The 10 Best Cat Trees
This wiki has been updated 22 times since it was first published in February of 2015. If your house is ruled by a furry feline, make sure it stays entertained and comfortable with one of these cat trees. They provide large and small cats with enough towers, sleeping areas, and scratching posts to, hopefully, stop kitty from clawing your furniture -- or worse, your legs. Just try not to be too jealous when you realize your pet has a nicer sleeping space than you. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Feandrea Tower
2. New Cat Condos Premier
3. Refined Feline Lotus
Editor's Notes
July 09, 2021:
All of our prior selections are still both readily available and highly recommended. In particular, the Feandrea Tower is almost undeniably the best bang for the buck, especially in light of its size. If you don't have quite so much floor space, the New Cat Condos Premier and high-end Refined Feline are both great solutions. Whichever you pick, know that a good cat tree provides your pet with a place to play, prowl, relax, and oversee their domain. We also want to take a moment to point out that all pet cats should remain indoors or on a leash at all times, because cats that are left to roam the outdoors alone have significantly reduced lifespans and overall quality of life on average.
January 31, 2020:
Our latest round of updates saw the removal of the Kitty Mansions Redwood, Molly and Friends Simple Sleeper, and K&H Hangin' Cat. The Redwood is still a solid choice, but does not have much to differentiate it from the rest of the list other than some included faux vines, which while decorative, are not ideal for curious chewers. The Molly and Friends became unavailable, and the Hangin' Cat, which has a design meant to save space, is still rather bulky, makes a lot of noise, and runs the risk of being opened into a wall while kitties are inside.
We took the opportunity to recommend three solid replacements. First is an introductory-level option, the Trixie Original Baza. Its low price tag makes it an ideal selection to bring home before investing in more expensive units. If your kitty likes this one, she'll likely appreciate more elaborate ones down the line. It also has a small footprint that makes it suitable for apartments and bedrooms.
Also joining the ranks today is the Vesper V-High, a piece that's as high quality as it is attractive. As most of the trees on this list (and in general) are not exactly interior-design friendly, we thought this addition would complement our other elegant choice, the Refined Feline Lotus, but at a lower price. Finally, we added the New Cat Condos Premier, a hardy, American-made model with strong, reliable parts. Pet owners who want to avoid particle board and MDF will appreciate this one. It also has a tiered design that is fun for cats while not being overly challenging, so it's forgiving for bigger and older kitties.
Keeping indoor cats stimulated is crucial to their happiness and health. Trees like these, engaging toys, laser pointers, balls, and cat grass are all great items to have around to create an environment that mimics the outdoors. It's also advisable to place your tree in front of a window, as cats are known sunbathers and love to watch what's going on outside.
Special Honors
Tuft + Paw Milo Ideal for multi-cat households, the elaborate, handmade Milo is built to last a lifetime. It features two covered treehouses, a unique crystal hammock, two perches, and two slide-like scratching posts upholstered in a durable carpet fiber. It's crafted from natural birch plywood, features animal-friendly curved corners for safety, and covered with a white UV coating so you can leave it in the sun. tuftandpaw.com
4. Armarkat A7202
5. Vesper V-High
6. Midwest Homes Nuvo Tower
7. Go Pet Club F2040
8. Armarkat Classic
9. Go Pet Club Climber
10. Trixie Original Baza
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.