The 10 Best Cat Trees of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Catit Vesper High Base Cat Tree

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Quality
  4.5/5
• Size
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

Most standard cat trees have carpeting on their platforms to provide cozy spots for your cat to relax, but they're also tempting targets for cat claws, and can look ratty or worn very quickly. The Catit Vesper High Base offers many of the same features as a traditional cat tree design, but in a more attractive package with laminated MDF surfaces and removable memory foam pads.

The Vesper High Base is named for its top observation platform, which is 47.8 inches off the ground—a maximum height usefully in between more compact and much larger cat trees. Beneath the top platform is a "cubed den" middle level, a lower cushioned platform, and the 22.1-inch square base, which provides access to all four wrapped pillars for scratching. Rather than the more commonly found sisal, the posts on the High Base are wrapped in seagrass, which is generally regarded as softer and more stain-resistant. While your cats will love scratching it, there's a good likelihood that you'll need to re-wrap the legs of the Vesper High Base sooner than you would with a sisal alternative.

We previously tested and reviewed the Catit Vesper High Base in 2019 (you can find a link below), and had only one complaint: it didn't feel very sturdy. It seems as if Catit has upgraded more than packaging since then, because in our most recent round of testing, the Vesper stood out for its stability, and we gave it the highest possible rating for sturdiness. This time the High Base was tested with a 16-pound calico cat, who would frequently jump from her beloved window hammock on to the cat tree—it never shook.

We also like the included memory foam pads, which attach to the top and bottom platforms with strips of hook-and-loop tape. These pads are cozy and conform well to your cat's body, plus you can remove them for washing or spot cleaning. Unfortunately, the pads are not machine washable. There's also a removable sisal scratch pad and a dangling rope with three rattan toys. Another appreciable feature is that all of these accessories are easily replaceable, with Catit selling separate plush pads, rattan ball toys, scratchy sisal pads, and even replacement seagrass-wrapped posts.

Cats who love hiding will appreciate the cubed den (which has another removable memory foam pad inside), and there's an entrance on either side, so they won't feel trapped. But while we think the Vesper High Base is an excellent all-around cat tree for most cats, we wouldn't recommend it for older cats, since there are no ramps and the cubed den requires a dexterous little leap to enter.

The Catit Vesper High Base cat tree is available in three different colors. There are also a wide range of smaller and alternative designs in the Vesper line.

Price at time of publish: $158 (Oak)

_{Dimensions: 22.1 x 22.1 x 47.9-inches | Weight: 40.5 pounds | Colors: Oak, walnut, black | Frame Material: MDF | Covering Material: Memory foam}

Best for Multiple Cats

Frisco 72-in Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Size
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

If you're looking for a big, fully-featured cat tree, the Frisco 72-inch Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo has it all: toys, ramps, scratching posts, a dangling rope, elevated platforms, and multiple "cat condo" hiding spots. And while we're not the biggest fans of giving over a part of our living space to a giant, carpeted, traditionally-designed cat tree, this Frisco cat tree is available in six different color schemes (including a cheetah print version!), so you can pick one that will stand out the least (or the most) in your space.

The Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo has a whopping 10 scratching posts, two condos, and three high-up perches. Crucially, while there is a single, highest perch, there are two additional perches that are nearly as elevated, so multiple cats will be less likely to constantly fight over a single perch. As the name would suggest, this cat tree towers at 6-feet high, satisfying your cat's instincts to attain the high ground to observe their surroundings.

_{Dimensions: 23.2 x 21.3 x 72 inches | Weight: 57 pounds | Colors: Cream, gray, brown, black, blue, cheetah | Frame Material: Engineered wood | Covering Material: Faux fur, sisal rope}

Best for Small Spaces

Feandrea Cat Tree for Large Cats

4.8

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The marquee feature of the Feandrea Cat Tree for Large Cats is its massive, cushioned top perch, which is 22 by 16 inches—plenty of space for big cats. But what we also love about this Feandrea cat tree is that it crams a lot of useful features into an approximately 24 by 16-inch footprint, making this an excellent pick for small apartments or spaces, particularly those with multiple cats.

The Feandrea Cat Tree for Large Cats boasts two "condo playhouses"—which provide enclosed spaces for your cats to hide, play, and nap—in addition to the perch on top. The higher of the two condos includes two exits/entrances, so that your cat can zoom through on their way to a different platform, or simply have a place to hide where they don't feel cornered. Between the two condos, the base, and the top perch, there are four different elevation levels available on a cat tree that's only 33-inches high.

In our testing, we found the Feandrea cat tree to be sturdy enough to hold up to a cat jumping in and out of the condo doorways, with a usefully compact size comparable to a small accent cabinet.

The only real downside are the scratching posts. Though beefy, with a 3.4-inch diameter, the sisal-rope is only wrapped around the middle portion of each post, the rest is carpeted. This provides less opportunity for your cat to stretch out fully when scratching. Still, our tester cat didn't seem to mind, and eagerly used the scratching posts.

The Feandrea Cat Tree is available in three different colors.

Price at time of publish: $84

_{Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.7 x 33.1 inches | Weight: 24 pounds | Colors: Beige, light gray, smoky gray | Frame Material: Particle board | Covering Material: Plush, sisal rope}

Best Budget

AmazonBasics Cat Activity Tree with Scratching Posts

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Size
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

This budget-friendly option from AmazonBasics crams a lot of cat tree on top of its 17.7-inch square base, providing multiple jute-wrapped pillars for scratching and four different carpeted levels. Its compact form combines enough height to intrigue cats (it tops out at just under 46 inches), while still being easy to tuck into a corner or in front of a window without blocking the view too much. The round top platform has raised sides, so your cat can use it like a bed or a crow's nest.

In our testing, the Cat Activity Tree didn't shake at all while in use, and its components fit together well. While we're always wary of the relative durability of carpeted cat trees, the seven different scratching posts should keep your cats claws in the right place.

There's also a smaller version of the AmazonBasics Cat Activity Tree with one fewer platform, though we prefer the larger version, since it does such a good job at providing your cat with an elevated spot without taking up too much space.

Price at time of publish: $48

_{Dimensions: 17.7 x 17.7 x 45.9 inches | Weight: 24.25 pounds | Frame Material: Engineered wood | Covering Material: Carpet, jute}

Best Customizable

The Refined Feline Metropolitan Cat Condo

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Size
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

The Refined Feline Metropolitan Cat Condo looks like a bookshelf, with platforms arranged in a stepped pattern, making it easy for multiple cats to hop between levels. Each platform is ample, with a 13 by 18.5-inch surface large enough for any-sized cat to lie down. But our favorite part is the sheer number of options, including four different frame colors and a wide range of ways to customize each of the five platforms.

After choosing between gray, gold, white, and black frames, your Cat Condo can be further customized with multiple shelving configurations. In addition to white, black, or walnut platform color options, your primary choice is between a configuration that includes four platform cushions and a scratchpad, and a second configuration with five faux fur covers, which make it look like your cats are napping on clouds.

After that, you can customize even further with optional parts and accessories, like a platform with a built-in food bowl, or replacement sisal scratch pads. Most platform accessories, like the cushions and scratchers, are secured to the platforms with velcro-like strips, making it easy to swap out replacements or remove cushions for cleaning.

But the Refined Feline's Metropolitan Cat Condo is a sturdy and useful option even without its impressive customization options. Its got a 31 by 15 inch footprint, which keeps it steady all the way to its 62-inch top. Designed to hold multiple cats, the Metropolitan Cat Condo also includes a wall anchor for additional security.

Price at time of publish: $299

_{Dimensions: 31 x 15 x 62 inches | Weight: 40 pounds | Colors: Gray, gold, white, black | Frame Material: Metal, engineered wood platforms | Covering Material: Sisal, faux fur}

Best Modern Design

Tuft & Paw Frond Cat Tree

4.9

View On Tuftandpaw.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Size
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

You can rotate the three Tuft & Paw Frond Cat Tree perches around its sisal-wrapped pole for endlessly unique jumping and climbing challenges. While the Tuft & Paw Frond Cat Tree looks modest—especially considering its high price—its combination of practical features and considerate design makes this one of the most attractive cat trees available.

The Frond's perches are plywood with an ash veneer, and are shaped like petals, with curves that make it look more like curio shelves than a cat toy. However, the Frond also isn't trying to disguise what it is—it looks like a cat tree, just an attractive one. Plus, it's easy to assemble and finds a nice middle ground size, with a 24-inch diameter base and a height an inch over four feet tall.

While the rotating perches lets you turn the Tuft & Paw Frond Cat Tree into a new challenge every day, the perches are limited a little by their size, since they aren't really large enough for naps. This is more of an active cat tree, suitable for high-altitude surveillance more than snoozing.

Price at time of publish: $299

^{Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 49 inches | Frame Material: Solid ash connectors, plywood with ash veneer platforms | Covering Material: Sisal rope}

Most Sturdy

Whisker Cat Tower

4.5

View On Litter-robot.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  2/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Size
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

The Whisker Cat Tower is now one of the sturdiest items of furniture we own, with a metal frame that could probably stand up to a young tiger, and will definitely hold up to years of your cats jumping all over it. From the makers of the Litter-Robot 4, this cat tree has a similar premium, well-built feel.

The Tower features four different levels, with a cat pad included for the bottom compartment. The top three platforms are each floored with felt carpet—a nice middle ground surface, which is not exactly posh, but is soft enough that our two test cats flop and rub their faces on it. The back wall is a sisal scratch pad, which looks different than most sisal scratchers thanks to its gray vegetable dye.

Built atop a 17 by 18 inch base, the Whisker Cat Tower has a squat, blocky feel, and never wobbles at all, even with two cats bickering over the top platform 54 inches off the floor. It's available in a neutral white or a "Grey Woodgrain" with a black frame.

Our Whisker Cat Tower is still as indestructible and unchanged as when we first set it up several months ago. It's hard to imagine a more durable alternative. The only real downside is the assembly, which requires a Phillips screwdriver, hammer, and an electric drill with two different drill bit sizes. While the results were worth it, we did spend nearly two frustrating hours getting it together.

Price at time of purchase: $349

^{Dimensions: 18.03 x 17.2 x 53.86 inches | Weight: 53.2 pounds | Colors: White, grey woodgrain | Frame Material: Composite wood, metal frame | Covering Material: Felt carpet, vegetable-dyed sisal}

Best Faux Plant

On2Pets Modern Cat Tree

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Quality
  4/5
• Size
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

The On2Pets Modern Cat Tree may not look real, but it does look fun. Plus, it's available in a wide range of configurations, with swappable leaves that you can update with the seasons.

The Modern Cat Tree is built atop a sturdy base, which is available in either square (24 by 24 inches) or round (26-inch diameter) foundations that look like a patch of grass. From there, the cat tree rises to five feet, providing three carpeted shelves at various heights. While the Modern Cat Tree feels completely stable from a safety perspective, the highest perch sometimes got a little wobbly, and our cats mostly stuck to the lower two levels.

Each platform has little plastic ports—or holes—where you insert the branches. The branches themselves are about 18 inches long and made from PVC, with non-toxic silk leaves that cats can munch on without shedding plastic shavings. These modular branches can be easily replaced, which On2Pets offers in 8- and 24-branch bundles. Leaves come in ovate "Zen Green" or in multi-season maple leaves, with "Mixed Maple," "Orange Blaze," and "Deep Plum" allowing you to choose between your favorite shades of Autumn. Overall, we felt the On2Pets Modern Cat Tree looked even better than in product photos, and the flexibility of the branches had us spreading and dressing them for maximum verisimilitude.

While the ease with which you can change out one or every branch on the Modern Cat Tree is one of its coolest features, it also means that active play will sometimes shake a branch or two loose. While never a major annoyance, we did begin to anticipate needing to reinstall a branch or two whenever our test cats got the zoomies, or pounced on each other through some leaves.

We had two cats try out the On2Pets Modern Cat Tree, and both of them loved the combination of perch and hiding spot provided by the foliage—"it seems to make them feel more in touch with their wild instincts," our tester noted. Our cats also loved the artificial turf base, and, despite using it as an occasionally scratch pad, we've yet to notice any wear and tear.

While our test cats took to the On2Pets Modern Cat Tree immediately, we could imagine it being more daunting for older and cautious cats, who typically like an unobstructed view of exactly where they're leaping. In these situations, one or two branches on the On2Pets tree can be removed individually—or even just flexed to one side—showing your cat a clear pathway on to the cat tree. On2Pets also recommends a maximum weight of 32 pounds.

But despite some small weaknesses, the On2Pets Modern Cat Tree excels at capturing the appeal of real foliage. If your cat can't resist messing with your house plants, then this is likely to become their new favorite hang.

While we tested out a large, 5-foot version of the Modern Cat Tree, On2Pets also offers 4-foot and 2-foot versions.

Price at time of publish: $112

^{Dimensions: 24 x 24 x 60 inches | Weight: 30 pounds | Colors: Zen green, mixed maple, orange blaze, deep plum | Materials: Engineered wood, silk, carpet, artificial turf, PVC}

Best Cat Condos

Trixie Lilo Modular Three-Story Cat Condos

4.8

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Size
  4/5
• Value
  5/5

Each of the three cat condos in this stackable tower arrive preassembled, and include a removable cushion, plus carpeted and sisal surfaces. The bottom and top condo boxes have one opening, while the middle cat condo has an entrance on each side, allowing cats to pass through.

Totaling four feet in height, the Trixie Lilo Cat Condos uses a combination of velcro and a bolted surface to hold the three units together. They can be arranged with staggered entrances—providing more surfaces for your cat to find their footing and climb—or with the boxes squared off, requiring them to jump to higher condos. This also makes it a good option to place against a wall or even in a corner.

At 60 pounds, the Trixie Lilo isn't easy to move around once assembled, but it is extra sturdy. The interiors are plush too, making these cat condos a place your cats will seek out, and will be able to rely on for years. Though we do wish it came in a few more color options.

Price at time of publish: $130

^{Dimensions: 18 x 18 x 48.2 inches | Weight: 60 pounds | Frame Material: Engineered wood | Covering Material: Faux fleece, sisal}