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Best Cat Tree?

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  • Sep 1st, 2017 12:21 pm
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Jr. Member
Apr 6, 2017
108 posts
227 upvotes

Best Cat Tree?

Girlfriend's family just got a cat. What's the best cat tree that has the best value? I'm leaning towards the Go Pet Club Cat Tree, but the reviews have me a bit weary. Is there any main factors I need to keep in mind when shopping for cat trees?

https://www.amazon.ca/Go-Pet-Club-F68-F ... 007UI5LGS/

If it was my cat I'd just get it an amazonbasics cat tree but the tariff on us goods is way too expensive

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Cat ... 019GBLAPC/

Do you guys have any experience with the cardboard ones? they seem like they dont last as long as the trees
14 replies
Deal Addict
Aug 15, 2004
1774 posts
739 upvotes
Richmond Hill
Build one, all you need is some left over carpet, a few drawers(pick them up at the curb when people throw out dresser) and a 2x4.

If you don't want to put in the work, check your ur near Winners.

the reason I suggest to build is the pre build ones are usually too small and not very stable, the one I made lasted......15yrs and counting.
Jr. Member
Apr 6, 2017
108 posts
227 upvotes
Focus wrote: Build one, all you need is some left over carpet, a few drawers(pick them up at the curb when people throw out dresser) and a 2x4.

If you don't want to put in the work, check your ur near Winners.

the reason I suggest to build is the pre build ones are usually too small and not very stable, the one I made lasted......15yrs and counting.
wow didn't think of that - going to spend the afternoon googling how to make one
Deal Addict
Aug 17, 2008
4128 posts
946 upvotes
Sask.
I agree with the homemade one - my husband made ours, and we have had it for ages. It's nothing fancy, just three levels - they are ovals - off the vertical post.
Deal Addict
Jul 21, 2005
2084 posts
1133 upvotes
Alberta
Also check out Kijiji and get a used one? I got one for my cat, pretty massive, she doesn't use most of it but does sleep on the top level all the time, and uses the scratch posts....along with everywhere else in the house.
Deal Expert
User avatar
May 22, 2005
21213 posts
6983 upvotes
GTA
I am also looking for one, though I have time (kittens are 3 months, a cardboard one will do for now). I am considering building one too, theirs too much beige and brown in the options at the stores.
Deal Guru
User avatar
May 9, 2006
12797 posts
3471 upvotes
Build your own. Anybody cat do it. You don't even need power tools.

EDIT: Also wanted to mention that cat trees that are typically sold have a few common characteristics. The construction is mostly cardboard and if there's wood, it's particle board. The carpeting is thin and weak. It will easily rip apart. They are poorly constructed with screws not going deep enough into wood, so often parts of it will loosen or fall apart. And it's typically not well designed as most of the tall ones tend to be wobbly.

Pretty much everyone I know has extra carpet bits or throwing it out. It's pretty easy to get that for free. As for the structure, you can use any wood you have laying around... or even furniture. Used Ikea furniture actually works really well and is pretty cheap. I used an Ikea Ivar shelving unit (which I had for 10+ years) added 2 extra legs for more stability and covered it with carpet. Staple gun and glue has held it in place for 8 years so far. On the legs, I wrapped sisal rope so that it doubles as a scratching post too.

Google: Ikea Hack cat tree. Lots of cool ideas with floating shelves and poles. Personally, I'm thinking of how I can make shelves like this for my den. I don't have access to power tools (condo life), so I can't make the proper cuts myself... trying to figure out a simple solution to get the same effect and still looks good (with limited space).

Image
Deal Addict
Apr 25, 2011
1473 posts
1208 upvotes
British Columbia
I would avoid all cat trees with that faux fur. It is slippery stuff and not worth your money. Cats can't grip it like they can carpet material.

Buy a carpet tree. The taller the better.

The "mushroom" style cat tree (basically looks like a tree) is very popular in my house. 7 feet tall and cost 50 dollars on Craigslist with no wear whatsoever -- would have cost over 500 brand new. I always recommend checking there periodically for a good deal.
Deal Addict
Nov 7, 2012
1628 posts
953 upvotes
TORONTO
I found a guy on Kijiji making them here in the GTA. I paid like $50 for something that would go at least $180 in store. He used wood(particle board), carpet and sisal. You could do it yourself but if you search hard enough you might find a better deal. It amazes me the price's of cat trees when I'm in petsmart.
Member
Mar 30, 2010
337 posts
180 upvotes
Calgary
I like the ones from petsmart, they are pricey but you can usually get a great coupon making them in line with the crappy ones sold elsewhere (for example, they had a $40 off $100 coupon last weekend).
They have a good variety too:
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/supplies-and ... ers&pmin=0

I like them because they are real carpet, not that faux fur stuff, and also have sisal. They are well constructed- you buy them already assembled.

We have these two on different levels of our home and they are both great. Highly recommend.
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/supplies-and ... gid=200016
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/supplies-and ... gid=200016
Deal Expert
User avatar
May 22, 2005
21213 posts
6983 upvotes
GTA
There's a Kijiji seller in the GTA that sells a bunch of different cat trees for under $100, but they're all particle board. I'm going to keep an eye out for a used one, I recently took a dozen random Amazon/Costco boxes and made a cat tree, its a bit flimsy but my two cats are only 4 months old so it'll support them for now. But they're growing quickly, so I'll have to decide soon!
Deal Guru
User avatar
May 9, 2006
12797 posts
3471 upvotes
AncasterRFD wrote: Rub catnip all over it or it could become an unused piece of furniture.

They also sell them at Costco: https://www.costco.ca/cat-posts.html
Those are all poorly made. Those cylinders are just cardboard. Platforms are particle board and often pieces are just glued together or just have one screw holding the pole to the board. You know they are especially bad when they have to photoshop cats on them. I wouldn't waste money on those. For $100, you can build a much better stronger, taller one... even if you don't have any power tools.
Deal Addict
User avatar
Aug 2, 2003
4826 posts
4359 upvotes
B.C.
This site was recommended to me on Holisticat, a forum I belong to. It gives a few links to do-it-yourself cat trees: https://www.thebalance.com/7-free-cat-t ... ns-1357112

I agree that the retail cat trees generally are poorly made with inferior carpeting that wears out quickly.
If I had more time, I would have written a shorter post
Deal Fanatic
User avatar
Dec 6, 2006
5873 posts
998 upvotes
Toronto
gingersb wrote: I like the ones from petsmart, they are pricey but you can usually get a great coupon making them in line with the crappy ones sold elsewhere (for example, they had a $40 off $100 coupon last weekend).
They have a good variety too:
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/supplies-and ... ers&pmin=0

I like them because they are real carpet, not that faux fur stuff, and also have sisal. They are well constructed- you buy them already assembled.

We have these two on different levels of our home and they are both great. Highly recommend.
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/supplies-and ... gid=200016
http://www.petsmart.ca/cat/supplies-and ... gid=200016
The skyscraper one is great. As gingersb mentioned wait until they have a coupon or sale and you don't have to pay full price. The quality is great, it is strong and sturdy.

One thing I would suggest is when you place it make sure the main/tall pole is facing out and not against the wall. We had ours for a while and our cat barely looked at the thing. We had it set up so the main pole was against the wall but one day we decided to turn it 45 degrees so the pole was to the outside and now she can't get enough of it. She climbs that pole nonstop then sits in the pod of her choice, its hilarious watching her do it too.

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