Cats love plush fabric. It’s a fact all cat owners have to come to terms with at some point. Luckily, cat tree manufacturers understand that we, the cat people, have standards when it comes to our interior. Read this guide for our selection of the best cat trees for big cats that we could find.

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A Quick Look At Our Favorites

We have looked at over two dozen products and selected the following 5 best cat trees for big cats.

ProductRatingWhy We Like It
1Hey-Brother Extra Big Cat TreeEasy To ClimbBuy on Amazon
2Vesper High Base Cat TreeNo PlushBuy on Amazon
3Go Pet Club 62-Inch Cat TreeFor Multiple CatsBuy on Amazon
4Superjare Multi-Level Cat TowerLots Of PerchesBuy on Amazon
5Hey-Brother XL Multi-Level Cat TreeTall ScratchersBuy on Amazon
What We LikeWhat We Don't Like
1
  • Durable
  • Big surface areas, den and hammock
  • Tall scratching posts
  • Easy to climb tiers
  • Plush
  • Not all poles are sisal
2
  • No plush
  • Tall scratching posts
  • Sizeable perch and den
  • Modern look
  • Difficult to climb tiers
  • Slippery, wooden surfaces
3
  • Large surface areas
  • Variety of baskets and perches
  • Big enough for multiple cats
  • Small den and basket
  • Small scratching surfaces
  • Plush
4
  • Two big dens
  • Lots of perches
  • Easy to climb tiers
  • Plush
  • Not enough scratching surfaces
  • Difficult to reach scratching surfaces
5
  • Two big dens
  • Tall scratching posts
  • Angled scratcher
  • Easy to climb top tiers
  • Plush
  • High bottom tier

Our Favorite Cat Trees For Big Cats

Hey-Brother Extra Big Cat Tree

The Hey-Brother Extra Big Cat Tree is made for big cats. It actually looks pretty comfy to me too, to be honest. The four main poles make it very sturdy , so no matter how big you cat is, he won’t knock this tree over!

Despite being plush, the dark grey color of the fabric makes it look a tad more classy compared to the Go Pet Club 62 Inch Cat Tree. It also has more sisal surface area on taller posts, which seem to hold up better over time.

What I especially like about this cat tree is how easy it is to climb up and down. The little side perch and the basket are placed just right for your kitty to get up there, and back again.

What We Like
  • Durable
  • Big surface areas, den and hammock
  • Tall scratching posts
  • Easy to climb tiers
What We Don't Like
  • Plush
  • Not all poles are sisal

Vesper High Base Cat Tree

The Vesper High Base Cat Tree is made from wood, which makes it very sturdy and durable. It doesn’t have any plush carpeting, which I really like! Not only does it look pretty, it is easy to clean. The mats are detachable, so you can just put them in the washing machine. This is the perfect cat tree for people with allergies.

The Vesper High base has scratching posts of different lengths, so kitties of all sizes can enjoy this tower and make it their own. Some cat owners find that the sisal comes loose after a few months. This is not an uncommon thing for cat scratchers. The manufacturer, however, does sell replacements for each of the columns, so you don’t have to replace the entire cat tree when this happens.

Whether your kitty likes to curl up in a den or sploot on the top perch, she has plenty of places to land. She will have to be a bit careful moving around, though. There are some uncovered wooden surfaces that your cat’s paws may slip on.

What We Like
  • No plush
  • Tall scratching posts
  • Sizeable perch and den
  • Modern look
What We Don't Like
  • Difficult to climb tiers
  • Slippery, wooden surfaces

Go Pet Club 62-Inch Cat Tree

The Go Pet Club 62 Inch Cat Tree is a sizeable tower for sizeable kitties. With four tiers your cat will have enough room to climb, play and nap. It has a cozy hammock and plenty of surface area for cats of all sizes.

It is covered in plush carpet, but not too “hairy” of a kind. It will inevitably attract some dust and hairs, but these are easily removed with a vacuum cleaner.

The sisal areas of this cat tower are covered with fabric in a lot of areas. This might cause it to get damaged faster if your cat decides to scratch in one of those spots. The den and basket are on the small side, but still comfortable for your smaller felines. This cat tree is definitely big enough to comfortably house a few kitties.

What We Like
  • Large surface areas
  • Variety of baskets and perches
  • Big enough for multiple cats
What We Don't Like
  • Small den and basket
  • Small scratching surfaces
  • Plush

Superjare Multi-Level Cat Tower

The Superjare Multi-Level Cat Tower looks more like an apartment complex than a cat tree. It has two big dens for your large cat to sleep in, plus a basket, perches and a soft bed on top. The tiers are not too high, so your cat can move around comfortably.

I have come to accept that cats like it, but I do think this tree is a little heavy on the plush, actually. Most of the poles are covered with it, leaving only a small area for your cats to scratch on. The placement of the sisal also seems a bit awkward to me.

What We Like
  • Two big dens
  • Lots of perches
  • Easy to climb tiers
What We Don't Like
  • Plush
  • Not enough scratching surfaces
  • Difficult to reach scratching surfaces

Hey-Brother Extra Large Multi-Level Cat Tree

The Hey-Brother Extra Large Multi-Level Cat Tree has two big dens, just like the Superjare Multi-Level. However, they seem less overwhelming to me because of the way they are placed. This cat tree has a lot of tall scratching posts. It even has an angled scratcher at the bottom, which is great for older cats who maybe lack some flexibility.

The top of this extra large cat tree has perches at different levels, which are easy to get on and off. The bottom tier, however, seems rather high. If you choose this cat tree, I would recommend putting another surface next to it that is about half the height of the bottom tier. This way your cat can get up the tree and enjoy all its comforts safely.

What We Like
  • Two big dens
  • Tall scratching posts
  • Angled scratcher
  • Easy to climb top tiers
What We Don't Like
  • Plush
  • High bottom tier

Our Choice: Hey-Brother Extra Big Cat Tree

As a human being, I would definitely be tempted to choose the Vesper High Base Cat Tree. It’s a very nice-looking piece of furniture compared to the others. Alas, my love for cats runs deeper than my hate for plush. Looking at it through my cat’s eyes, the Hey-Brother Extra Big Cat Tree just seems soooo comfy! I can already see her napping in the hammock or curled up in the basket. I especially like how durable and easy-to-climb it is. Your cat will find a long lasting home in a tree of this quality.


The Benefits Of A Cat Tree

Do you cringe when you think of having a cat tree in your house? I know I did when someone first suggested it to me. They seemed like nothing but ugly, plush dust-collectors to me. Yet, I was having a hard time keeping my kitties from acting out and scratching the furniture. Could there be something to these hideous things that I had missed? What are the actual benefits of a cat tree?

Territorial Confidence

Cats need to feel confident and at home in their territory to be their happy purring selves. If your cat has something to climb up on that will also soak up her scent, it gives her a sense of ownership of the room. A cat tree can be especially beneficial to nervous and/or aggressive cats. Sitting up on something high will alleviate a lot of their stress, because they can observe the room from a non-threatening distance.

The right cat tree can make the difference between you owning a cat and you living with a cat. Realising that opened my eyes and made me embrace cat trees as a necessity.

Now, that doesn’t mean you go and put your house full of them. (Unless you really want to, of course. Who am I to stop you.) Place one or two cat trees in territorially significant spots, like in front of the window or in the corner of your sitting area. You will definitely see your cat’s confidence grow as she starts to feel like a true member of the household.

Red cat in a cat tree

Scratching

Many cat trees are made from materials that your cat can scratch her nails on. Poles and ramps at different angles give her unlimited options to sharpen those claws. And your furniture will survive another day.

Scratching doesn’t just work to sharpen and clean your cat’s nails. When she scratches a surface, she leaves her scent behind. So scratching also works to increase her sense of territory and, with that, her confidence.

Exercise

You wouldn’t think it from the amount of sleeping that they do, but cats need proper exercise to stay fit and healthy. Play helps to keep their mind and reflexes sharp. Climbing up and down a cat tree will help to keep her muscles strong and her joints smooth. You can combine the two by leading her up and down using a feather toy.

Stimulation

If you don’t always have time for a kitty play session, a cat tree could be a great solution. Place it somewhere where your cat can look out the window. Watching all the birds and insects fly by is very stimulating to her brain and will help to drain a bit more energy from her.

A word of caution: make sure no predators or other cats can enter the space she is overlooking. Seeing a rival popup in or outside her territory can be quite traumatizing to a cat and may lead to undesired behavior. In fact, if your cat tends to pee outside the litter box, it might be because she spotted another cat through the window and you just don’t know about it. It all comes down to territorial confidence, again.

White cat resting with its belly on the top perch of a cat tree

How To Select The Best Cat Trees For Big Cats

Now that you know why your feline needs a cat tree or tower, let’s look at what makes a good cat tree. Because you want to make sure your kitties will actually use that eyesore!

Material

Big cats can do big damage. So your cat tree better be made from some quality material. Same goes for small cats, actually. I tried to treat my wallet as well as my cats once, and bought a cheap, sisal scratching pole. It wasn’t a month before they had clawed their way through the rope and I had to buy a new one. Lesson learned.

Apart from good quality scratchers, you want to look for a cat tree that is bottom-heavy. A sturdy base will keep it upright when your tiny tiger comes running into the room at full speed and jumps straight into the tree. It will also keep her from dragging it into the middle of the room every time she scratches her nails on it (true story).

Height

Height-wise you want to look for a tree that is at least high enough for her to scratch on with her body fully stretched. For a normal-sized cat, that would be up to approximately 25 inches. For a larger cat, you should aim for a minimum height of 30 to 40 inches, depending on the breed.

That said, the higher the better! Go to the ceiling, I would say, if you have the space and the budget. Just make sure that the tiers aren’t too high for your cat to comfortably climb onto. An inch or two above the height of her back, at maximum.

Perches, Baskets and Hide-outs

Every cat will have a different wishlist for its purrfect cat tree. Some like to go high up, where others prefer to be closer to the ground. One kitty wants to be out in the open, another likes to be hidden in plain sight.

If you already know if your cat is a bush- or tree-dweller, than find a cat tower that plays into that. If you have no idea what your kitty prefers, go for a tree that has it all and let her choose her favorite spots.