually display your cat to  
maybe the most important reason to have a cat  tree so you can actually display your cat to  

the neighborhood because you know dog people  just get to show off their dog every time they  
the neighborhood because you know dog people  just get to show off their dog every time they  

go for a walk two to three times a day right two  to three times a day not once not every other day  
go for a walk two to three times a day right two  to three times a day not once not every other day  

two to three times per day is how often  you're supposed to take your dog for a walk  
two to three times per day is how often  you're supposed to take your dog for a walk  

whereas cat people we never really get a  chance to show off our little trash goblins  
whereas cat people we never really get a  chance to show off our little trash goblins  

uh except when we display them in the window with  a well-positioned cat tree and we go for works a  
uh except when we display them in the window with  a well-positioned cat tree and we go for works a  

neighborhood there's a regular spot there's  places we stop on every walk to check to see  
neighborhood there's a regular spot there's  places we stop on every walk to check to see  

the cat tree that's clearly visible the window is  occupied and when it is typically the laser walk  
the cat tree that's clearly visible the window is  occupied and when it is typically the laser walk  

by about five minutes i pretty much i know all  the cats in the neighborhoods that i've lived in  
by about five minutes i pretty much i know all  the cats in the neighborhoods that i've lived in  

and it's uh really important to display your  little cat and um now that i think about  
and it's uh really important to display your  little cat and um now that i think about  

it actually maybe that explains why 50 of the  internet is just cat photos just because really  
it actually maybe that explains why 50 of the  internet is just cat photos just because really  

we it's the only practical place to show  off your your adorable little kitty hmm  
we it's the only practical place to show  off your your adorable little kitty hmm  

good insight i think what the other 49 is  well we'll matter for a different video  
good insight i think what the other 49 is  well we'll matter for a different video  

so uh and okay so the actual behavioral reason  behind why we have cat trees is that for cats  
so uh and okay so the actual behavioral reason  behind why we have cat trees is that for cats  

elevation is much more important than horizontal  space cats need to have access to a vertical space  
elevation is much more important than horizontal  space cats need to have access to a vertical space  

for their shall we say mental welfare for their  behavior welfare because for cats it's really  
for their shall we say mental welfare for their  behavior welfare because for cats it's really  

important to be able to look down on things it  makes them look secure it makes them look stealthy  
important to be able to look down on things it  makes them look secure it makes them look stealthy  

you know they can be keeping an eye out for danger  they can feel really safe because they're up high  
you know they can be keeping an eye out for danger  they can feel really safe because they're up high  

above and especially this was demonstrated by  research done at the animal welfare department  
above and especially this was demonstrated by  research done at the animal welfare department  

at ubc in the early 2000s in conjunction  with the bc spca and i was lucky enough  
at ubc in the early 2000s in conjunction  with the bc spca and i was lucky enough  

to be a member of that department briefly as an  undergraduate researcher so i actually got to meet  
to be a member of that department briefly as an  undergraduate researcher so i actually got to meet  

some of the grad students who are doing this work  i was working on dairy cattle for most of my time  
some of the grad students who are doing this work  i was working on dairy cattle for most of my time  

there so i never really got to be involved in  it but later when i was doing an undergraduate  
there so i never really got to be involved in  it but later when i was doing an undergraduate  

research project which predictably wasn't kitten  behavior that's a story for another time i got to  
research project which predictably wasn't kitten  behavior that's a story for another time i got to  

see the effects of the work and then what they did  was it demonstrated that for cat stress vertical  
see the effects of the work and then what they did  was it demonstrated that for cat stress vertical  

space was more important than the horizontal space  and this is really important in shelter housing  
space was more important than the horizontal space  and this is really important in shelter housing  

so instead of trying to put when you have 20  cats instead of trying to put them in a big room  
so instead of trying to put when you have 20  cats instead of trying to put them in a big room  

what they realized they could use a room with a  small footprint but as long as they created lots  
what they realized they could use a room with a  small footprint but as long as they created lots  

of levels with cat trees with shelving little  walkways these cats were actually less stressed  
of levels with cat trees with shelving little  walkways these cats were actually less stressed  

than they would have been in a much bigger room  that was flatter and of course when cats are  
than they would have been in a much bigger room  that was flatter and of course when cats are  

less stressed it leads to higher adoption rates so  it's really important for cat shelters to get this  
less stressed it leads to higher adoption rates so  it's really important for cat shelters to get this  

right so this is really cool research that led to  this and there's actually work on going through  
right so this is really cool research that led to  this and there's actually work on going through  

the ubc animal welfare department on this topic  in conjunction with spca and i encourage you guys  
the ubc animal welfare department on this topic  in conjunction with spca and i encourage you guys  

to go check out their website for and for the for  this work and also support your local spca because  
to go check out their website for and for the for  this work and also support your local spca because  

they do a lot of good work uh not only in  adopting animals out and taking care of animals  
they do a lot of good work uh not only in  adopting animals out and taking care of animals  

who have no one else take care of them but also  in research and they help the the science that  
who have no one else take care of them but also  in research and they help the the science that  

then leads to better frontline animal welfare  practices so what this work demonstrated was that  
then leads to better frontline animal welfare  practices so what this work demonstrated was that  

cats are just less stressed uh when they're when  they've accessed different levels they can look  
cats are just less stressed uh when they're when  they've accessed different levels they can look  

down on things and of course in cats stress leads  to all sorts of undesirable behaviors and avoiding  
down on things and of course in cats stress leads  to all sorts of undesirable behaviors and avoiding  

it is really good for them and yeah and we should  always be doing things that are good for cats  
it is really good for them and yeah and we should  always be doing things that are good for cats  

so just to summarize reasons why we want a  cat trade good for animal welfare good for the  
so just to summarize reasons why we want a  cat trade good for animal welfare good for the  

cat's mental state it provides a spot for them to  scratch that's not your couch and it lets you show  
cat's mental state it provides a spot for them to  scratch that's not your couch and it lets you show  

off your cats to the street if you have windows  facing the street i feel like all the cat tree  
off your cats to the street if you have windows  facing the street i feel like all the cat tree  

marketers need to revamp their strategy because i  don't think they included that last one in there  
marketers need to revamp their strategy because i  don't think they included that last one in there  

yeah yeah this video isn't sponsored by  anybody but yeah it probably should be  
yeah yeah this video isn't sponsored by  anybody but yeah it probably should be  

okay let's without further ado let's get to it  
okay let's without further ado let's get to it  

all right now important to note that we  don't have instructions for this cat tree  
all right now important to note that we  don't have instructions for this cat tree  

so this might be a little bit of a chaotic  process we're gonna muddle through and hopefully  
so this might be a little bit of a chaotic  process we're gonna muddle through and hopefully  

the cats will be able to give us some pointers  because i know that they know what they want  
the cats will be able to give us some pointers  because i know that they know what they want  

stuff on my cat.com one of my  favorite websites i've got the book
stuff on my cat.com one of my  favorite websites i've got the book

it's important to have a worksite  supervisor we're likely to have a very  
it's important to have a worksite  supervisor we're likely to have a very  

very conscientious one just picking us  around the corner staying out of the way  
very conscientious one just picking us  around the corner staying out of the way  

but making sure that all safety practices are  followed right we did find instructions happy
but making sure that all safety practices are  followed right we did find instructions happy

days
days

i think so far i'm really displaying  the best method for doi projects  
i think so far i'm really displaying  the best method for doi projects  

this is delegation publications  
this is delegation publications  

oh my god i'm afraid of moving him pause for cats
oh my god i'm afraid of moving him pause for cats

in an upcoming video i'm going to tell  you how not to get scratched by your cat
in an upcoming video i'm going to tell  you how not to get scratched by your cat

this is how all of our home  improvement projects go
this is how all of our home  improvement projects go

i've just noticed recently this trend of  labeling different pieces and assembling  
i've just noticed recently this trend of  labeling different pieces and assembling  

yourself furniture with letters and i  just want to strongly endorse it this  
yourself furniture with letters and i  just want to strongly endorse it this  

makes assembling furniture so much easier it's a  great departure from ikea's traditional method of  
makes assembling furniture so much easier it's a  great departure from ikea's traditional method of  

making everything look exactly identical not  that we want to say anything negative about our  
making everything look exactly identical not  that we want to say anything negative about our  

furniture overlords no ikea's marvelous  it's just that this is a good change
furniture overlords no ikea's marvelous  it's just that this is a good change

pirate's too fat to squeeze behind
pirate's too fat to squeeze behind

oh jesus there's a beetle on this thing
oh jesus there's a beetle on this thing

can you poke it with the end of the
can you poke it with the end of the

screwdriver
screwdriver

set it free
set it free

so this is not an essential part of  catch reassembly but highly recommended
so this is not an essential part of  catch reassembly but highly recommended

okay that looks seriously cozy  i kind of want to climb in there
okay that looks seriously cozy  i kind of want to climb in there

all right
all right

but it's only because we put this on backwards  on purpose we've got a head it's all part of  
but it's only because we put this on backwards  on purpose we've got a head it's all part of  

the plan yeah it's all on purpose yeah  it's it only makes sense because this is  
the plan yeah it's all on purpose yeah  it's it only makes sense because this is  

gonna face the room and this is gonna face the  window and we totally planned that in advance
gonna face the room and this is gonna face the  window and we totally planned that in advance

and now it's time to add some  cats yes the last ingredient  
and now it's time to add some  cats yes the last ingredient  

perhaps the most important ingredient yes
perhaps the most important ingredient yes

no it's okay so claudia is showing some hesitancy  uh at being stuffed into the box but that's okay  
no it's okay so claudia is showing some hesitancy  uh at being stuffed into the box but that's okay  

we're just gonna implant a few kibbles once in  a while and hopefully uh this will encourage her  
we're just gonna implant a few kibbles once in  a while and hopefully uh this will encourage her  

to go exploring which is a fun little game  to play with your cats as well by the way  
to go exploring which is a fun little game  to play with your cats as well by the way  

hiding a kibble in random places around  the house is actually a really great way  
hiding a kibble in random places around  the house is actually a really great way  

to stimulate your cats and create a little fun  hunting game for them because they'll just go  
to stimulate your cats and create a little fun  hunting game for them because they'll just go  

around checking all the usual spots behind  the kibble after a while it's a great thing  
around checking all the usual spots behind  the kibble after a while it's a great thing  

to do before you leave for work but that's  again i digress see she's investigating  
to do before you leave for work but that's  again i digress see she's investigating  

the box already and if we just leave a kibble  there once in a while it won't be long before  
the box already and if we just leave a kibble  there once in a while it won't be long before  

we start finding cats in the box which  is the desirable outcome of this project
we start finding cats in the box which  is the desirable outcome of this project

so a tip for everybody who has a senior cat in  their life this is maybe a little bit too high  
so a tip for everybody who has a senior cat in  their life this is maybe a little bit too high  

for my comfort level with a senior cat like  mr pirate because he does have a little bit  
for my comfort level with a senior cat like  mr pirate because he does have a little bit  

of elbow arthritis so probably what we're going  to do is we're going to position this next to a  
of elbow arthritis so probably what we're going  to do is we're going to position this next to a  

box or some sort of a lift we'll figure  something out that's going to be about this high  
box or some sort of a lift we'll figure  something out that's going to be about this high  

and it's going to allow pirate to get comfortably  up and down off of this thing although we're also  
and it's going to allow pirate to get comfortably  up and down off of this thing although we're also  

going to envision him using this box more than the  top surface but yeah we're going to have a little  
going to envision him using this box more than the  top surface but yeah we're going to have a little  

step up because that's a really good way to help  capture mobility issues to still live their best  
step up because that's a really good way to help  capture mobility issues to still live their best  

life and explore the environment fully is just  little steps so we have to figure something out  
life and explore the environment fully is just  little steps so we have to figure something out  

maybe maybe a digital cardboard box that's what i  really want also maybe another little cushion here  
maybe maybe a digital cardboard box that's what i  really want also maybe another little cushion here  

would be helpful although this is quite this is  padded yeah that's nice cozy to sleep i'm pleased  
would be helpful although this is quite this is  padded yeah that's nice cozy to sleep i'm pleased  

with this i think the cats will enjoy it yeah i  did kind of envision having like a nine foot tall  
with this i think the cats will enjoy it yeah i  did kind of envision having like a nine foot tall  

cat tree in the apartment but uh that idea got uh  vetoed not by me i don't know who vetoed that idea
cat tree in the apartment but uh that idea got uh  vetoed not by me i don't know who vetoed that idea

but my better self but this is yeah this looks  pretty good when we're more comfortable mucking up  
but my better self but this is yeah this looks  pretty good when we're more comfortable mucking up  

walls we'll put a whole bunch of wall  shelves for claudia to just traverse  
walls we'll put a whole bunch of wall  shelves for claudia to just traverse  

to the ceiling i've always wanted to have  nice little catwalks going off the walls  
to the ceiling i've always wanted to have  nice little catwalks going off the walls  

oh that would be amazing yeah maybe  some tunnels ooh that's future yeah
oh that would be amazing yeah maybe  some tunnels ooh that's future yeah

so thank you very much for joining  us for this little diy video  
so thank you very much for joining  us for this little diy video  

of course like with all cat toys uh most of the  fun happens in ways that you don't really intend  
of course like with all cat toys uh most of the  fun happens in ways that you don't really intend  

it to so we're going to finish this off with some  footage of the cats having a really good time  
it to so we're going to finish this off with some  footage of the cats having a really good time  

playing with all the disassembled parts before  we even started this project because as everybody  
playing with all the disassembled parts before  we even started this project because as everybody  

knows when you buy a kind of toy you're probably  going to sit in the box instead of play with a toy  
knows when you buy a kind of toy you're probably  going to sit in the box instead of play with a toy  

so thank you once again for joining us  hope you enjoyed it and we hope to see you  
so thank you once again for joining us  hope you enjoyed it and we hope to see you  

on our future videos and thank you very much sim  for joining me and thank you the guys for your  
on our future videos and thank you very much sim  for joining me and thank you the guys for your  

participation and oversight you can't forget  our little site supervisors here oh mr pirate  
participation and oversight you can't forget  our little site supervisors here oh mr pirate  

is rubbing his face on this that's right it's  yours pirate you can mark it it's all yours
is rubbing his face on this that's right it's  yours pirate you can mark it it's all yours

this is the most engaged i've seen pirate  in such a long time i know we said goodbye  
this is the most engaged i've seen pirate  in such a long time i know we said goodbye  

but we're not gonna deprive you guys of  seeing mr pirate explore the scratchy pose
but we're not gonna deprive you guys of  seeing mr pirate explore the scratchy pose

so scratchy
so scratchy

me  
me  

okay
okay

oh  
oh  

bye-bye
bye-bye

you
you