The Best Cat Trees for Cats

Top Cat Trees & Towers

Cat trees are a necessity for any pet cat, whether you have a kitten or a senior pet. Available in a variety of heights, shapes, and styles, the best cat trees and towers allow cats to climb and lounge where they are comfortable and at ease. If your cat is anything like mine, they like to climb, so we keep a mix of cat tree heights in our home. Based on my cats’ experience, I’m sharing the top cat tree and condo options available, split into category by height:

Cat trees are great because you can put treats and toys, catnip and Cat Mats all over it. I like to hide kibble under Cat Mats for the kitties when we’re out of the house for a while; it gives them something to hunt while we’re gone. They’re great for cats who love to perch and watch cat TV — or just keep an eye on the house!

Our Cat Tree Collection

I got Louis his first cat tree when he was about a year old. It’s a smaller tree with a cardboard scratcher. We still have it. When I moved into my law school apartment, which was much bigger than my previous place, I splurged on a taller cat tower for Louis and Olivia. Brett had a taller one for Emory, so when we moved in together, we wound up with quite the collection. In all, we now have four mid-to-large cat trees in our house, and two smaller cat stand slings.

The Best Cat Trees Available

Overall, my cats seem to enjoy the cat trees with multiple ledges or seats (as you can see here). Sometimes, they like to hang out in these spots together. Even if they don’t all hang out on one at the same time, having multiple landings makes it easier for them to climb and descend safely. The rope scratcher portions are a hit, too. If you’re wondering how to get a cat to stop scratching carpet, then you’re going to want to check out trees with dedicated scratchers. Emory especially loves the scratcher aspect, and it helps with keeping their nails in good shape!

Top Cat Trees for Your Furbaby

Smaller Cat Trees

As far as the best cat trees go, I have to say these little sling scratcher trees really check a lot of boxes. While they don’t offer the height component, they are generally affordable, easy to assemble, and crowd pleasers. We have a couple of them ourselves. They have made their way around the house, ultimately winding up near Brett and my respective desks. You can see Olivia hanging out in the one in my office here. Any of these smaller cat stand options would be perfect if you have a shadow cat who wants to hang out with you while you work or read at home!

Small cat trees and scratchers

Left to Right: Two Level Plush Cat Tree & Condo | 20 Inch Plush Cat Sling Tower | Heavy Duty Faux Fur Cat Tree

Midsized Cat Tree Options

For more height, here are a few great medium sized cat tree options. Two of the three cat trees here have a condo component, the little enclosed houses for cats to lounge in, while the third has two larger seats, giving it more of a modern cat tree look. We have the Cento Cat Tree from Mau Pets (third image below) and it’s a huge hit in my house! Easily one of the best cat trees on the market. Even my cats who tend to butt heads will put their differences aside to share the rattan baskets. If you’re interested in the Mau Pets cat tree, be sure to check out my full review of this aesthetic cat tree here.

Mid Size Cat Towers

Left to Right: 32 Inch Carpet Wooden Cat Tree | Cat Tree Tower with Sisal Scratching Post | Mau Pets Cento Cat Tree

Large Cat Tree Styles

These larger cat tree house styles are probably what spring to mind when you think about cat towers and trees. Generally featuring four or more “levels,” these are great for multi-cat homes and are typically the best cat trees for large cats. These cat towers tend to have more cubby boxes, since there’s more space to work with. As I mentioned above, we have a couple larger cat towers, including one in our bedroom, which tends to be popular in the evenings when we’re getting ready for bed (see, e.g., this gem of a photo set of Emory). So, whether you have a single cat or multi-cat household, getting one of these is always a good idea!

Tall Cat Trees

Left to Right: Nautical Theme Cat Tower | 40 Inch Heavy Duty Faux Fur Cat Tree with Condo | 57 Inch Cat Tree with Condo & Rope Toy

Enticing Your Cat to Use the New Cat Tree

Sometimes, cats are uneasy with new things. One way to acclimate your cat to their new cat furniture is with catnip and treats — two of their favorite things! Spraying the tree with this great catnip spray, for example, can entice timid cats to check out the new tower. Further, you can use treats and kibble to encourage your cats’ hunting instincts and to keep them from boredom. For example, I like to hide some of the cats’ favorite treats around on the various cat tower shelves and baskets in order to keep them busy and entertained when we’re away or busy.

My Cats’ Favorite Treats & Catnip Options


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 *This post was originally published as part of my Cat Mom Life series in June 2019. It was most recently updated on December 18, 2023.

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