OK.  Here's the story.  I am building my cats a kitty "gym" - kinda like a cat tree only bigger.  This is in prep for the winter when kitties cannot stay outside in their outdoor enclosure.  Anyway, I went to Winco yesterday and spoted this cat tree for $49.99.  Its around 3 feet wide and over 5ft tall on the tallest pole, has two perches and a box with a hole in it and even a mock ladder - all covered with mock fur, and the poles are wound with sissal rope.  "Good deal!" I thought; bought it and brought it home.  Now, my cats don't seem to know what to make of the dangthing!  What now?  What's wrong?  Should I continue with my kitty gym project?  Does it take cats a little while to figure out what a cat tree/gym is?  I don't know what to make of it!  Everyone I know whose got cats say their kitties absolutely adore their kitty trees and gyms.  Is there semthing I can do to encourage kitties to get on the tree?  My cats are not affected by catnip at all, so tha won't work.   

kaffe - Wow, what kind of cats do you have? j/k!  I've never known a cat not to like catnip.  Sometimes I put treats or feed them on their furniture  - like they were hunting or something.  That's interesting, my cats are like part monkey or something.  I have most everything bolted down with museum putty.  Your cats are able to go outside right?  Maybe that has something to do with it.  Your avatar kitty looks quite content!

Well guys, I tried the treats thing.  No. 1 cat didn't even show any interest; but No. 2 cat (who is younger) did get on the middle platform, ate the treat and promptly jumped down again.  I'm thinking of packing the "tree" away in the garage until the winter months.  Right now, maybe the cats are more interested in their great outdoor experiences.  They get to run around the yard twice a day under my supervision and stay intheir outdoor enclosure until bedtime.  I don't get it: they do climb up trees and they have several platforms in their enclosure that they love.  Hmmmm... maybe I should move the new "tree" outdoors on the deck so it will in time smell like the outdoors.  Thanks ya all for the tips. 

Thanks Kittylyda!  I'm going to have to find someplace for that cat tree.  All their favorite windows already have perching places on them...