Guides

How to Get the Most from These Guides

A cat tree is one of the few pieces of furniture your cat will use every single day, so it pays to think it through before you buy. The guides above are written to be read in a rough order, but you can dip into whichever one matches the question you have right now.

Start with your cat, not the catalogue

Before looking at designs, spend a few days watching how your cat moves. Does it stretch tall against door frames or scratch flat on rugs? Does it leap to the top of wardrobes or prefer to curl up somewhere low and enclosed? These habits tell you far more than any product description. Our guide on choosing a cat tree that fits your cat turns those observations into practical choices about height, platform size and scratching surfaces.

Think about the whole home

Even a well-made tree can go unused if it sits in the wrong spot. Cats tend to favour places with a view of a window or of the room where people spend time, rather than a quiet corner they never visit. Placement also affects safety: a tall tree near a wall or in a low-traffic area is less likely to be knocked or to wobble. Reading the placement guide alongside the one on checking stability gives you a fuller picture.

Plan for every life stage

A tree that suits a playful kitten may not suit the same cat years later. Kittens benefit from lower platforms, dangling toys and plenty of scratching posts, while large or older cats need wider perches, sturdier bases and gentler steps between levels. If you share your home with more than one cat, consider whether the tree offers enough separate resting spots so that no one has to compete for the best perch.

Keep checking over time

Cat trees wear out. Sisal frays, carpet loosens and screws can work free with daily use. A quick look every few weeks, tightening fittings and replacing worn posts where possible, keeps the tree safe and appealing. If your cat suddenly stops using a favourite platform, it is worth checking both the tree and, if the change seems linked to stiffness or discomfort, having a word with your vet.