My cats like to use the carpet/curtains/bed to sharpen their claws on. Now they use this instead. Looks good too and was actually quite fun to put together with my daughter.”

What I Love About It: They’ve fully committed to making this look like a real cactus! The material at the top is a really nice touch that adds some interesting texture. They’ve even made sure that the dangling toy is a perfect cactus green. The tree is made from pressed wood which makes the product sturdy, faux fur, artificial leaves, and natural sisal scratching posts. The dimensions of this beautiful cat tree are 28×23.5×61 inches. With a combination of real wood and the classic cat tree carpet, this activity tree has the best of both worlds. The real wood gives it a unique and almost elegant design but it’s functional too as cats can happily scratch away at the actual wood or the areas of sisal rope. There are various styles of cat scratching furniture on the market, from simple scratching boards to scratching mats and scratching posts. Many cat scratching posts also offer a platform for your cat to look out from, although these do not offer such high climbing opportunities as many floor to ceiling cat trees. Many cat scratching mats and cat scratching boards can also be mounted on a wall, making it easier for your cat to stretch out to its heart’s desire. The chance to climb and watch the world from a high vantage point are the obvious features missing from these alternative scratching options, but an advantage is that scratch mats and scratch boards need considerably less space than most scratching trees. This makes them the ideal choice for cat owners without much spare living space. Although they do not offer your cat the chance to climb vertically, if they are combined with other viewing and playing options then space-saving scratching furniture such as this can be a great way to make a small apartment species-appropriate for your cat! For example, you could choose a shelf to furnish as a cat den, with a comfortable cushion or cardboard cat house that would make it ideal as a lookout platform.Scratching Post - Scratching posts are put in a cat tree to help with exercise. The cats will often pull and scratch against the posts. This will help them stay agile and limber all the time. In addition to this, the scratching posts ensure that the cat doesn’t use your furniture instead. Cat owners who bought this tower for their cats have noted how much their felines have enjoyed the structure, with one review saying:

Thanks to the 2 sisal posts, with a diameter of up to 15cm, which are both 50cm long, it really is possible to scratch everywhere and keep the nails trimmed. All in all, this cat tree offers a huge number of scratching possibilities, which is ergonomically important for your cat's joints. If you want to take your style to the next level, you can also get this tree in several color variations including deep green, autumn, and summer which is a mix of both colors and my personal favorite. Your cat can let off as much steam as it likes, whenever it likes, without damaging your furniture or upholstery Having a cat tree/condo with leaves on it, or one that was designed to look like a real tree, was something I’d thought a lot about considering my obsession with English ivy used for interior decor. Obviously, I wouldn’t dare have real ivy hanging around a cat tree. It’s toxic to cats and we all know how curious they can be about nibbling on house plants.The fake stuff these days can be pretty darn convincing, however, so the fact that I’d have to go fake never bothered me. And boy does a pop of green add some cheerfulness to a house.

1. Best overall cat tree: Amazon Basics Extra Large Cat Tree Tower

What I Love About It: The variety of wood used is amazing and gives this tree a beautiful look. I love the contrast between the light and dark wood. Toys. Kitties need entertainment, too. If your feline is more active, look for a cat tree with toys like feathers, balls, or dangling mice. It’ll keep your cat on its paws, encouraging jumping and climbing.

How cats will navigate to the top of a cat tree is often overlooked. It’s just assumed that cats will happily jump straight up to the closest platform- and most will. But if you’ve got an older feline you’ll want to take the time to consider how your kitty will navigate to the top. I covered this extensively when we reviewed the best cat tree options for older cats. We looked at ramps and closely connect platforms as great options for senior cats that might be so spry anymore. The scratching post itself is wrapped in natural sisal, and the 3 platforms are made from natural, untreated plywood. The plush beds are attached with Velcro strips, so are easily removed for cleaning (wash up to 30°C). If you’re a fan of BBC’s show The Apprentice, you may have seen Tigga Towers featured in the 2015 series. They produce a range of luxury cat furniture, including a modular cat scratching tower system. They offer a number of standard configurations, but you can easily design your own towers from the selection of bases, poles, beds and platforms that they offer. The price may seem very high, but the quality of the towers is excellent, and they are very sturdy so will last for many years. The size and weight of these towers also make them ideal for larger or more energetic cats. It’s a small cat tree, which is both a pro and con. At only 23.2 inches, it can fit just about anywhere but that also makes it too small to be the only piece of cat furniture as cats need several height options. Still, it’s budget-friendly enough that it can be a great addition to your collectionOne customer reviewed the product, stating that the company customised the cat tree to be shorter for their ceiling height. For your feathered friends make sure that bird tables and bird feeders are protected. Put plastic bottles around the stand to stop cats from climbing up, or use feeders with thin poles. Don’t plant big shady bushes near these as they’ll provide a good spot for your cat to hide and pounce from. It’s a good idea to keep your cat in at night as they are most likely to hunt at dusk and dawn. There is also a higher risk of cats being involved in road traffic incidents at night, another good reason to keep them inside. Plants cats don’t like On top of the barrel is a plush covered cushion which makes a perfect place for your cat to curl up on and and watch the world go by, or have a relaxing cat-nap. This cushion is attached by velcro, so is easy to remove if you want to pop it in the washing machine to clean it.

Dangling from the top platform is a small toy, which is attached to a piece of string – ideal to keep your furry companion occupied when they are not sleeping. If you need a realistic cat tree with leaves then Scurrty cat tree is the best choice for you. A combination of modern look of cat furniture with a touch of nature will make you and your kitty very happy.The next level up introduces a flat platform with a scratching post and a couple of support posts covered in plush fabric. The problem here is that your cat might decide to use one of these instead of the jute covered posts. The fabric won’t last long if they decide it's their preferred choice.