Pet owners know that their dogs and cats have special mobility needs. That’s why dog stairs and cat furniture were invented!

While it might not be something you’d consider a necessity, dog stairs really are an invaluable item to have around the house. Toy-sized dogs and other smaller-breeds are all the rage at the moment, but how many of us are tired of having to bend over and pick up our furry friend so that he can sit with us? What about larger or older dogs who sustain severe impact onto the joints by jumping up and down from places such as beds, sofas, chairs, and vehicles? A set of pet steps can greatly reduce the amount of stress your dog’s bones put up with, and they can also be used for cats as well! Don’t overlook the element of convenience that will be added to your everyday life.

When looking for a set of dog steps, it’s important that you take into consideration the material of the steps. While there are many colors and wood finishes to choose from, your main concern should be the sturdiness of the steps. There is a general rule to go by, which is: large dogs (over 35 lbs) require steps that are 16 inches wide, medium dogs (above 20 lbs but less than 35lbs) should have steps that are 14 inches wide, and small dogs (weighing under 20 lbs) should have steps that are around 12 inches wide. You will also need to check the weight restrictions for the stairs to make sure that they can indeed hold your dog’s weight.

Cat furniture is completely different ball game! Cat’s enjoy climbing, and it is in fact good for them, as cats do not generally fulfill their exercise needs by romping and running around, as dogs do.

The perfect choice to get your cat off the kitchen counter is a climbing tree or tower. As with dog stairs, it’s important to get the right design for your cat or cats, and to get something of good quality that will last for many years. If possible, get a cat tree that extends from floor to ceiling with several shelves for perching and sleeping. The cat tree or tower should be completely covered in carpet, rope or other textured material to give your cat plenty of climbing traction.

With so many households containing a dog or cat, the amount of retailers carrying dog stairs and cat furniture are growing rapidly. There are many websites online that you can browse, which is probably your best bet if you’re looking for something cheap or a little more customized.

New! We've just starting a message board and discussion forum over on the Toxic Byte Pets Forum. It's a bit lonely over there at the moment, but feel free to join in and participate!

This entry was posted on Friday, May 22nd, 2009 at 5:35 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.