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We understand that it is a natural instinct for humans to want to try and get the best deal possible and save some money wherever the opportunity may present itself..
However, some things that you purchase particularly for your pets, may not be worth the small saving that you can get buying secondhand..
Let us explain!
Cats trees are very important for cats and naturally cats will use the product and leave their markers on it.
Markers would mostly be determined as their own unique smell..
Cats are very sensitive to smell and the scent of another cat can cause confusion and also sometimes stress, especially inside the home which is considered to be their very own sanctuary.
Bringing a secondhand cat tree into your home may include the smell of the previous feline friend that was using the product and this can certainly throw your cat off balance..
A natural reaction by cats under the circumstances is to mark the specific area with their own urine.
This would obviously not be ideal… I can imagine the last thing cat owners would want is to be constantly clearing up urine marks from the product!
This is no different from looking for a house for yourself and walking through those front doors and noticing a pungent smell from the previous owner that had lived there.
As you can imagine, this can be quite off-putting and it’s no different for cats!
Also, some cats may not be as hygienic as others and germs and bacteria may find their way into the bedding or the plush fabric parts of the cats tree that would be very difficult to remove without fully disinfecting it.
Unfortunately, most cat trees are not waterproof and if a large amount of liquid is put onto the product it can weaken the particle board underneath which can of course be potentially hazardous.
There may also be fleas, ticks and other mites that may be lurking on the product which can cause potential illnesses and diseases.
Without putting the cat tree under a microscope it would be very difficult to be 100% confident that the product is sterile and safe for use.
And let’s be honest, most customers will not go to the effort of microscoping their secondhand Cat Tree!
That is not to say that there are some products which can be used without any issue purchasing secondhand, but we would definitely stay on the side of caution when it comes to cat trees..
If you decide to ignore this advice then of course we highly recommend using safe and pet friendly cleaning products to remove any potential nasty is that maybe lurking in the product.
Furthermore, any secondhand products that you purchase would not be covered under any warranty and overtime products may develop small splits and cracks if they are not maintained correctly which can potentially cause injury to your feline friend.
If the product is covered in a plush fabric material then this can act as the perfect cover for any issues hiding underneath.
If you were to buy a new cat tree from us for example, all of the products have been thoroughly tested and checked on arrival to ensure that they are brand-new and any issues that may arise in the future would be covered under manufacturers warranty given you peace of mind.
With all things considered, we do not advise purchasing a cat tree secondhand and it is much better to treat your cat to a brand-new product which they can enjoy their own hearts content.
The other great benefit of purchasing a cat tree from us is that replacement parts are available!
Therefore, if one of the parts gets broken or needs replacing in the future you don’t need to throughout the entire product.
Simply give us a call and we can advise the cost of the specific replacement part which will save you a fortune moving forward.