Pete's Expert Summary
My human seems to be under the impression that I care about the noisy, lumbering projects they undertake in my backyard. This "Appleton Wooden Swing Set," as they call it, is a monument to their strange need to assemble things. From my vantage point on the windowsill, it appears to be a rather crude wooden structure intended for the smaller, louder humans. It has a series of undignified dangling seats, a precarious ramp for rapid, uncontrolled descents, and a wall for making dusty, colorful smudges—a clear hazard to my pristine white bib. However, I must admit a certain professional interest in two features: the large, open-air privy at its base (though the lack of premium clumping litter is an oversight), and more importantly, the elevated, canvas-roofed platform. A shaded perch with a commanding view of the entire garden? It might just be worth the weeks of construction noise that disturbed my afternoon naps.
Key Features
- BUILT FOR OUTDOORS: Made to withstand the weather, this wooden backyard set is pre-treated with a water-based stain that includes UV and mold protection to hold up against the elements.
- ASSEMBLY WITH A FRIEND: Make assembly easier with more help! Two people can set up this item in approximately 4-8 hours.
- CHALK WALL: Sketch a treasure map, practice writing letters or numbers or write out the menu for the day. The chalk wall helps bring imaginative play to life.
- SHADED AREA: The upper deck is a landing spot for deciding where to visit next is also a cool break from active play, thanks to the tarp canopy.
- ACTIVE & IMAGINATIVE PLAY: Exercise muscles with the rock wall, slide and swings. Or, enjoy role playing in the below area that would make an ideal sandbox (sand not included).
A Tale from Pete the Cat
The cacophony had lasted for what felt like an eternity. Two of The Staff, sweating and muttering, had been erecting a wooden behemoth in the center of my prime bird-watching territory. I observed their fumbling from the cool marble of the kitchen floor, offering the occasional sigh of disapproval to let them know their efforts were disrupting the household's natural state of tranquility, which revolves entirely around me. When their work was finally done, they stood back, admiring the angular monstrosity, blind to its true purpose. Later, under the silver light of a half-moon, I slipped out through the cat flap. The air was cool, carrying the scent of cut cedar and that strange, sharp smell of the weather-proofing stain. I approached the structure with the cautious grace befitting a cat of my station. The swings swayed gently, like witless prey. The slide gleamed, a foolishly steep shortcut to the dirt. I padded past them, my goal singular. My eyes were fixed on the upper deck, the shaded canopy a dark rectangle against the stars. The humans had built a ladder and a wall with colorful rocks, but such clumsy avenues are for lesser creatures. With a silent crouch and a powerful thrust of my hind legs, I launched myself from the ground to the edge of the lower platform. My claws found purchase for a fraction of a second before I sprang again, a fluid gray-and-white shadow ascending a main support beam. I landed on the upper deck with nary a sound. It was magnificent. The canvas tarp rustled softly above me, a private roof just for me. From this new throne, I could survey my entire kingdom: the shimmering koi pond, the fence line where the oafish Golden Retriever next door sometimes appeared, and the precise location of the finch nest in the maple tree. This wasn't a plaything for children. This was a watchtower. A fortress. A summer palace. I kneaded the rough-sawn wood of the floor, a low, rumbling purr starting in my chest. The humans, in their simple, misguided way, had finally done something right. They thought they had built a playground for their offspring. The fools. They had built an observation deck for their king. I settled into a loaf, my white paws tucked neatly beneath me, and began my nightly vigil. The Appleton set was, against all odds, worthy.
