Beginner's Guide to Cat Trees and Why Cats Love Them

Is there any finer experience than being able to witness a majestic feline perched magnificently atop a tower, highlighted by the morning sun, surveying all in their domain below?

With a cat tree, this is an everyday occurrence that you can have as often as your furry friend allows it. A cat tree is an essential part of life with a cat; it's enriching, it's beneficial for their health and mental well-being, and it's one of the best sources of adorable cat photos this side of the catnip.

There's also a ton of variation to cat trees, including some pitfalls that can make certain designs dangerous, so I wanted to talk about them from a fresh perspective. While this is primarily aimed at beginners, even experienced cat parents can learn something new today, so read on!

What is a Cat Tree?

A cat tree is a tower-like construction of wood, carpet, sisal, and other elements, meant to provide a play structure and place to perch for felines of all sizes and ages. They come in a million different forms, with modular elements of design that are moved around by different manufacturers.

Common elements of cat trees include:

• Central pillars that both provide support and can be used as scratching posts.

• Cardboard or sisal surfaces for additional scratching.

• Boxes or enclosures for a cat to hide in when they want a little shelter.

• Tall shelves for a cat to perch on when they want a view of the surrounding area.

• Baskets and hammocks for cats to curl up in and sleep when they're feeling dozy.

• Toys like bells and balls dangling from shelves for playing.

Some cat trees are little more than a couple of shelves on towers; others are elaborate complexes dubbed "cat apartments" because they come with all the bells and whistles. I have opinions about some of these elements, which I'll talk about more as we go along. Just know that just because it's there on a cat tree doesn't mean it's good to have on a cat tree, and I'll explain why later.

Why Do Cats Love Cat Trees?

Why do our furry friends love cat trees so much?

Well, first of all, not all of them do. Most cats will at least enjoy a cat tree, and having a space that is entirely theirs is always good for a cat, but not all of them will really dig in and enjoy spending time on and around their cat tree. Those who love them really love them, though.

Why do they like them?

They provide an element of safety and security. Cats like to be secure in two ways: being in an enclosed space and being up high. When they're in an enclosed space, they can hide in the dark and keep an eye on the entrance, ready to defend themselves if necessary. A box on a cat tree can provide this element of security.

For height, cats like to be able to see threats coming, and a lot of the predators that go after cats aren't able to climb the way a cat can. Being up high means being safe, so they like to climb. This is why many cats will find their way on top of refrigerators or bookshelves, and will hang out on the back of the couch behind you, as well.

Cat trees can satisfy both of these needs and make your cat feel more secure.

It's a space that is entirely theirs. With a lot of other parts of your house, there are other ways you access and use the space. You have to go out of your way to dedicate a space to their use rather than yours, and it's easy to encroach on their territory. With a cat tree, it's a piece of furniture you aren't able to use for anything else, so it's thoroughly theirs. Just make sure you don't start using it as a coat rack!

It's a source of enrichment. Cats can scratch a cat tree without being scolded, like if they put their paws on the furniture. It's something they can climb on without being warned not to knock something off. It's a place they can play where they aren't going to be underfoot or run into something you want them away from.

What Should You Look for in a Good Cat Tree?

There's a reason most cat trees have a consistent sort of shape and design, and it's because there are some elements every good cat tree should have. When you're shopping for one, I highly recommend checking in person, but if all you can do is shop online, do your best to evaluate from pictures and reviews.

What should you look for?

• A large, wide, sturdy base. Remember, a tall tower with a 15-pound feline jumping around on it has a lot of leverage at the top. You want a base that is solid enough that it's not going to tip over when your cat is being rowdy. Note that some cat trees have weighted bases that can secure to the floor or have ties to secure them to a wall. If yours does, make sure to use it, for your safety and your cat's!

• A variety of platforms of different sizes, including one near the top that is at least large enough for your cat to lie on comfortably. Cats love to perch up high and doze off, and if your kitty rolls over in their sleep and falls off the tree, they're going to have a bad impression of it and might not want to go back.

• Sufficient height! A good cat tree will be at least five or six feet tall. The whole point of a cat tree is something tall enough for your cat to perch on and survey everything below them, so if you're getting a "cat tree" that is only 2-3 feet tall, it's barely anything.

• Material covering. Surfaces like rough carpet and sisal are great if you want your cat to be able to scratch at and mark the tree as their own. Softer fabrics might be better if you want to discourage that behavior. It can also be beneficial if the fabric covering can be removed and replaced later on, once your cat has thoroughly used it, or if they have an accident on it somewhere.

You also want to make sure it's sturdy in its construction. A lot of cheaper cat trees are made of particle board and held together with pegs and glue, which can work loose and end up unstable and less comfortable for your cat. You can reinforce a flimsy cat tree with some hardware from a local home improvement store, but you'll be better off buying a sturdy cat tree from the outset instead.

What to Leave Off the Cat Tree

I wanted to make a note here that there are some things you should avoid when you're shopping for a cat tree.

First of all, a lot of the dangly accessories, like hammocks and play balls, can be unnecessary. Many cats don't enjoy a hammock and would prefer to nap on a flat, hard surface, so a tree with a hammock is going to just have an unnecessary dangly bit that gets dirty for no reason.

Dangly toys, meanwhile, often break when your cat plays with them. At that point, you either have to reattach them and end up in an endless cycle of fixing them or use toys in other ways. I always find that it's not worth the hassle of constantly reattaching cat toys to a tree, and it's easier to just let them use it as a jungle gym rather than a play palace.

Watch out for inappropriately sized spaces, as well. If the shelves and boxes are too small for a full-size cat, your cat will find them unpleasant and might ignore them entirely. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be a waste.

Can Cat Trees Be Dangerous?

A lot of times, a cat tree will be perfectly fine, but every now and then, there can be a problem that can make it dangerous.

Watch out for:

• Anything with too narrow a base or too broad a top. An unbalanced cat tree can be knocked over, and in the worst case, could fall on top of your fur baby as they fall, causing injuries. Stability is your #1 priority for a good cat tree.

• Anything with exposed wood. I usually recommend making sure the surfaces are covered with a carpet or sisal material for vertical posts, and a carpet with a dense pile for platforms. If your cat scratches wood into splinters, those splinters can end up in their paws. They also risk a claw catching in the carpet as they jump down, which can hurt.

• Anything with toxic materials used in its construction. This is luckily fairly rare, but there are still a lot of cheap vendors out there who use whatever cheap material they can, and end up using toxically-treated wood, toxic paints, or other chemicals in the construction.

Otherwise, though, your cat tree should be pretty safe for most felines.

Fortunately, there are thousands upon thousands of cat tree designs out there, all within a relatively sane price range, so it's pretty easy to find one that suits your needs. I do always recommend shopping in person, like I said, but even if you can't, a reputable brand and a good vendor can get you a great cat tree in short order.

Cat Tree FAQ

Let's round things out with some common questions you might have.

Do You Need a Cat Tree for Your Cat?

Need? No, not technically. Plenty of people keep cats without getting everything they could want for them. But cats love cat trees, and cat trees are durable, long-lasting, and very useful. They're also great if you have multiple cats, though if you have territorial cats, you might want each one to have their own tower.

That said, there aren't many reasons not to get a cat tree for your fur baby. If you're extremely limited in space, or if your cat has mobility challenges, a tree might not be good for them.

Should You Get a Different Tree for Kittens?

That's up to you. Kittens are smaller and can fit into smaller spaces, climb steeper surfaces, and aren't going to knock over a tree. On the other hand, they'll outgrow the tree, and nothing is quite as sad as seeing your cat grow larger than the space they love to sit in, until they can no longer fit.

Instead, consider secondary accessories for the tree that are suitable for kittens but can be moved or expanded as they get older. Some trees are more modular and designed for this kind of adaptation, too, though they tend to be more expensive.

Can You Build Your Own Cat Tree?

Sure! If you're handy and want to buy some wooden posts and boards, some heavy-duty screws and bolts, some sisal material and carpet, and the other accessories you need to put it all together, there's no reason you can't build your own. In fact, it can be a satisfying experience.

Most people won't, though, just because it's a project and not everyone has the space or the skills to put something together.

Where Should You Put Your Cat Tree?

Wherever you want!

The best place to put a cat tree is near a window, since your cat will love perching and looking outside, and basking in the sun when it's shining. On the other hand, if you live in a cold climate, being too close to a window can be too chilly for them. You can also put a cat tree in a corner or next to some heavy furniture.

On the other hand, I'd recommend against putting it near something else tall that you wouldn't want your cat on, like a bookshelf or TV stand. You know the temptation to jump over will be way too strong.

Do you have any other questions about cat trees that I haven't covered in this article? If so, be sure to let me know in the comments section, down below!