If you want to be able to save your furniture from the claws and abuse of your feline friends, you need to make sure they have some furniture of their own. Thankfully there is a wide variety of cat furniture on the market that you can let your fuzzy pal romp on day in and day out, knowing your furniture will last longer because of it.

But do you know how to pick out cat furniture? If you haven't taken a look in the furniture area of your favorite pet store you may not be aware that there is a huge market in pet furniture and quite a variety of pieces to choose from. Here are some things to take into consideration when selecting the right piece for your cat or cats.

- Weight - How heavy is your cat? If you have more than one, you need to know the weight of each of them. All pieces of cat furniture differ in what they can handle, some pieces are made for smaller cats, who aren't going to stress the joints, others are heavy duty pieces made for monster cats. Look for the maximum load capabilities before making a purchase.

- Style - while you may not think style is a consideration to make in cat furniture, it really is these days. Gone are the days where cat furniture was just a scratching post. Now they come in various shapes, sizes and colors. From a bed that is as modern as your living room furniture, to a three-tiered tree with perches that are the same color as your living room sofa.

- Materials - Discerning pet parents like to know just what they are putting their pet on. Just like people, animals can have allergies or reactions to some chemicals. When they play on these pieces your cat is likely going to claw and chew the furniture and could ingest some of the materials used in the making of it. Read up on the cat furniture you are looking to buy to see what kind of materials were used in construction and if there were any chemicals used. If possible, look for natural products.

- Safety - No one wants a pet in pain. Once you have selected the cat furniture you are going to have for your feline, make sure it's safe. Feel around on it, inside and under the piece. For those that are covered with carpet or sisal rope, it's possible some of the tacks used to hold it together have not been hammered down and are just waiting for your cats paw to come into contact, or worse, an eye. Feel all the edges and carpeted areas for anything sharp and hammer them down before letting your cat start playing.

Keeping these few topics in mind as you start your shopping for cat furniture will help create a home that is more happy for your cat, and make your home furnishings a lot happier that they are no longer the subject of your cats clawing desires.