Furwood Forest - Specializing in Hand Crafted, Rustic Cat Furniture

Hi Steve,

Sorry it has taken so long for me to email these pics to you... My cats absolutely love their cat tree! A great investment- worth every penny!!! Thank you for the excellence in craftsmanship. It actually exceeded my expectations! My cats thank you, too. They couldn't be happier!!!

Thank you again,
Amy Dast

Hi Steve,

The "package" was delivered to Flo on Friday; right away she called Marcia (her daughter and my friend) and her husband that there was a delivery..."and it's very big!" Around Saturday 12N, Marcia and her husband drove from Davie, FL, to Hollywood to get the "package." I just wish I could have been a "fly on the wall" as they unboxed it! Marcia called me after they got most of the crating off...which, by the way, impressed everyone...and got their first glimpse at the cat tree. The were just amazed at the uniqueness of the tree...they'd never seen anything like it! They just were awed by it and your talent. Steve, I was so proud and pleased to be able to give my friends such a truly wonderful surprise and gift, and I want to thank you for your helping me do it!! I don't know if you realize the impact your creativity has on people..and their cats!

Thanks again.

Sincerely,
Paula

Hi, Steve.

After purchasing a cat tree from you a couple of years ago, I referred two people to you. Both have made purchases: Leslie Wells (Colorado) and Dolores Conforti (my sister, New Jersey). Your product is gorgeous, well-priced, and so much better than the junk they sell at Petco and PetSmart.

I thought I'd send you a photo of two of my Abyssinians enjoying their perches. All three of them, Elsa, Lex, and Luna, live on the tree!!!

Keep making your beautiful products. I just referred my hairdresser, Daniel.

Thanks.
Lisa Hauptner

Hi Steve!

We received the trees, the large 5 foot one on Monday, the 3 and 1/2 footer on Tuesday as shipped.

From the shrink wrap and crates, it's evident they were going to be safe and secure in shipping and I worked my tail off to get them out of the crates so we appreciate the way they were shipped. No harm could come to them in transit and delivery, and none did.

We are thrilled with the trees, they are beautiful to look at and clearly made by an artist and master craftsman. I should mention that they are in our greatroom which is the focal and gathering spot in our home where our family room, living room, kitchen and dining section are all one big area. It is where we greet and show hospitality to our guests and visitors to our home and Maine Coonery so whatever we got for our gang had to be at least easy on the eyes. At best, we were hoping for items that would be, well, mostly unnoticed by visitors and would be unobtrusive since cat furniture is usually, well, just simple, unimaginative, run-of-the-mill cat furniture, nothing more.

Your artistry exceeds by miles what we had hoped for. The trees are fun to look at, they do indeed qualify as beautiful, decor-type furniture and we are proud to have them where everyone visiting or walking by on the road out front of the house can see them.

Your items are simply beautiful and since we live in a heavily-treed country area, the trees inside blend with the trees outside through the many windows in our home. Nature inside and out.....it's great!

However, since we didn't necessarily buy them to look at, but instead for our Maine Coons to play on and with, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. We needed big, weighty items that would support as many big, heavy Maine Coons as could get on them since we have a bunch of the big guys and girls, so weight support was a primary concern of ours, as you might imagine.

At varying times since I got the trees inside and positioned, we've had anywhere from 1 to 9 Maine Coons all over them at any one given time. Last night, just before bedtime, we had 8 big, adult Cooners snoring happily and securely on several of the saddles in the trees, all at one time and with not a hint of instability in their new furniture. The trees never even shook, not even the slightest bit. Our Cooners are some big pussycats, so this is more impressive than most folks could ever begin to imagine. The trees are big, solid, and easily accomodate all our Cooners.

As an added plus, the sisal-wrapped areas we ordered on the trees are plentiful with good, heavy-thickness sisal, and at a height that big Maine Coons can stand at their full length and scratch on, allowing them to extend their big bodies fully. This was a joy for us to see since the biggest scratching post we ever saw was 36 inches tall and our guys never could extend themselves fully to scratch it. Now, they can stand and extend with room to spare!

Since we breed Maine Coons and place our babies with families all over the country and have 13 in our home permanently, we needed items that were big, could handle all the weight and that the Cooners would love to sit, sleep, lay and play on. We especially were Coon-cerned for our pregnant Moms who might be sitting or laying on the cat furniture. Solidness and weight support were paramount in our concerns. These trees both do exactly what we hoped for and beyond and we cannot thank you enough.

Neither can the Coons thank you enough. They are so happy with their new climbing, laying, playing furniture.

We'll be sending pics of the trees and Cooners to our friends and adopters and will be letting them know they cannot go wrong with your work. Since we have over two hundred families on our regular Coon River Update mailing/waiting list, this should mean a lot to you as an artist and craftsman: We only recommend the absolute best food and items to our adopting families for our Maine Coons in their new homes since our Cooners get only the best of everything we can provide while the kittens are with us and always for our adults that live with us permanently.

We always continue to stay in touch with folks well after they have adopted our kittens and we do this long-term, well into the Cooners' adulthood. We advise them on feeding, care and generally just stay in contact with all the new friends that adopt from us. We get lots of pictures sent to us from our adopting families and, as responsible breeders, we let our adopting families and others on our Update list know about any exceptional items that we use here at our Coonery that might be beneficial to their Coon River Cats and Kittens in their new family homes. We do not do this lightly. Items have to be exceptional and Ultra-high quality since anything we firmly recommend reflects on us as breeders.

Our next update will have a picture or two of your cat furniture and we will recommend it proudly and securely, knowing our adopters' big Coon River Maine Coon Kittens and Cats will have safe, big, beautiful cat furniture that their Cooners can play on, sit on, sleep on and climb on in full comfort and security with no fear at all of anything collapsing or breaking. As an added bonus, the trees are beautiful to look at.

We'll send you a copy of our next Update so you can see what we mean!

Have a great Thanksgiving and thank you again for these incredible, excellent items.

Jerry and Rette Swider
Coon River Maine Coon Cats and Kittens
www.mainecoonkittens.com

Steve\Furwood Forest -

It arrived! Packing for a king, we all flipped over the tree. The sturdiness, bark shades, carpeting,, etc. couldn't be better - the cradles and base seem to grow out of the Georgia wood. Steve, it's truly art! Tarzan (Odend'hal) worked his way to the top in about one minute.

I'll be talking with you about a jumbo model (The Furwood Mother) probably next summer. Thanks so much - Odend'hal the Siberian is telling all his friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

Jim and Manigeh Hauff
Owings Mills. MD

Steve, when we first brought the cat trees home, the cats totally ignored them. I thought, oh dear, what have we done. But within a few days, they claimed them as their favorite spots in the house, especially the top "bunk". There have been various fights to get to the top. And the "lazy" one has now become very athletic. We hope these pictures will show you how much they are enjoying them.

Martha and Ed

Hi Steve,

I first bought one of your 4-level cat trees from The Classy Cat at Delk Spectrum in 2002. Then, in spring 2003, my fiancé and I visited you at your home workshop and bought 3 more trees and 2 floor teepees. We were then setting up our new home to accommodate our combined 4 cats. We truly enjoyed meeting you, and it’s fantastic to see your new Web site and much-deserved success!

Our cats just love the trees, as do we. They fit in beautifully with our décor; provide sleep, play and spectacular bird watching perches for the cats; and have held up beautifully over the years. One of our cats loves to climb the wood posts lumberjack-style, even though she can easily jump up to the next perch. She puts on quite an athletic and dramatic performance!

Even our 4-foot iguana, Sos, enjoys a tree near his cage. When he’s out, he’ll climb the tree and sit in a perch. I clamp a hooded heat lamp to a nearby perch, and he can hang out and remain warm. I’ve attached a photo of Sos, Brande, and Cinder hanging out in the tree. Who ever would have thought!

Only one cat ended up using one of the two teepees, so last year, we donated the other teepee to Good Mews (Brande and Cinder were Good Mews adoptees). Now, we’re interested in getting a tree for our master bedroom. We like the “6 Level Custom Cat Tree” shown in the second-to-last row of your cat tree Web page. We really like the way it kind of blooms up and out, providing extra space around the top 3 cradles. (Our cats love cradles.)

Thanks for your response, and we look forward to owning another of your beautiful creations!

Best Regards,
Pam & Bill Shaouy

Hi, Steve,

I bought one of your trees at the Atlanta show in Roswell a little while back. I thought you'd like to see a couple of photos of how my cats love their tree. Thanks for a great product!

Jo Anderson
Marietta, GA

Hi Steve, Thanks for the really nice Cat Tree. If you'll look at these two pics you'll see a happy Low Country Tommy Knockers. Using the tracking and phone numbers you provided, I was able to have it delivered today while I was out. He was so curious I had to crate him while I uncrated it. His Vet said a tree like that is like therapy for him. One of the first things he did was reach up and start scratching and exercising his shoulders. You can use me a a reference anytime Steve.

Thanks....Lee

Hi Steve,

Remeber the kitten tree you made for me a while back? Well I finally have enough kittens to test it out---and they LOVE it!!!! I'm attaching a couple pics. Feel free to use them for advertising if you like.

Joy James
BRILLIANT BENGALS
www.brilliantbengals.com
Brilliant Glittered Bengals with Brilliant Bengal Minds

Steve,

Tree received Fri Oct 20. Well packed, took me a hammer and a crowbar to get it out of its packaging. Calli (the cat) loves the tree and loves to run from one end of the house and launch herself to the top level of the tree. It is her possession and no one else better touch it.

I appreciate the extra care that you obviously put into the construction, especially that the ends of the tree had been sanded smooth. It seems sturdy and well made.

Thanks,
Vanessa Bickle

Dear Steve-

what can I say ... the pictures say it all. The tree arrived today and it is beautiful. It must have some magic in it because the cats will not leave it. My neighbor's cats came to visit and loved it just as much - she will be ordering once from you shortly. I thank you very much for your beautiful work and exquisite craftmanship.

A Huge Fan-
Dorothee Burney, Oskar, Lucy, and Una (meow, meow, meow)

Steve,

The new tree is fabulous!! It couldn’t be better!

You’ll be able to see in the pictures how well it nests up to the shower. We have a lot more room in the bathroom now, and the cats have a spot to watch the happenings . . . .

I can’t thank you enough for the time and effort you put into making it so very custom for our specific needs! I’ll probably want to do this again . . . J!

As you can see the kittens AND cats love it!! These pictures are just of the first reaction – during the day I’ll go in and the big cats will be all over it with the kittens either snuggled up together or cozied up to an adult.

You are truly and artisan and each piece, in addition to being a work of art, has a function of comfort and joy!

Thank you again for your willingness to have me “participate” in the design, your creativity and the excellence you put in to each piece!

Fondly and sincerely,
Ginger McFaddin

Hey Steve!
Just wanted to let you know we received our cat tree I believe about 2 weeks ago and we unwrapped it about 5 days ago and put it in the living room. It is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never thought I would say that about a cat tree. All 10 cats love it and especially being inside the kitty's mouth (with their tails hanging out the mouth looking like a mouse's tail) ....it is TOO cute. You are an EXCELLENT artistian and your work is EXCEPTIONAL. You will be hearing from us again. Thank you so very much Steve. Take good care and our best to you and your family.

Jennifer and Joe Conley
Lakeside, California

Steve,
My 4 level arrived safe and sound, thanks to the way you packed the unit. It took a little time to remove the crate you constructed around the tree. The cats are all over it they have used every level, and have little interest in the other 2 condo's I have. Looks like I will be in contact with you soon to purchase another. Thanks again for a fine piece of craftsmanship.

Buddy Recentio

"Steve Hall is one of those rare individuals who combines a love for cats, study of feline behavior, and old-style craftsmanship to produce a true work of art in the form of a cat tree."

David M Schuster, MD

Steve,

Thanks for the labored tree you made my cats. I really love it. I have a cat that has Aids/Lukemia and I gave it to him. He slept on top of it all night long.

I won't be buying and more trees for, I have enough. I wish you well at the cat shows. I can tell you put your heart into the creation of these trees and it surely shows your effort.

Annette

Steve,

Just wanted to drop you a quick note to let you know how much the cats love their new trees! I bought two from you at the Capital Cat Show - the larger one is in front of floor to ceiling windows in the sunroom and someone(s) is always on it looking out into the woods. My little scardy cat has claimed the very top under the dome as hers - she feels safer there and is much happier. The smaller one went under a circular window in the kitchen and they pile on that one during the breakfast and dinner prep time. I'll send pictures soon!

Thank you for making such wonderful trees - I'm sure they will be needing a couple more before the year is over. Take care.

Carol

Steve,

Re 4 foot cat tree ordered at National Capital Cat Show on 10 September.

The cat tree arrived, crated beautifully and in excellent condition. My cats and I would like to thank you for creating such a fabulous product and for sending it packaged so well.

Judy

Steve,

I'll be talking with you about a jumbo model (The Furwood Mother) probably next summer. Thanks so much - Odend'hal the Siberian is telling all his friends! Happy Thanksgiving!

Jim and Manigeh

Steve,

I also wanted to share my new tree (yes I went back and got another)! I loved the first one so much, I just had to purchase another one before my move. The lighting is horrible in the spare bedroom so you cant fully see the gorgeous green carpet, but you get the idea. I can't compliment these trees enough. They are very unique, VERY sturdy, and something I would be proud to show off alongside my nice furniture.

Steve also has a great love and understanding of cats and can help you custom design the tree of your dreams!

Thanks for letting me share again,
Christina

Steve,

They are all beautiful and great! Holidays will be sleepy around here, which is the way I want it. . .

Marilee

Steve,

When we first brought the cat trees home, the cats totally ignored them. I thought, oh dear, what have we done. But within a few days, they claimed them as their favorite spots in the house, especially the top "bunk". There have been various fights to get to the top. And the "lazy" one has now become very athletic. We hope these pictures will show you how much they are enjoying them.

Martha and Ed

Steve,

Thought you might enjoy these pictures of the "cat-house" and Amos and Andy.

I appreciate the effort you put into making their new home; I believe that they enjoy it and find it comfortable, as these pictures attest.

Blessings,
Clarice

Steve,

Look at the picture and tell us what YOU think! HA! The minute he saw the tree we could tell he was thinking - What took you so long! - he got right on and hasn't been off except for the necessities. He also loves the added touch of cat toys hanging from the limbs, way to go Steve. It has certainly become our major source of entertainment. My husband will brag that I am the greatest cat tree commentator as I give him play by play action on where and what Sonny the cat gymnast is doing on the sweet gum uneven bars. We'll send you a better picture with the whole tree in it when we get one! Thank you again for going the long haul and helping me pick the right one. We'll see you in July at the cat show for sure.

Michelle

Steve,

All four of our cats love their new cat tree! We had every intention of putting it upstairs, but the cats seemed to love it in the living room where they can look out the windows. So of course, there it sits. The tree looks fine in the living room since platforms are covered with oriental carpet.

Many thanks from us and from our cats: Oscar, Cyril, Nikko, and Quincy.

Dave & Lila

October 27, 2002

My cat had to have one of her legs amputated when she was just a kitten. She gets around pretty well, but sometimes her other legs or stomach area suffer due to her having to compensate for the missing leg. I had always wanted to get a cat tree for her to climb on, but I thought she might have trouble climbing it. I didn't want her getting carpet burns on her little tummy from her new toy.

When I met Steve Hall at a cat show, he said that his trees were custom designed. So I asked him what he could arrange for my little baby. He said, "I have a simple solution for you-give me a couple of days!" As promised, two days later, he presented my handicapped girl with a specially designed tree just for her. Ramps allowed her to go from floor level almost to the ceiling without any trouble. Thank you, Steve, from the bottome of Peggy Sue's kitten heart! (Thanks from her overprotective mama, too.)

L.L. - Dunwoody, GA

October 5, 2003

Steve,

It was certainly a pleasure doing business with you. Jack went immediately to "his place" in the tree once we placed it in their room. Max was a bit timid at first, but a short time later he was right at home. Miss Jolie indulged herself the next morning in quite a divine fashion (but unable to capture it on film). I am attaching some candid shots of the boys the first night. I'm sure that Jack's birthday present will provide the Furrkids (Max, Jolie, and Jack) many years of entertainment and relaxation. I really appreciate your marketing strategy and your dedication to provide the right tree for the right individual (cat). The Furrkids would like to link to your website from theirs (http://members.cox.net/amhaddix/Index.html), but I told them that I would have to get your permission.

We look forward to seeing you in Duluth in November. Once again, thank you.

Mort and Andrea Haddix
amhaddix@cox.net

October 2, 2003

The cats love the tree. Feel free to use the pictures in any manner you choose. I'd also love to provide you with a testimonial as it hasn't been easy to find a tree that would withstand an assault from five very large Maine Coons. These cats love to take running leaps onto a cat tree. If the tree isn't sturdy enough, it and the cats have toppled over. I have no worries in that regard, this tree is as solid as a rock. As for hiding away unattractive cat trees (which explains the three trees upstairs in the bedrooms), that's not the case here. As you can see from the pictures, this tree is located right next to my china cabinet in my formal dining room.

Hope the Dalton show was successful for you and look forward to seeing you at the Cotton State show in Duluth in November.

Regards,

Sallie Strine
Saloncat Maine Coons
Duluth, GA
saloncats@mindspring.com

February 9, 2004

I just wanted to tell you what an instant hit the cat tree was - it's larger than I expected, and the contrast with the cat tree I had is enormous - yours is much better built and thoughtfully designed.

I'm sure at some point in the future I'll be ordering another one. It's a pleasure watching my cats inhabit this one.

Corinne Crammer

April 3, 2004

Steve!

I love it (the cat tree)! We moved it several places, but I ended up putting it in my bedroom by the window. That's where they stay when I'm not home. The carpet on the tree matches the carpet on the floor, and it looks custom made just for Fred and Wilma!

Smokey, the Blue Russian, could care less. She smelled it, stuck up her nose and waddled off. Fred and Wilma napped all afternoon, with Fred on the highest "branch".

They will probably sleep there tonight, leaving Smokey on the bed with me. That's wonderful! It gets a little crowded with 3 cats on the bed!

Very artistic use of natural limbs and purrfectly wonderful saddles and benches for my kitties! I have looked at cat furniture on the net, and yours is the best design! And, I must say, very strong and sturdy. You can quote me!

Good luck, Steve. Thanks for coming to Warwick's Grits Festival.

Jane

April 1, 2004

Steve,

I purchased one of your trees in January at the Marietta TICA show and my cats and I love it. Visitors think it's the neatest thing and I keep meaning to make some pictures to send to you and will do it soon. I have 3 Bengals and 2 "shelter kitties" and am going to have to keep my male bengal in a separate room of the house and am wondering if you can create something that will work for me.

I would like to be able to slide my litterbox in and out on the bottom of the tree. I have a Budda box which is circular and measures 22x22 in all directions. I do not want cedar as I am allergic to that, but am wondering if you've ever done something like this? As creative as you are, I'm betting you can come up with something for me. I would like there to be 2-3 levels above this open spot and would rather it be high than wide. I know it's going to have to be wide enough at the bottom to allow me to slide this in and out, but my Bengals love their heights!

Let me know if this is something you can do. I hope you have been doing well and look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Karen Williams-Johnson