Why should you even have a cat tree?
The cat tree should encourage your cat to be more active by climbing, jumping and moving around. It’s a way to make better use of the vertical space in your home in order to increase Kitty’s territory without adding floor space. Many cat trees also offer shelves, perches or boxes which serve as napping spots and increase the cat’s perceived territory.
So, the function is clear but what about the form? Most cat trees follow the same basic patterns: a tall post which supports perches and the occasional box. The shelves are covered with some kind of carpet, and the main post usually has a section that’s wrapped up in sisal rope and serves as a scratching post.
Some cat trees have more than one post, allowing for a variety of “branches”. Here’s what one of the most popular models – the Armarkat A5201 model – looks like:
So what’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing! As far as your cat is concerned, this cat tree is an excellent choice, as are many other models. You can see them in our Cat Trees Reviews section.
But why not check out different concepts as well? The function may be the same, but the form can be entirely different. Let’s take a look at designs that “think outside the box” and bring you all the functionality of a cat tree in a furniture item that makes a decorative statement you may actually prefer. Hopefully, these designs will inspire you to take a renewed look at cat trees and how they can enrich your cat’s life.
12 unique designs that may change the way you look at cat trees
Who says a cat tree can’t be as elegant as the felines using it? Take this model for example, the Refined Feline Lotus Cat Tower with its sleek curved design. This beautiful cat condo is as practical as it is beautiful: The carpets and scratching pads are attached with velcro, making them easy to replace.
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Another cat tree that goes beyond the call of duty is this gorgeous activity center with three “condos”. This mahogany-and-white unit has the perfect 1950s retro look. Put it on display in your living room and provide up to four kitties with the option to nap in style. Of course, they can also climb, jump and scratch those sisal-wrapped poles.
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The Apex Cat Tower takes a clean flowing style to the next level. No fluff on this trendy unit. Instead of cutting corners, it just makes them go away in favor of perfect zen-like circular lines. It’s constructed of unfinished wood, so you can choose to leave this beautiful cat tree in all its natural glory, or treat it prior to assembly to create your own unique piece of art.
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If you appreciate the opportunity to custom paint your cat furniture, then here’s your chance to go wild with the unique Bubble Cat Tree! Get creative and create your own colorful design, or leave this piece as it is for your cats to enjoy and your guests to admire. Either way, Kitty will get a chance to exercise by climbing all four steps to peep out of the round holes.
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Bowsers truly revolutionized the very concept of a cat tree with this colorful tower of heavy-duty solid cubes. Each cube has a hole in the middle so cats can easily climb up the tower. What a great way to encourage Kitty to be more active! This eye-catching tower is as versatile as a child’s toy. You can separate it into two towers of two and three cubes each, or just use the cubes around your home. Need to move this cat tree? Nothing could be easier: Just move it one cube at a time!
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Why stick to a tower when you can have an entire castle? Kitty City lets you create huge gyms with their modular cat furniture system. The Kitty City Kitty City Steel Claw Castle set includes everything down to the jingling cat toys, and you can put together the toys and connectors in minutes to create this design or others. As with all City Kitty products, you can add more building blocks later on to create a unique cat tree for your cats.
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The Catville Tower by Prevue Pet Products is also based on a system of plastic tubes and connectors. This design really gets cats going with routes for climbing inside the system or outside of it, and of course, plenty of rest stops on the way!
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If you’re looking for something more minimalistic than a castle, this floor-to-ceiling adjustable contraption may be a better bet. This innovative cat tree/tower is 108″ tall, providing your cat with a good climb and making the most of the vertical space in your home.
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Don’t want to reach the ceiling, but still need something that won’t take up too much floor space? Try the K&H hanging funhouse. You can install the funhouse in minutes with zero drilling – perfect if you’re renting a small apartment. The various levels are made of easy-to-clean waterproof fabric, making this an affordable and practical solution for everyone.
Then again, if drilling the walls is not an issue and you don’t mind investing in a long-term solution on a larger scale, check out the Roman Cat Fort by CatastrophiCreations. After all, who says a cat tree needs to have bark or roots? The same function can be achieved by anchoring various elements into the walls, saving on valuable floor space.
Of course, even if you stick to the more traditional cat tree in form, you can still go a little crazy with the design. Like this handmade Royal Cat Boutique Luxury Cat Condo. Your cat is going to love the plush interiors as well as the ability to climb to the top perch. Just make sure it’s a good fit for your home decor theme, because with its black faux leather exterior, you can be sure this cat tree is going to get some attention from your guests!
Last in our parade of cat trees extraordinaire is a cat tree that truly lives up to its name! The CatHaven Cat Condo is a cat tree, disguised as… a tree! Let Kitty enjoy climbing on branches and stalking imaginary prey from within a canopy of leaves. These cat trees are easy to assemble, and if you have the space and budget, you can buy several of them to create an indoor forest!
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So what do you think? Which of these cat trees would you consider getting for your cats and why? We’d love to get your input so leave us a comment!