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Cat tree

Also called Cat tower, Cat condo, Cat perch, Cat climbing tree

Updated

What is a cat tree?

A cat tree is a piece of cat furniture with posts, perches and often hideaways stacked on a base, so a cat can climb, scratch and rest up high indoors. Low versions are called cat perches and tall ones cat towers; most are carpet or plush over wood or particleboard, with sisal-wrapped posts.

Why do cats use cat trees?

Cats use cat trees because they like raised places to rest and watch from. The AAFP calls vertical space critically important for indoor cats, since it gives them elevated spots and more room, and VCA notes that many cats feel safest when their safe space is raised. A cat tree adds that height in one piece of furniture, with a place to scratch built in.

What makes a cat tree stable?

A cat tree is stable when its base is wide for its height and it does not shift when a cat lands. The ASPCA says cats want a sturdy post that will not shift or collapse when used. Low perches stay steady through a wide, heavy base; tall towers usually come with an anti-tip kit that fixes them to a wall.

Size matters more for a heavy cat, which pushes harder on a top perch. Compare the footprint with the height, check for anti-tip hardware, and look for perches big enough for the cat to lie stretched out.

What to look for

  • A footprint that is wide compared with the height
  • An anti-tip kit or wall strap for a tall tower
  • Perches with published sizes and a raised edge
  • Sisal-wrapped posts tall enough for a full stretch

Buying the tallest tower for a heavy cat

Height is what listings advertise, but a tall, narrow tower is the kind most likely to rock under a large cat. A lower tree with a wide base, or a tall one fixed to the wall, is the safer buy.

Questions about cat tree

Where should I put a cat tree?

A cat tree gets the most use where your cat already spends time: near a window, in the main room, or beside furniture it scratches. The AAFP advises putting scratching spots where the cat spends time. A tall tree is safest in a corner or against a wall it can be fixed to.

Is a cat tree the same as a scratching post?

A cat tree includes scratching posts but adds perches, levels and often hideaways for climbing and resting. A plain scratching post is a single post on a base. Many cats use both, and the ASPCA suggests offering more than one scratching spot around the home.

Where this comes up

Sources