Cat Furniture is expensive, how can I be sure of getting a quality product?
     All our Cat Trees are designed and built by Cat lovers,  using only the highest quality materials throughout.  The cat trees built by Great Lakes Pet Furniture have some build-in unique features such as: Leaves that are attached with a special bracket that allow “flex” when the cat climbs or jumps on the tree.  This “flex” takes the shock away from both the cat’s joints and back extending the youthful life of your cat.  This feature also allows older cats to get more use out of the Cat Tree.  All platforms and leaves in the Great Lakes Pet Furniture product have an extra layer of padding that are constructed with a “thermal” layer to retain the cat’s body heat making the area more comfortable for all cats.  The extra wide base on all our Cat Trees prevent tipping under normal use.

 Is there a “right” Cat Tree for my cat(s)?
     You can usually match the Cat Tree design to the personality and activity level of your cat.  If your cat likes to sleep or play in enclosed areas you best select a Cat Tree that has openings in the trunk or cubbies in the design.  If your cat scratches vertically you may want to consider adding a sisal scratching pad to the back of a tree, or to make sure at least one post is wrapped in sisal.  If your cat likes to snuggle in small objects or curls up in the corner of a favorite piece of furniture you need a Cat Tree with “sculptured” leaves and a top platform large enough to allow for this cat inactivity.  And of course, if you have multiple cats, be sure to pick one of our larger trees that will accommodate different personalities and activity levels in a single unit. 

     To help you decide what tree design is best for your cat we have written a series of articles matching cat breed to design and size of particular cat trees.  Before making a final tree selection you may want to check out these articles to see if we have addressed the needs and wants of your particular breed.  You can get to our archieved newsletters by clicking on the header "Cat Newsletters" in the left hand margin of this page.

 How can I extend the life of the Cat Tree?
     Even though our manufacturers use only the highest quality material, it is possible your cat will wear out part of the Cat Tree after extensive use.  Great Lakes Pet Furniture is made in a way that allows you to easily replace any worn out part.  This protects your investment and allows you to keep the Cat Tree looking its best.  The top platform and the bottom base are built so that they screw onto the trunk.  The leaves are attached to a metal bracket that is easily accessible for replacement.

     Some of our cat scratching posts and the horizontal scratchers allow you to replace the scratching surface.  This is a very economical way of keeping your cat scratching in and on an approved spot.

   
Can my declawed and older cats climb your tree?
     Many of the cat trees we offer space their platforms or leaves so cats can 'step' between levels and not have to jump.  Consider this spacing feature when selecting a cat tree for a declawed or mature cat.
     Another thing to consider, especially for kittens and older cats who have trouble climbing, is to provide a low level cat bed.  Several models sit on the floor - low enough for your cat to 'step' into - and they contain the same built in comfort features as the larger cat furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions about Kitty Kabinets

 Will my cat use an enclosed litter box?

     Cats are naturally inquisitive animals.  They have a natural tendency to explore and like to climb into boxes, shipping bags, or any confined space.  Climbing into a Kitty Kabinet will come naturally to your cat, and once discovered the territorial instinct will take over and your cat will claim it as its own.

     Cats also like a certain degree of privacy and many cats do better with litter boxes that are out of the general viewing area.  By placing the litter box inside the Kitty Kabinet your cat will feel more at ease when using it, and when the cat is comfortable there will be fewer accidents.

Do I have a choice of styles?

     Yes - Our Kitty Kabites come in two different styles - a Traditional and a Shaker.

     The Traditional style features a more universal look as evidenced by the small crown molding around the top and the base molding around the base.  The raised panel doors use heary duty concealed European style hinges for long lasting life and smooth self closing action.

     The Shaker style features nice clean lines as evidenced by the chamfered edge on the top and the tapered legs on the base.  The flat panel doors also use heavy duty concealed European style hinges for long life and smooth self closing action.

What are my choices when it comes to wood?

     All our component pieces come in your choice of Oak, Maple or Pine

What about the wood finish?

    We offer three different wood finish colors:  Natural, a warm reddish brown Candelite, and a stylish dark Java

Questions of a General Nature

 Do you take phone orders?
     Yes ... in addition to placing an order via the website we will take orders over the phone.  If you wish to place your order via phone please call 616-942-6695 during normal business hours Monday thru Friday.  We are located in the Eastern Time Zone.

 How will I know if you received my order?
     If you place your order via the website we will send you an email confirmation when we receive your order.  If we have any questions or need clarification you will be contacted via email within 2 business days.

How soon will you ship my order?
      Normally we ship within 10 business days.  Occassionally that time can extend a little longer if we are in a busy period.  You will receive an email when your tree ships advising you that it is on the way and giving you the tracking number for the shipment.

How do you ship the products?
     We normally ship either UPS Ground or FedEx Ground whichever we find to be more economical.  We do reserve the right to change shippers if we find a comparable service for less money - this is a good thing because in the end "you" pay these costs.

What about shipping cost?
     Shipping cost is based on the actual cost of either UPS Ground or FedEx Ground plus the cost of packing materials.

Will you ship to Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.?
     Yes - we will ship our Cat Trees anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.  Except for Canada, international shipping costs are prohibitive and we have stopped quoting international shipments. 

  Do I have to pay Sales Tax on the item?
     Sales tax only applies to products shipped within the State of Michigan.

How can I pay for my order?
     Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card, or PayPal are accepted for payment via secured servers – SSL (Secure Socket Layer).  All transactions are encrypted when transmitting certain kinds of information including financial services and/or payment information.

What if I want to exchange the ordered product?
     Any ordered product can be exchanged without cost prior to shipping.  Once the product has shipped you must meet the conditions stated in our Return Policy.

What if I receive a defective or broken product?
     All shipments are fully insured.  If you receive an item with visible damage we ask that you not accept the shipment and to contact us immediately at support@greatlakescatfurniture.com  or by phone at 616-942-6695.  If the damage is not apparent until after opening the shipment please see our Return Policy.

What if we ship the wrong item?
      You are fully protected.  If we ship the wrong Cat Tree or Kitty Kabinet we will expedite the replacement at no additional cost.  The item you received must be returned in its original packaging along with the documentation received in the original order.  Please see our Return Policy for detail.

What if I want to return the ordered product?
     If you want to return the product received you must meet the conditions stated in our Return Policy.