9 Best Cat Trees – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
By Dean Eby
Updated on
Cat trees provide cats with quite a few benefits. Not only do they offer a great place where your cat can climb without damaging your furniture, they often have scratchable surfaces, hanging toys, and even apartments where your cat can find some privacy and seclusion when it wants to rest. Whatever your cat’s preferences, it’s sure to be satisfied by a quality cat tree.
As you know, there are many different cat trees on the market, coming in various designs, each with unique offerings. But you want the best one for your cat; any old cat tree won’t do. In the following reviews, you’ll read about some of the best cat trees on the market and how they compare. All the information you need to make a sound decision is here. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll know exactly which cat tree will fit your home and your feline the best.
A Quick Glance at the Winners of 2024
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | Frisco Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo |
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Best Value | Go Pet Club Faux Fur Cat Tree |
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Premium Choice | Frisco Heavy Duty Cat Tree |
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TRIXIE Casta Fleece Cat Tower |
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Armarkat Faux Fleece Cat Tree & Condo |
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The 9 Best Cat Trees
1. Frisco Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo – Best Overall
Height: | 48 inches |
Cover Material: | Faux fur, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Any |
Condos: | 1 |
Scratching Posts: | 5 |
Perches: | 2 |
We feel that this 48-inch cat tree from Frisco is the overall best cat condo, combining the best in versatility with a limited overall size and affordable price. With no weight limit, this tree is perfect for cats of any size and can even accommodate multi-cat households with ease. There are enough features here for multiple cats to be entertained simultaneously, including five scratching posts and two perches. And if one of your cats wants some privacy, it can crawl into the cat apartment.
For most situations, this is the ideal size item, standing 48 inches tall and taking up an area just over two feet square. It won’t consume your whole living room, but it’s large enough for multiple cats to enjoy without the need for fighting. However, you might fight with whoever helps you assemble this cat tree, as directions are confusing and unclear. All in all, we think this is the best cat tower you can buy this year.
- Great for cats of any age and size
- Size is ideal for most situations
- Room for multiple cats to play and scratch
- Private kitty apartment is perfect for a cat to sleep in
- Assembly instructions are confusing and unclear
2. Go Pet Club Faux Fur Cat Tree – Best Value
Height: | 23 inches |
Cover Material: | Faux fur, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Any |
Condos: | 0 |
Scratching Posts: | 1 |
Perches: | 2 |
Standing just 23 inches tall, this mini cat tree from Go Pet Club is compact, though it still offers ample space for two cats. It’s so sturdy that there’s no weight limit, and two separate perches ensure that both cats can fit comfortably. Since it’s so small, this tree is far cheaper than many other choices, and we think it’s the best cat tree for the money.
If you’ve got limited space, this cat tree is a great choice. It takes up a square just 20 inches across, and since it’s so short, you can fit it under a counter or in another small area if need be. This tree is covered in a faux fur carpet, but be aware that it sheds substantially, so expect to find fibers from it all over the house. Still, for the price, it’s hard to beat everything that this cat tree offers.
- Compact size is great when space is limited
- Provides multiple uses for your cat
- Makes a great perch for your cat to nap
- Room for two cats simultaneously
- Priced more affordably than other options
- The carpet covering tends to shed and make a mess
3. Frisco XXL Heavy Duty Cat Tree – Premium Choice
Height: | 76 inches |
Cover Material: | Faux fleece, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Any |
Condos: | 2 |
Scratching Posts: | 4 |
Perches: | 5 |
If you’re willing to spend a little extra on your favorite felines, you can get the best cat tower, the Frisco XXL Heavy Duty Cat Tree, which is really more of a cat castle. There are five separate perches, two condos, and no weight limit, so your cats can all comfortably find space on this cat tree. It’s incredibly stable and can entertain all of your cats with ease thanks to four large scratching posts covered in sisal.
One nice feature of this cat tree is the removable perch covers, which are also machine washable, allowing you to keep this cat tree scent-free and looking fresh. But to provide so many great features, this tree had to be large in stature. It has a square footprint that’s approximately three feet across, and it stands an impressive 76 inches in height, so expect to give up a sizable corner of a room to this feline mansion. Of course, this won’t come cheap, so be prepared to pay a premium to provide this level of entertainment for your cats.
- Can entertain several cats at once
- Multiple apartments for cats to find privacy
- Plenty of scratchable surfaces
- Perch covers are removable and machine washable
- Heavy-duty construction is suitable for cats of any size
- Pricier than other options
- Takes up quite a bit of space
4. TRIXIE Casta Fleece Cat Tower
Height: | 37.5 inches |
Cover Material: | Sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 9 pounds |
Condos: | 1 |
Scratching Posts: | 3 |
Perches: | 2 |
If you’re limited in space but still want to maximize the space you have, then the TRIXIE Casta cat tower is a great choice to consider. It stands 37.5 inches tall, but its footprint is just 22 inches by 14 inches, so it takes up less space than many similar products. It will provide your cat with two perches, a condo, and three scratching posts. Plus, your cat will have fun hanging to play with, which can potentially entertain you for many hours.
The biggest drawback to this cat tree is that it’s only suitable for small cats. Only cats up to nine pounds are recommended for this tree. As you might guess, the small base makes this tree far less stable than others that have a larger square base. So, it’s a tradeoff between size and stability, which is why this cat tree didn’t quite make it into our top three.
- Faux fur provides a soft and comfortable surface
- Priced affordably
- Compact design doesn’t take up much space
- Provides perches and a cat condo
- Only suitable for smaller cats
- It’s not the most stable cat tree
5. Armarkat Faux Fleece Cat Tree & Condo
Height: | 68 inches |
Cover Material: | Faux fleece, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 60 pounds |
Condos: | 1 |
Scratching Posts: | 10 |
Perches: | 2 |
This cat tree and condo from Armarkat is a bit pricier than alternatives, but it packs an awful lot into a 68-inch package. With 10 scratching posts, your cats will have nearly endless scratching opportunities. It’s got a weight limit of 60 pounds, so even if you have huge cats, this tree will still be safe for several at once. However, the perches are a little bit cramped for the largest of cats.
Unlike many similar products, this cat tree is surprisingly easy to assemble. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, which is rather rare with such products. There’s even a small toy that hangs off of the top perch to provide additional entertainment for cats that are willing to climb that high.
- Provides near-endless scratching opportunities
- High weight limit is suitable for multi-cat households
- Stable and sturdy
- Easy assembly with clear instructions
- Pricier than similar alternatives
- Large breeds might be too small for the perches
6. Frisco Real Carpet Wooden Cat Tree & Condo
Height: | 65 inches |
Cover Material: | Carpet, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | N/A |
Condos: | 1 |
Scratching Posts: | 1 |
Perches: | 4 |
If you’re looking for extravagant, this real carpet wooden cat tree and condo from Frisco fits the bill. It’s large in stature, with a square base spanning two feet each way and an overall height of 65 inches. Four large perches offer ample resting areas, and they have raised edges to prevent resting cats from rolling off. And assembly is easier than you’d expect, requiring just three simple steps.
For a structure of this size, there are surprisingly few places to scratch since there’s just one scratching post. Still, it’s a very stable cat tree that has no weight limit, making it perfect for households with several cats. However, it’s prohibitively expensive. You can purchase several cat trees for the cost of this one, even if they’re about the same size! While the household-grade carpet covering feels nice and cats appear to enjoy it, we don’t think it quite warrants the outrageously high pricing.
- Can be easily assembled in just three steps
- Cats love the household grade carpet covering
- Raised edges keep cats on the perches
- Sufficiently stable with no weight limit
- It’s prohibitively expensive
- Consumes a lot of space
- Doesn’t provide many places to scratch
7. Go Pet Club Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo
Height: | 62 inches |
Cover Material: | Faux fur, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 12 pounds |
Condos: | 1 |
Scratching Posts: | 7 |
Perches: | 1 |
Available in six colors, this cat tree from Go Pet Club is rather versatile, though it’s too weak for large cats with a weight limit of just 12 pounds. We do like all the features it provides, such as a basket, condo, perch, and tube, but the low weight limit means it’s really only suitable for kittens or small breeds. Despite that, it has a massive footprint that takes up lots of floor space, spanning 27 inches by 38 inches. Still, considering everything offered, it’s priced pretty reasonably, even if it’s not a great choice for large cats or multi-cat households.
- Includes a perch, basket, condo, and more
- Reasonably priced considering what it offers
- Comes in six different colors
- Only recommended for cats up to 12 pounds
- Large footprint consumes lots of floor space
8. Yaheetech Plush Multi-Cat Tree & Condo
Height: | 51 inches |
Cover Material: | Sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 13 pounds |
Condos: | 1 |
Scratching Posts: | 8 |
Perches: | 4 |
While the Yaheetech Plush Multi-Cat Tree and Condo is marketed as being great for multiple cats, it’s not very sturdy. Low weight limits also limit its usability, with a maximum weight capacity of 13 pounds for the platform and just 8.8 pounds for the hammock. It does provide quite a few features though, including a tube, hammock, condo, ramp, and platforms. We approve of the versatility, but the small size and limited weight capacity mean this product is only suitable for small felines. But it is compact with a footprint of just 19.3 inches square, so we’ll give it points there, though it’s not a cat tree we’d generally recommend.
- Priced affordably for the size
- Provides plenty of scratchable surfaces
- The tube is too small for big breed cats
- Hammock has an 8.8-pound weight limit
- Weight limit for the platform is just 13 pounds
9. Kitty City Claw Mega Kit Faux Fleece Cat Tree & Condo
Height: | 68 inches |
Cover Material: | Faux fleece, sisal |
Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 20 pounds |
Condos: | 2 |
Scratching Posts: | 4 |
Perches: | 3 |
There’s no doubt that the Kitty City Claw Mega Kit makes a unique cat tree. You can tell at first appearance that it’s different, but different isn’t always better. In this case, we like the concept, but the execution is lacking. Granted, it’s priced affordably and offers multiple ways to play, but it just doesn’t stay together. Shoddy construction means it falls apart multiple times a day. It’s only suitable for cats up to 20 pounds, to begin with, but even with small cats, it’s constantly falling apart.
Furthermore, this cat tree has an expansive footprint for its size, taking up an area that’s 47.5 inches x 32.5 inches. It’s a major sacrifice of space and you’ll be frustrated at the constant need to put it back together, which is why this cat tree sits firmly in the last position of this list.
- Priced affordably
- Attached toys for multiple ways to play
- Takes up a ton of space
- Only suitable for cats up to 20 pounds
- Doesn’t stay together
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Trees
Even after reading these reviews comparing some of the most popular cat trees, it can still be difficult to choose one. After all, you’ll be looking at it every day. It will take up a lot of space, and if your cat doesn’t like it, you’ll certainly know. If you’re finding that you still need more information to make a decision, then this short buyer’s guide is for you. By the end of it, you should feel prepared to pick a cat tree, equipped with all of the knowledge you need to make the right choice.
Common Cat Tree Features
Most cat trees are rather similar in build, even if they have different numbers of features. You’ll generally find perches and scratching posts on most cat trees, even the smallest or cheapest ones. Many will also have cat condos or hanging toys, so consider what your cat might find useful.
Perches
Perches provide places for your cat to rest. If your cat loves to climb, then getting a tall cat tree with high-up perches could satisfy that need. You might find that your cat is no longer climbing your other furniture quite so much. Just make sure you pick a cat tree with perches that are large enough for your cat.
Apartments/Condos
If your cat wants to find a little privacy, then a cat condo provides the perfect place. These are built into many cat trees, and they’re little hideaways where your cat can feel safe and secure, tucked away from the world.
Scratching Posts
Cats love to scratch things, and if you don’t provide a designated scratching place, your furniture and curtains may become scratching areas instead. Luckily, most cat trees have scratching posts built-in, which are perfect places for your cats to scratch their hearts out. Try to pick a tree that has enough scratching areas for all of your cats to scratch at once without interfering with each other.
Hanging Toys
Some of the best cat towers have small hanging toys attached to the higher levels, which provides another form of entertainment for your cats.
Ramps or Ladders
Old or small cats might have a hard time reaching some of the higher perches on tall cat trees, but many of them have ramps or ladders that make them easier to access. If you know your cat needs such help, then prioritize this feature.
Things to Consider When Comparing Cat Trees
It’s easy to get caught up thinking about all the features that different cat trees offer, but if you don’t consider the following factors, then you might be in for some trouble.
Weight Limits
Some cat trees are so sturdy that they don’t have weight limits. These trees are perfect for large cats or multi-cat households. However, many cat trees do have weight limits, and often, these are very low. Parts of the tree might have weight limits under 10 pounds, so you’ll want to be aware of any weight limits your cat tree has before you purchase it. You’ll also need to know how heavy your cats are, so it might be pertinent to weigh them so you can be certain the tree you choose is applicable. Of course, if you pick a tree with no weight limit, then it shouldn’t be a problem.
Overall Size
How much space are you willing to sacrifice for your cat’s tree? Most cat trees are listed by their height, but really, you need to pay attention to the footprint of the tree more. This will tell you how much floor space you’re going to be giving up. If you have limited space, to begin with, then this might be the biggest factor influencing your decision.
Price
For some, the price will be the most important factor when choosing a cat tree. In that case, you’ll want to look for a smaller tree, as smaller cat trees tend to cost less. But even amongst the larger offerings, you’ll want to compare prices between models. Sometimes, you can find the same quality and features at a cheaper price.
Conclusion
Many cat trees are available on the market, but as you can tell from our reviews, they’re not all of equal quality or offering. Our pick for the best cat tower is the Frisco 48-inch cat tree. With five scratching posts and a private apartment, it’s perfect for multiple cats and offers a great range of features for the price. If you’re budget shopping, we suggest the Go Pet Club 23-inch cat tree. It’s compact in size and low in price but still offers room for two cats to perch, scratch, and enjoy.