What are the best cat-safe wood finishes for my DIY cat tree?

I'm not sure you will be able to create a finish where the scent will last enough to discourage chewing without potentially being irritating to the nose and discouraging the cat from using the furniture. You certainly can add lemon essential oil in a small amount, but I'm not sure if will deter chewing. Cats generally dislike a citrus taste, so a natural citrus wood cleaner often works well, but again you don't want the scent to be overpowering since their sense of smell is so much better than ours. I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

This shouldn't cause any harm to Salem, even if it gets on your feet and you walk around. I'm more worried about the harm to your pretty floors! I'd get rid of them, not for him, but so your floor doesn't become permanently discolored. I hope this helps!

Any wood stain an be used. A water based product would be safer than an oil based one. Sealing the wood after staining would be strongly recommended. Use a water based polyurethane sealant. Allow complete curing/drying before using the enclosed. The general rule is if you can still smell the paint/stain/sealant, then give it more time to dry.

You can use a pet safe sealer/varnish. Rats need to chew to keep their teeth from overgrowing, so be sure to provide plenty of chew toys so they don't turn to the wood. Do not use cedar, pine or yew as these can cause health problems. Allow an adequate drying time once the wood is sealed.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend not allowing the cats to drink from the tree stand; if the tree was sprayed or treated with anything while at the tree farm, it could leak into the water that they are drinking. I would gate off the tree, or cover the top of the stand with aluminum foil. Good luck!

I'm not a fan of wooden things to give to cats. They can be too hard and possibly break teeth. The wood could splinter off, and cause problems in the GI tract. I personally would not give it to your cats.

You can use plain vinegar and water in a 50/50 dilution to clean most hard surfaces. Commercial products that are safe to use include Green Works wipes, the Seventh Generation line and the Mrs. Meyer's line of "eco-cleaners".