9 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Trees – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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The best cat owners understand what their cats need in order to keep them happy and in good health. Part of owning a cat means ensuring that your kitty can climb, scratch, and oversee everything in the home from a high perch. The best thing to do is to give your cat a cat tree because it’s the best of all worlds. But you might be worried about purchasing a cat tree that isn’t eco-friendly.
To make your life a little easier, here are reviews of nine of the best eco-friendly cat trees. These are made from recycled or recyclable material and primarily from natural materials. Hopefully, you’ll find a cat tree that your cat will adore, and you can feel good about reducing your ecological footprint!
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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PetPals Hand-Made Natural Cat Tree |
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Check Price |
Best Value
|
|
Catry Cat Tree |
|
Check Price |
Premium Choice
|
|
Mau Lifestyle Leone Modern Cat Tree |
|
Check Price |
| Best for Kittens |
|
PetPals Bowl Shaped Perch Cat Tree |
|
Check Price |
|
Katris Modular Cat Tree |
|
Check Price |
The 9 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Trees
1. PetPals Hand-Made Natural Cat Tree — Best Overall
| Size: | 19 x 19 x 29 inches |
| Material: | Fabric, sisal, paper rope |
| Weight: | 15 pounds |
| Good for: | Small to medium-sized cats |
The best overall eco-friendly cat tree is the PetPals Hand-Made Natural Cat Tree. It has a handmade paper rope basket for a perch and a hidey-hole as the base. It has a sisal rope scratching post and a hanging feather toy. There are lovely plush pillows, and the whole thing is quite modern yet cozy in appearance and is sturdy and well-made.
The flaw with this cat tree is that it’s best for small cats, as large cats will not be able to fit well on the perch. Plus, it’s a bit short to be a cat tree — it’s more like a cat shrub.
- Handmade paper rope basket perch and hidey-hole
- Sisal rope scratching post
- Hanging feather toy
- Includes plush pillows
- Attractive, sturdy, and well-made
- Only for small cats
- Not that tall
2. Catry Cat Tree — Best Value
| Size: | 5 x 12.6 x 27.2 inches |
| Material: | Sisal, carpet, cardboard |
| Weight: | 2 pounds |
| Good for: | Small cats |
The best eco-friendly cat tree for the money is the Catry Cat Tree. It has a top perch and a kind of cradle in the middle, both covered in carpet for comfort. The scratching post is made from recyclable cardboard, and it has a sisal rope that hangs from the top perch for entertainment. It’s available in gray or beige and is quite nice to look at.
The issues here are that it is quite small, so it would be best for small cats, and that it is a bit unstable. You might need to brace it against something.
- Affordable
- Top perch and cradle in the middle are covered in carpet
- Recyclable cardboard scratching post
- Hanging sisal rope for entertainment
- Attractive
- Only for small cats
- Can be unstable
3. Mau Lifestyle Leone Modern Cat Tree — Premium Choice
| Size: | 46 x 18 x 50 inches |
| Material: | Wood, faux fur |
| Weight: | 47 pounds |
| Good for: | All sizes |
The Mau Lifestyle Leone Modern Cat Tree is our premium choice pick. It’s a beautifully designed cat tree that is made from real tree branches. It has three perches, with the tallest at 50 inches, and they are covered in a soft carpet fabric that should be comfortable for your cat. It also has three pom-pom toys, three scratching posts (other than the branches), and a cozy cave at the base.
The only problem with this cat tree is the price, which is why it’s a premium choice.
- Made from real tree branches
- Three perches with soft plush carpet
- Three hanging pom-poms
- Three scratching posts
- Cozy cave at the base
- Expensive
4. PetPals Bowl Shaped Perch Cat Tree — Best for Kittens
| Size: | 18 x 18 x 23 inches |
| Material: | Fleece, paper rope, sisal |
| Weight: | 16 pounds |
| Good for: | Kittens |
The PetPals Bowl Shaped Perch Cat Tree is great for kittens because it’s small and not too high for those tiny balls of fluff! It has soft fleece pillows and paper rope woven baskets that provide a perch and a cozy bowl. The bowl and perch are held up by two sisal posts perfect for scratching, and it’s sturdy enough for two small cats or kittens. It also looks great!
However, it is expensive for such a small cat tree, and there is a reason that we chose this one for kittens: It’s small!
- Perfect size for kittens
- Soft fleece pillows
- Paper woven baskets for perch and bowl
- Two sisal rope scratching posts
- Attractive
- Expensive
- Best for small cats or kittens
5. Katris Modular Cat Tree
| Size: | 40 x 8 x 40 inches |
| Material: | Cardboard |
| Weight: | 58 pounds |
| Good for: | All sizes |
The Katris Modular Cat Tree is unique in the cat tree world! It’s almost not a cat tree, but rather a group of blocks that you can put together for your cat and even store things in your home. It’s made with sturdy and thick cardboard that can hold up to a whopping 300 pounds! You get five large blocks that come in different shapes that can be stacked any way that you want, and they’re held together by multiple clips. It’s available in different colors: black, multi-color, light brown, light gray, and natural (which is also the least expensive option). It’s quite versatile because you can mount it to a wall or even use it as a bookcase.
The biggest issue is that it is expensive! The clips that come with it also tend to break easily, so you might want to invest in a few zip ties.
- Unique design
- Made with thick cardboard that can hold 300 lbs.
- Five blocks in different shapes can be put together in different ways
- Comes in five different colors
- Versatile — can also be mounted on a wall
- Expensive
- Clips to hold it together might break easily
6. PAWMONA Multi-Level Sturdy Cat Tree
| Size: | 37 x 60 inches |
| Material: | Birch wood, sisal |
| Weight: | 50 pounds |
| Good for: | All sizes |
The PAWMONA Multi-Level Cat Tree is made with natural Baltic birch. It is held together with multiple unique square scratching posts covered in sisal. It has four different levels, including a den, two platforms, and a platform at the top with a cozy bed. The platforms all have cushions that are attached by Velcro, so they can be removed and machine washed. The base is made with wood, so it’s already quite sturdy, but it does come with a wall mount. It’s made in the U.S.
However, the larger your cat is and the closer they climb to the top, the wobblier the cat tree gets. You’ll probably need to use the wall mount to attach it to the wall. Also, the platforms closer to the floor jut out in different directions and take up a fair amount of space.
- Made with natural Baltic birch
- Multiple square sisal scratching posts
- Four different levels with a den
- Platforms have removable cushions that can be machine washed
- Sturdy base and wall mount included
- Can be wobbly
- Takes up a large amount of space
7. New Cat Condos Large Cat Tower
| Size: | 24 x 20 x 65 inches |
| Material: | Wood, carpet, sisal |
| Weight: | 55 pounds |
| Good for: | All sizes |
The New Cat Condos Large Cat Tower is tall at almost 5½ feet and is made with solid wood, unoiled sisal rope, and plush carpet. It’s made in the U.S., and it’s large enough to fit cats of all sizes. It has four bed platforms, so your cat won’t fall out (each one is 17 inches), and it has one sisal rope scratching post. The rest of the posts are covered in the carpet material. It’s also available in beige, brown, and neutral, but all at slightly different prices.
However, if you have rambunctious and big cats, you might need to find a way to brace this tower because it can be prone to wobbling and even falling over. Additionally, the carpet will definitely show wear after a while.
- 65 inches tall
- Made with solid wood and household-grade carpet
- Good for cats of all sizes
- Four platform beds that are 17 inches
- Available in three colors
- Might wobble and fall over
- Carpet wears out after a while
8. Tresbro Handmade Cat Wall Shelves
| Size: | 9 inches in length |
| Material: | Pine, jute rope, sisal |
| Weight: | 47 pounds |
| Good for: | All sizes |
The Tresbro Handmade Cat Wall Shelves unit isn’t exactly a cat tree, but it serves a similar purpose — it gives your cat height, entertainment, and scratching opportunities, all for a reasonable price. It’s wall-mounted with two platforms and a fun suspension bridge, and it’s made from pine wood and jute rope. It comes with a pom-pom on a spring and a small wooden ball to entertain your kitty. The structure can hold up to 110 pounds, and it comes with secure brackets for attaching it to the wall.
The only issue is that the scratching area for your cat is the sisal rope, which is wrapped around each board of the suspension bridge, which doesn’t necessarily make for a stable scratching surface.
- Good price
- Wall-mounted with two platforms and a suspension bridge
- Made with pine and jute rope
- Comes with a wooden ball and pom-pom on a spring
- Holds up to 110 lbs.
- Scratching surface is on the bridge, so a little unstable
9. HAPYKITYS Cat Tree
| Size: | 66 x 77 inches |
| Material: | Pine wood, sisal |
| Weight: | 28 inches |
| Good for: | Small cats |
HAPYKITS Cat Tree is 6.4 feet tall and made with natural pine without paint or adhesives. It’s a vertical cat tree, so it’s perfect for cats that love to climb straight up. It only has one long pole with sisal rope for scratching. It attaches to the wall in two places with wooden wall mounts, so it should be stable. It also comes with a proper hammock that most cats should love.
However, there are issues with this tree. You will need a few tools, such as a drill, to assemble it. This is also not a standalone tree, and it needs to be secured to a wall. The platforms will not be able to hold the weight of heavy cats, as they are prone to breaking. It’s really only for small cats.
- Tall at 6.4 feet
- Made with natural pine
- Doesn’t take up much space
- Great for vertical climbers
- Comes with a fun hammock
- You need a drill to assemble it
- Not a standalone tree — must be attached to a wall
- Only for small, lightweight cats
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Eco-Friendly Cat Tree
Now that you’ve had the chance to look through various nice cat trees, here are a few more things for you to consider before making a purchase.
Material
This is an important point because it factors into being eco-friendly. The cat trees on this list are made with mostly natural materials, such as real wood, and as little synthetic material as possible. However, there will always be polyester and plastic that sneak in. Just read the specifications carefully, which should help you decide if the tree will work well for your cat and if you feel good about the materials used.
Price
Part of being environmentally conscious means paying extra. You can find all kinds of cat trees that have been handmade with all-natural materials, but in some cases, this means they are custom-made, which calls for a higher price point.
Your Cat’s Needs
There are all kinds of sustainable and eco-friendly cat trees available, but you need to ensure that they will fit your cat’s needs. Always check the measurements. You don’t want a small tree for your full-grown Maine Coon! You need to check that the tree is stable, that it will fit in your place, that it’s durable, and that there are plenty of spaces for your cat to scratch and sleep on.
Other Options
You can always look for a second-hand cat tree as another way to be environmentally friendly. You can even fix up your old one (if you have one) by purchasing and attaching new eco-friendly carpeting and sisal rope. Use your imagination!
Conclusion
PetPals Hand-Made Natural Cat Tree is our favorite overall because of the hand-made paper rope basket used as a perch and a hidey-hole. The Catry Cat Tree has a carpeted top perch and cradle in the middle, the scratching post is made from recyclable cardboard, and it’s a good price for the quality. The Mau Lifestyle Leone Modern Cat Tree is our premium choice pick for its unique and environmentally friendly use of real tree branches.
We hope that these reviews of eco-friendly cat trees have helped you out. Just remember to read the descriptions and measurements carefully, and don’t be shy about asking questions online for other options and opinions. Finding the perfect cat tree for you and your cats will make everyone happy!
See also:
- 10 Best Eco-Friendly Cat Toys – Reviews & Top Picks
- 25 Modern Cat Furniture Items: Products that Match Your Style
Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock
