Ballasted pet furniture

A furniture item for a house pet, the furniture item comprising:

• a base configured to support the furniture item on a horizontal support surface;
• a mount secured to the base;
• and
• an upright portion coupled to the base via the mount, the upright portion extending to a height above an upper surface of the base when the base is situated on the horizontal support surface,
• wherein the upright portion comprises
• a hollow inner portion defining a ballast cavity and an opening providing access to the ballast cavity,
• a cap portion engageable with the hollow inner portion to close the opening, and
• a removable scratch pad supported on an outside surface of the hollow inner portion,
• wherein the mount is provided as a quick-disconnect mount providing selective mounting and dismounting of a bottom end of the upright portion without the use of tools.

A furniture item for a house pet, the furniture item comprising:

• a base configured to support the furniture item on a horizontal support surface;
• a mount secured to the base;
• and
• a post coupled to the base via the mount,
• wherein the post comprises
• a hollow inner portion defining a ballast cavity and an opening providing access to the ballast cavity,
• a cap portion engageable with the hollow inner portion to close the opening, and
• a removable scratch pad sleeve fitted to an outside surface of the hollow inner portion,
• wherein the mount is provided as a quick-disconnect mount providing selective mounting and dismounting of a bottom end of the post without the use of tools, and
• wherein the cap portion covers an upper edge of the removable scratch pad when the cap portion is engaged with the hollow inner portion to close the opening.