Cat trees are absolutely non-negotiable if you have a cat.
I already wrote an entire post about the mind-blowing benefits of cat trees. If you’re still on the fence, go read that first.
But if you’re ready to buy a cat tree – or two, or three, or four – keep reading.
Because cat trees are essential, but they’re also one of the easiest things to buy wrong.
The Cat Tree Market – A Reality Check
Over 95% of cat trees on the market are not worth buying.
They’re:
- too short
- poorly built
- unstable
- awkward design
- covered in cheap fabric
- topped with tiny, useless seats
I also wrote an entire post about cat trees to never buy. So you can check out if you have one of those.
Unfortunately many cat tree manufacturers are not designing cat trees for cats.
They’re designing them for cat parents (The ones with the credit card)
And they know cat parents mostly care about two things:
- the price tag
- how pretty it looks in the living room
Meanwhile, cats care about:
- safety
- stability
- height
- grip
- scratching satisfaction
- comfort
- spacious seats
Do you see the problem?
So cats end up with a cat tree they can’t actually use.
And then the parent says, “My cat just doesn’t like cat trees.”
How convenient!
No. Your cat can’t use that cat tree.
If your cat isn’t using your cat tree, you bought the wrong one. Period!
It really is that simple.
That’s why I wrote this guide in the first place.
Cats are screaming and I’m screaming with them.
The Mindset You Need Before Shopping for a Cat Tree
Let’s get you in the right mindset first. Shall we?
Mindset #1: The cat tree needs to work for your cat, not for you
A cat tree exists to meet your cat’s core needs. Full stop. So you shop from your cat’s point of view, not your Pinterest board.
- How does your cat move?
- How do they jump?
- What are they missing in your home right now?
This matters more than anything else.
Mindset #2: Cat trees are furniture
A cat tree is a large piece of furniture. So it should be expensive by default.
It needs to be:
- stable
- tall
- comfortable
How much did your couch cost? Exactly.
Mindset #3: A cat tree should last for years
Cat trees are not disposable items. If it falls apart after a few months, it was never a good cat tree to begin with.
Quality first. Always.
Mindset #4: Cat trees belong in prime locations
You may need to rearrange your furniture a little. Your home layout is not sacred.
Nothing bad will happen if you move things a few inches.
Prime locations matter more than convenience.
Mindset #5: You can choose the color – and that’s it
Your cat doesn’t care about color. Choose whatever color you want. But everything else?
You follow the guide below exactly. No exceptions.
I hope we are on the same page by now, let’s go …
The Ultimate Cat Tree Shopping Guide
This cat tree shopping guide is for floor cat trees, and it is for ALL cats.
It works for adult cats, high energy cats, large size cats, kittens, seniors, and multi cats household.
I’ve tested it with my cat clients over and over again.
The goal is to buy a cat tree that works for your cat, it meets all your cat core needs, and your cat loves it and uses it all day, every day.
Cat Tree Height
The sweet spot is 55”–75” tall.
Anything under 55” is too short and doesn’t meet your cat’s vertical territory needs.
Anything taller than 75” can work, but only if it is extremely stable – which gets harder and more expensive.
I do not recommend floor-to-ceiling cat trees at all.
Because they fail multiple core requirements of a good cat tree.
Cat Tree Weight
The cat tree should weigh at least 40 lb. It needs to be heavy enough to stay stable on its own, without being attached to a wall.
Heavier = safer for all cat’s workouts.
A wobbly cat tree is a useless cat tree.
You won’t find the cat tree weight mentioned on all cat trees, so use the guidelines below as indicators of how heavy the cat tree is.
Cat Tree Building Material
Real wood is best.
Yes, it’s more expensive. And yes, it’s worth it.
Real wood cat trees are:
- heavier
- more stable
- more durable
- longer-lasting
Cat Tree Coverage Material
This part is non-negotiable.
The cat tree must be fully covered in fabric, like carpet. And I mean fully covered.
The thicker the carpet, the better.
Fabric:
- holds your cat’s scent
- allows gripping while climbing and jumping up and down
- supports scratching everywhere
A cat tree is a cat scent diffuser + a scratcher + a gym
Cat trees with large exposed wood sections are less than useless. And they are not even safe to use.
Cat Tree Seats (This Is Where Most Cat Trees Fail)
Beside stability and height, this is the biggest issue I see that doesn’t look fundamental but it is.
Cat tree seats size, shape, and support matter A LOT.
This is where your cat can nap, lounge and watch from the window for hours.
Cat tree seats are the absolute best part of the cat tree to trap your cat’s scent because cats use them for long hours.
Seat Size
Each seat should be at least 17” in diameter or length.
Your cat should be able to lounge, stretch, and fully relax – not squeeze themselves to fit in a small seat
If your cat’s back length (neck to base of tail) is longer than 15”, go for bigger seats
Ignore labels like “XL” or “for large cats.” Only dimensions matter.
Seat Shape and Support
At least the top seats need to have walls to hug your cat’s body.
Seat walls reduce the risk of your cat sliding off while sleeping. Also cats love to feel hugged and contained.
And the seat surface needs to be flat – no weird flower shapes!
Would you sleep on a flower-shaped bed?
Seat shape can be circular, square, rectangular, cylindrical, or enclosed condo style.
A mix is ideal.
The cat tree seat requirements above are for all the cat tree seats, not just some.
Seats are not just stepping stones. They are full-on lounging, napping, grooming, stretching, scratching and observation spots.
Cat Tree Design
This one is a bit harder to explain because this comes down to understanding how cats move.
Your cat should be able to move up and down the tree easily – like climbing stairs.
There must be a clear, comfortable path between levels.
The worst cat tree designs I see are often the prettiest ones:
- Big gaps between levels.
- Awkward jumps.
- No logical flow to go up or down the cat tree.
Cat Tree Price
Let’s be realistic. We can’t fit a square pig in a round hole.
You will not find a cheap cat tree that meets all these requirements, so don’t bother trying.
The bare minimum price point for a proper cat tree is around $250. And this cat tree will most likely be local, so no shipping cost, and suitable for one adult cat only.
Most high-quality cat trees fall between $350 – $850 price range.
That doesn’t mean that all $250+ cat trees are suitable cat trees by default.
And yes, they’re worth every dollar.
Cat Tree Placement and FAQ
So now you know how to shop for cat trees. That’s the hard part. so congratulations!
Now, let’s cover where to place it, how many you need for your space, and what to do if you have multiple cats.
Cat Tree Placement (Prime Locations)
The best place for a cat tree is directly facing a window or balcony door.
Not tucked in a sad corner. And not beside a window. Facing it.
A wide, uninterrupted window view from all the cat tree seats.
This alone can completely change how much your cat uses the tree.
Because now the cat tree is also the best spot for unlimited window view, sunbathing, and fresh air.
How Many Cat Trees Do You Need?
It depends on the size of your home.
More rooms = more cat trees.
One cat tree per room facing a window
At least one in main living areas:
- Living room
- Bedroom
- TV room
- Dining room
Cat Trees for Multi-Cat Homes
Same rules above. No changes. The only difference is the seat count per cat tree.
Each cat needs to have their own top-level cat tree seat.
2 cats = at least 2 top seats per cat tree
3 cats = at least 3 top seats per cat tree
They don’t need to be on the same level.
If you can’t find cat trees with 3+ top seat per cat tree, you can just get more cat trees, especially in prime locations, or large living areas with multiple windows.
And yes, you still need multiple cat trees in different rooms.
Takeaways
I have never met a cat who won’t use the right cat tree.
Some cats need some time to explore and get comfortable navigating a new cat tree and reaching the top seat – especially seniors or cats who never had a proper cat tree before. But that’s only a matter of time.
If your cat isn’t using their current cat tree at all or barely using it even after a while, the problem is not your cat. It’s the cat tree. And you should be able to figure out why by now.
If that’s the case, it’s time to go shopping for a suitable cat tree this time. Your cat needs it.
Cat trees are meant for cats to go wild, feel extremely comfortable, while being fully self-entertainment, so the cat tree needs to check many boxes.
I hope this helps and motivates you to shop for the right cat tree today, not tomorrow.
Happy cat tree shopping!
If you need help with your cat behavior training, self-entertainment, or personalized catification, check out my 1:1 online cat behavior breakthrough session. Happy to help.
I’m a holistic cat trainer based in Vancouver, supporting cat parents locally and online across Canada and the US.
