My family has a history of dumpster diving. Well, not dumpsters exactly, but we have found some marvelous things in the trash. That’s where my dad found my childhood tinker toys, and later an imitation Stradivarius violin that we sold to buy a piccolo in high school. So when I saw a three-story kitty condo discarded next to the dumpster in my new apartment complex, something in my DNA screamed “Me want!”
My enthusiasm was somewhat dampened when I started dragging this thing across the parking lot and realized it weighed more pounds than I’d like to lose. The dumpster is about 50 yards from my front door, but I had to take several breaks before I got it to the stairwell, where I had to flip it end over ear to the second floor. I felt no need to head to the exercise room after I got this thing inside my place.
Now, before anyone turns me in for kitty endangerment, I was sure to do a treatment of Revolution before the move, so no one is going to catch fleas or heartworms or other nasties from this thing. I also thoroughly vacuumed every nook and cranny of that condo with my neato vacuum attachments. The condo hadn’t actually been thrown in the dumpster either, just left next to it, so it wasn’t smelly or gross.
It was also free, which makes it ten times better than something you have to pay for! It must cost at least one hundred dollars, probably closer to two hundred. And as much as I love Java Bean and Office Krupke, I would never spend two hundred dollars on them unless they were in mortal danger. Plus, every time I see this condo I will be reminded of what a steal it was (almost literally) and how awesome I am for snatching it up. It is already a popular piece of furniture, and has several holes that serve for a good game of whack-a-mole.
The only sad part comes when I wonder why someone would throw out a kitty condo like this. Either 1) they were moving and didn’t want to move something so big and unwieldy or 2) their kitty died, which is such a horrible, sad thought that I’m really pulling to reason #1. Either way, it’s getting good use now. Best thing I’ve found in the trash this year!
Jenni says
July 17, 2012 at 5:43 pmOkay. That is an AWESOME find!! My cat is jealous! I bought her a tower, but it is not that fancy and was still $100. And the only way I could justify that much was because I was forcing her to live with a dog.
And I am also a dumpster diver, there is some good stuff out there!
Sarah says
July 17, 2012 at 6:05 pmCan I toss out scenario number 3? The cat that was purchased for totally ignored it. I can see some of the cats in my life doing that. 🙂
Donna says
July 17, 2012 at 6:27 pmNeed pictures of Java Bean and Office Krupkein their new unbelievably beautiful condo. 🙂
Mymsie says
July 17, 2012 at 6:33 pmScore!!!
Carol Luber says
July 17, 2012 at 8:27 pmWhen our kitties died a few years ago we left our condo out by the road in front of our house with a Free sign on it.. It was gone within the hour and I was happy in the hopeful thought that new Cats would find enjoyment in it. I think that the former Cat owners of your new found condo had the same hope.
Amanda says
July 18, 2012 at 2:36 pmI’ll second Sarah’s #3 suggestion. I have three cats and a lovely so-called “cat tree” I purchased back when there were only two of them. You’d think they’d love to climb up high and stare at the lowly humans from a superior vantage point.
You’d be wrong. Instead, it’s a large dust-catcher. Only two thinks keep me from pitching it: 1) its original cost, and 2) the hope that someday at least one of my beloved felines will rediscover his or her love of altitude.
Vickie says
July 19, 2012 at 8:57 pmSome cats turn up persnickety little noses at things they are supposed to love. My guess is if it was in really good shape with no scratch/wear marks on it, it was feline rejection.
Julie from Australia says
July 20, 2012 at 6:41 amI’m going with feline rejection too. I’ve lost count of the number of toys etc I’ve bought for my boys over the years that have ended up out with the garbage.
schmei says
July 23, 2012 at 11:45 amWoah… that thing is deluxe! I’d say at least $200. Nice work!
Sheryl says
July 30, 2012 at 3:45 pmI have a small kitty condo, and a velvet cat bed — and my cat totally ignores both. If I had something large that she ignored, I might put it out on the curb!
Just hope there are no bedbugs hiding in any cracks — not sure if that is a big problem where you live, but it is in Ohio. I don’t take anything wood or cloth from the trash any more because of that.
Karen says
August 3, 2012 at 12:07 pmThere is possibility #3 – their cat(s) didn’t use it, and they wanted the space back. I haven’t ever had a cat to use one! I guess I have just had stupid cats. Congratulations on finding it, and having cats smart enough to appreciate it!
tess says
August 9, 2012 at 1:25 amwow, what a great find,
your cats must be grateful for all that effort,
as grateful as only cats can be
I can’t even remember how many times sheer determination instead of my actual physical strength helped me carry heavy unwieldy objects home out of the alleys (piles of books, vintage mirrors, etc)
Julia Jones says
August 24, 2012 at 6:22 amWow! That’s a great dumpster catch! I go with the kitty passed away and they didn’t want any reminders of the animal love…
rachel says
October 3, 2012 at 10:30 amyou should be a bit wary of those kind of finds though. a friend of mine had some amazing cat trees for her cats. Her cat recently died and she wants no more. so i asked if i could buy her trees from her. she said no. here is why.
at one time she had 3 cats all three got FIP and 2 died. Because the surviving cat had been infected, he would apparently always be a carrier for the virus. she was afraid that the virus would somehow be in all his stuff and she would feel bad if she gave me the trees and my poor kitten died because of getting infected.
so just be cautious of some finds.