Cat towers: Some people love them, some people hate them. Cats love them and they are a necessary part of having a cat. So what’s a human to do? Get a cat tower, obviously. I regularly recommend cat towers as part of behavior modification plans and catifying one’s space. I don’t recommend any old cat towers as they’re not all created equal. So what makes a good cat tower and what are some options for folks who don’t want a giant carpeted cat tree in their space?
Why Do Cats Like Cat Towers?
Cats have a natural behavioral need to climb. This is not surprising to anyone who has tried unsuccessfully to keep their cats off their counters or tables! By climbing to a high perch, cats gain an advantage over predators attempting to snack on them as they will have a harder time reaching them. It also allows them to survey their territory for threats and take action if one is spotted.
When cats are the predators, they gain an advantage over their soon-to-be snacks. Cats can spot tiny prey moving from a distance and can surprise attack from above. They spend less energy searching for prey and increase the chance of a successful hunt by striking from above.
In a home, cat trees fill the role of actual trees and other natural climbing spaces cats encounter in the wild. It allows them to feel safe in their space and engage in a noraml cat behavior. Many cat towers also offer features that can reduce conflict or help the cat engage in other normal behaviors like scratching.
Features Of A Good Cat Tower
While the location of a cat tower is very important, even if you put a not-so-great cat tower in an awesome location it won’t appeal to your feline friends. So what should you look for in a high quality cat tree?
Safety
A tower that won’t injure your cats or you should be your top priority. Look for a tower that:
- Can withstand more than the weight of your cat. If you have a multicat home, it should be able to hold more than one of them at once.
- Isn’t top heavy and will topple over when a slight breeze comes through.
- Doesn’t have parts your cat could chew or choke on.
- Has good reviews and doesn’t have any broken parts.
If you’re local to the Twin Cities, the best place without question to get your cat tower is Purrniture. I consistently have clients rave about the quality of their cat trees. Plus, my own dudes love theirs!
Height
Unfortunately, there are plenty of safe cat towers that I still wouldn’t recommend. All things considered, what feature should you prioritize above others? Height.
Because cats love high places, a high tower (like this cool staircase) gives the cat a place that feels like it’s their own space. They can climb the tower to escape from other cats, a new dog they don’t get along with, or just take a nap. If you have a tower that’s higher than somewhere that you don’t want to climb, they may naturally (or with a little persuasion) start going to the tower as an alternative. Adding another place for the cat to perch is much better more effective than using a squirt bottle!
A Variety Of Features
Cats have many important duties they need to accomplish each day like being cute and napping. To help your cat accomplish all of these important tasks, pick a cat tower that gives them places to:
- Curl up in a nest like space
- Scratch
- Hide
- Bat at a fun toy
- Nap at different heights
Meet All Their Needs
Especially if you live in a small apartment, you can save space (or money) by picking a cat tree that allows cats to do things in addition to climbing. Pick a cat tree with dangling toys or ropes for your cat to play with or use the cat tree to feed your cat.
You can also save space by combining something for your cat with your own furniture. This incredible bookshelf and cat tree combo allows your cat to climb while you can display your own treasures or store your collection of cat books. If that isn’t your style, there are tons of unique offerings on Etsy.
Make Something Unique
If you can’t find a cat tree that has everything you’re looking for, why not make your own? Well, make your own kind of. Modular cat trees allow you to mix and match parts to create a completely unique cat tree suited to your cats. No special tools or skills are required!
Two cool modular options:
- Happy and Polly’s transformable cat tree: This cat tree is simple yet modifiable based on your cat’s needs. No need to get overwhelmed with customization options, but still have the freedom to change it based on what your cat likes.
- Omlet’s Freestyle cat tree: This is one of my favorite cat towers in general. It goes from ceiling to floor and is built by adding on a platforms and features a la carte. Even with the same pieces, you can come up with a totally different cat tree from someone else.
Unused Space Becomes A Cat Tree
Having cat towers in different rooms is important so your cats can climb wherever they happen to be, but sometimes it can be hard to fit cat trees into your some spaces. Thankfully, there are a lot of really cool space saving cat trees. K&H Pet Products makes an over the door cat condo that I recommend to clients all the time. It was a hit with our Chief Purr Officer when I first got it and continues to be enjoyed by his successors!
This type of tower is better suited for a door that doesn’t have a lot of activity (think a closet door), but it can go over most doors. It allows you to add vertical space in sometimes tricky or narrow locations.
Windows Can Become Towers, Too
An alternative is a window perch. Window perches add vertical space, but they don’t take up floor space. They’re usually mounted via suction cups, but some lean on a windowsill. As long as your cat isn’t a chonk due to stealing another cat’s food, they’re stable and safe. Make sure to check how much weight they can safely hold before purchasing one if you have larger cats.
If you’re concerned about safety, have a double level window perch that also is made by K&H Pet Products (they make genuinely great pet products). I got mine when Zoloft first came home and have only had the suction cups 3 times in the over 7 years I’ve had it. Because it has multiple suction cups, it’s never completely fallen off the window. They’re really well built!
If you have multiple cats or want to add more space you can get multilevel window perches. K&H even makes multilevel window towers with built in cat grass pots. It’s a great feature with a little more enrichment for your cat. Plus, it being mounted on a window means the cat grass will get plenty of sun.
What About Looks?
If you’re concerned about how your home looks, I get it. It’s okay to want nice things and give your cat a nice life. Getting cat furniture isn’t optional, but that doesn’t mean your home needs to look junky.
The last few years have brought a renewed interest in cats and many companies have started making cat furniture that looks nice. You can find artistic looking cat trees from Furr and Co. or the Refined Feline. You can even get a playful cat tree with a swing that still looks nice!
Which Cat Tower Is Best For My Cats?
Phew, that was a lot to consider! So which cat tower is the right one for you and your cats? As you may guess, it completely depends on your situation. Your budget, space, cat’s preferences, and your aesthetic preferences (seriously, there are nice looking cat towers) are all important considerations.
Plus, there are often some exceptions to what I outlined above. Why would cats be straight forward when they can be complicated? Some cats may prefer hanging out on a medium height perch or may sometimes go up high, but may prefer hanging out in a hidey hole lower on the tower. As cats age, they may not want to jump as much due to pain.
Ultimately, every cat is an individual. Knowing your own cat and listening to what they like will help you pick out the best cat tree for your own special cat.
