Cat Furniture, Cat Toys

Functional and Fun: The Best Cat Trees for Playtime!

The Best Cat Trees on the Market

Although you might not think of them as toys, the best cat trees can be just as exciting and engaging as any teaser or puzzle. In addition to giving him a nice place to nap, this type of cat furniture will provide your friend with a perfect spot to hunt, hide, and scratch. Outfitted with accessories, they can also become very interactive, thus curbing destructive behavior, satisfy his hunting instincts, and allowing him a comfortable place to survey his surroundings.

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The Best Cat Tree for Kittens

Kittens are simply bursting with energy and require a good deal of stimulation; however, with their compact size, you may not feel entirely comfortable letting them climb the towering heights of most cat trees. As with any other baby, it's best to start small. Start is the key word here. Your little darling won't stay so little forever, so it's a great idea to consider an option that will grow with your him.

Kitty City Claw Mega Kit Cat Tree is a fantastic choice as it starts small, but can be fully customized to accommodate your ever-growing cat. This particular kit includes a variety of platforms, a perch, several columns, a hammock, canopy, teaser toys and connectors. All of these pieces can make for one monster of a cat tree. If you want to go even bigger, Kitty City also offers expansion pieces.

All-in-all, these trees are great if you want a toy that grows with your cat. It's important to bear in mind, though, that it may not be ideal for smaller spaces. Also, this tree does not come pre-assembled. That said, if you aren't the handy type, it can be a bit of a pain.

The Best Cat Tree for Mature Cats

Older cats can still have a lot of spunk. Unlike their kitten companions, though, mature felines may have some vastly different needs. For instance, you may find that jumping and climbing are quite difficult. In this case, trees with ramps can be incredibly useful. Your older cat may be less inclined to hunt, but more inclined to relax. In either case, a greater array of hidey-holes could very well suit your cat just fine. Regardless of your older kitty's particular needs, there are some things to be mindful of when picking out a tree. Look out for ease of use, height, good stability, and comfortable surfaces.


This Armarkat Cat Tree seems to fit the bill, coming with a sturdy base, a reasonable height, cozy faux fleece covering, and a useful step-up style ramp. Additionally, this particular tree has plenty of perches, lots of scratching post area, and a nice house for hiding or napping.

This tree is nearly perfect for any mature cat. One downside, though, is that it only comes with one simple teaser-style toy. This, however, can be easily remedied by the addition of more exciting teasers, ropes, bells, balls or plush toys.

The Best Cat Tree for Multiple Cats

So you have a multi cat household... that doesn't mean your home needs to be decorated exclusively with cat-themed furniture. I mean, sure, a tree for every cat sounds like fun, but who needs to stub their toe on one every time they turn around! That being said, if you have a cat or two... or three... or more, it's important to pick a tree that satisfies everyone's needs all at once.


Go Pet Club 62-Inch Cat Tree is a veritable kitty jungle gym. It boasts numerous houses, platforms, and perches, as well as ladders, sisal rope scratching posts, and plenty of spots for hanging all sorts of delightful toys! If you have more than one kitty roaming your house, this type of tree can be a real harmony-saver. There is ample room for your cats to either socialize or have some alone time.

On the downside, though, this particular tree is fairly sizable, and may not be ideal for smaller spaces. Furthermore, it does require some assembly, which can be tricky if you're not one for furniture building.

The Best Cat Tree for Large Cats

Big cats are lovable, huggable, downright adorable, but they can frankly be a little rough on cat trees. Unlike their more sprightly counterparts, large breed and big boned kitties require extra stability for the moments when they act like maniacs, and plenty of support when they're all tired out. They also need some extra room when it comes to houses and platforms.


This Vesper Cat Tree Condo is a solid, sturdy cat tree that is every bit as striking as your large cat! This beautifully-made tree comes with an amply-sized house, two large perches, plenty of scratching post space, a built-in toy, and extra comfy memory foam cushions.

The Best Cat Tree for Small Spaces

The beautiful thing about cats is that they can live pretty much anywhere. Unfortunately, their furniture may not be as adaptable. This is especially true if you live in a small space like an apartment or condo. Although many cat trees can be downright enormous, there are still plenty of options for keeping your kitty entertained, even with limited space.


Slender, mountable, and maybe just a little funky, the BIG NOSE Wall Mounted Cat Tree is a unique option for apartment-dwellers. Made from sturdy, usable materials – such as soft carpeting, jute, and pinewood – this is an excellent option if you want to provide your cat with plenty of room to climb, while still saving that all important floor space. Boasting two step perches, a hammock-style bed, and plenty of spaces to accessorize, you simply cannot go wrong with this tree!

How to Transform Your Cat Tree Into a Cat Toy

Although most trees come with an attached toy or two and are also inherently toy-like, there are ample ways to customize these very versatile pieces of furniture.

  • The easiest way, of course, is to simply tie up the usual types of toys. For example, feathers and plush mice work well. Squeaky toys, bells, and crinkle balls are also great options
  • If your tree has several beds, you can also try fitting a ball track into the space. For the sake of safety, be sure to secure it with double-sided tape or pet safe glue.
  • If your cat likes to hide or perform sneak attacks, you can easily attach tunnels to lower-level houses.
  • A tree with multiple tunnels or houses are ideal places to hide cat nip toys.

Conclusion

Though these useful pieces of furniture are excellent bedrooms, the best cat trees serve to encourage play as well as rest. With a little bit of creativity and the right tree, you are certain to come up with something that serves both purposes beautifully.


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Feature image by marjoleiny via Pixabay under Pixabay License


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