The Best Cat Trees, According to a Veterinarian

Many cats love to be high up, such as on top of the refrigerator or in a cat tree. But it’s not just because they’re surveying the kingdom that you have so kindly provided. Even though cats are predators, they’re also prey. And they know that. High places give cats a sense of safety, and even if there aren’t larger animals roaming around your living room, some cats may not love all of their housemates—feline, canine, or otherwise. Providing your cat(s) with a tree gives them a place to escape but also a place to climb, scratch, and rest.

Whether it’s a place to lounge, a hiding place, or a show of who’s boss, I’m sharing my favorite cat trees to kick off the “Mew” Year.

Our top picks for the best cat trees

How I selected the best cat tree

Using my personal and professional experience with cats and cat trees, I reviewed the features, materials, dimensions, price, and buyer reviews of dozens and dozens of cat trees online. I selected trees that would be accessible to many and functional while keeping aesthetics in mind.

What to consider when choosing a cat tree

Quality construction

How well a tree is made and what materials it’s made of is a top consideration. Look for trees whose frame is made from wood, plus or minus metal. Unless you’re shopping for small cats, avoid trees that have cardboard as part of their materials.

If multiple cats will be using the tree, potentially at the same time, look at the tree’s weight capacity and also the weight capacity of individual perches. Not all manufacturers provide the latter information. I also like to see perches that have two support posts and not one. For taller cat trees and/or ones with an unstable or unweighted base, opt for trees that come with tip-prevention hardware, like a strap or straps that can be screwed into a wall.

Features

A cat tree should have things that your cat likes. Does your cat like to hide? Look for one more condos as part of the tree. If your cat likes to climb and sit on top of the refrigerator, look for taller trees. If you have a senior cat, look for trees that have a ramp for easier climbing or where the jump to the second level is short.

Though it’s sometimes difficult to accurately tell from the manufacturer’s photos, try to get an idea of how much space there is for a cat (especially a larger one) to maneuver between levels. For ones where it’s hard to tell, look at the 3-star and lower reviews, as I saw multiple complaints for various trees addressing this issue. And if the space between levels is narrow, is it also slippery? For some trees with faux fur and super shiny carpets, I saw reviews mentioning this problem.

Take into consideration what activities your cat prefers. Do they enjoy dangling toys? Some trees have dangling ropes or balls, but if these aren’t the best interactive cat toys for your pet, you can keep one or more of their favorites on the tree or nearby.

Also, what types of scratching surfaces do they like? Do they like horizontal scratching surfaces or vertical ones? Many cat trees have sisal rope, but not all cats enjoy sisal. Some prefer things that shred more readily, like corrugated cardboard (or your couch), and for those cats, you might have to provide a separate scratcher.

Bedding and comfort are other to evaluate. Are the perches padded? If not, can you add a cat bed without creating a slipping hazard? For example, adding a bed with a slick undersurface to a wooden platform could be problematic. And if a cat bed is a part of the tree, is it removable and machine washable?

Dimensions

The height and width of a tree needs to fit into the space you want to put it. And it needs to be something that you (or someone you know) can assemble. You should also see if the dimensions of the condos and perches are big enough for your cat’s (or cats’) size(s), particularly when their stretched-out length is close to, or over, two feet long. And for senior cats, consider what heights they’re capable of jumping.

Price

Price is something to consider not only for the obvious reason but also as a factor over the long run. If you’re replacing cat trees every one to three years, another thing to consider is how much that costs over time. As an Etsy shopper at heart, my suggestion is to at least look into artisan-made trees over mass-made trees if you have the means.

To make my cat tree suggestions accessible to as many people as possible, all but one of my featured selections are from online retailers where pet owners already tend to shop. However, if you’re curious about handmade alternatives (which come with a higher price point, like $200-600+), I include these as well. If a $400 tree is the last one you buy, it could be worth it.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

How do I keep a cat tree clean?

A cat tree can be vacuumed with the hose attachment or by using a handheld vacuum. For in-between surface cleaning, you can also use a lint roller. Spot cleaning with a small amount of soap and water can also be used. Removable bedding should be washed periodically if it’s labeled as machine washable.

How often you do these things will depend on how many cats are using the tree and how often it’s used, but an initial baseline is every two weeks and then adjusting from there based on need.

What are the best materials for a cat tree?

The best material for the frame of a cat tree is wood—preferably solid wood. But if a solid wood tree isn’t doable because of availability or price, there are many cat trees that are constructed from plywood, engineered wood, or particle board. Plywood is the sturdier and more quality option of the three and particle board is the least sturdy. Something you don’t see often is a company that uses certified wood for their cat trees. One of the many things that I love about my first pick by WLO® Store is that they use certified wood, which is wood that comes from sustainably managed forests.

For the frame covering, the best materials are partly what your cat will enjoy, e.g. is the cat bed perch actually cushioned or is it just fluffy fabric over wood? And do they actually like to scratch sisal or do they prefer corrugated cardboard? The best materials are also ones that aren’t slippery, will withstand use, and are convenient to clean. Most trees are covered in faux fur or carpet—plus or minus sisal—which comes from an agave plant.

Lower-quality trees will have inexpensive fabric that tears more easily with use, ropes that become readily unglued, and carpet that sheds more than your cat. If you’re shopping online and can’t examine a tree in person, look at the dissatisfied reviews because some of those may be about how much the material sheds, ripping of fabric early on, or cats slipping when trying to navigate narrow spaces between levels.

Is a cat tree worth it?

For most cats, yes, a cat tree is worth it. Cats need places to withdraw, rest, climb, and if needed, somewhere to escape from housemates, both animal or human. They also need areas to escape from perceived threats that they might hear or see outside. Cat trees also provide a place for your cat to play and get some exercise, which are essential for physical and emotional well being.

Are cats happier with a cat tree?

Though some cats don’t care about trees, many cats are happier with a tree, particularly if they don’t have other high-up places to climb and perch, places to scratch, and safe places to hide. Cats that like to be higher up are often on (your!) chairs, the backs of couches, the kitchen counters, the refrigerator, and/or the windowsill.

Cats don’t always exhibit obvious signs of anxiety or stress, so to bring more awareness to a cat’s environmental needs, The American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) has established five pillars of a healthy feline environment. These pillars support a cat’s emotional and physical well being and can reduce undesirable behavioral issues like fighting or inappropriate urination.

Though cats are predators, they are also prey for larger animals. Even if your cat lives indoors without other animals, they may consider the area beyond your windows a part of their territory. Seeing or hearing something threatening outside will cause them to want to hide. If your cat lives with other cats and/or dogs, that’s another reason to have a tree (or, dare I say, trees.) Though cats can live in social groups, they need the option to withdraw when they want.

This brings us to AAFP’s first pillar, which is a safe place. One quality of a safe place for cats is an elevated surface, which a tree provides. A safe place also has sides, which the condos on some trees have. Of course, there are other places that are elevated that some cats can reach in a home like the top of the refrigerator, though that doesn’t provide as safe a feel due to the lack of sides.

The second pillar is providing cats with multiple and separate key environmental resources. Key resources are things like food, water, rest areas, litter boxes, toys, and scratching posts. A cat tree provides a place to play, scratch, rest, and hide, so just like that amazing Litter-Robot 4 and premium wet cat food, a cat tree is a key resource. Since cats are territorial and might view housemates as competition, having separately located resources (including more than one place to perch, hide, and play) is important, even among cats who get along. Sometimes you just want to be alone while you relax or eat, and cats are no different.

The last of the five pillars that I’ll cover here is that cats need the opportunity for play and predatory behavior. Though a tree isn’t necessary for that, it can definitely be a part of it. My summary of the first three pillars is quite brief, but you can read about them—and the remaining pillars—in some more detail here or at length here.