Cat Trees
How tall a cat tree should be, why a wide base matters more than the number of platforms, and how to tell 6 mm sisal from the 3 mm stuff that shreds in a month.
Climb higher, sleep warmer
Cat trees, outdoor cat houses and the breeds that use them
Cats are climbers first and lap warmers second. We measure the things that decide whether a cat tree gets used or ignored — base weight, post height, sisal thickness — and apply the same eye to outdoor shelters and breed profiles.
Start here
Three guides, no filler
Each one answers the question people actually type into a search box, in the order they need answering.
Outdoor Cat Houses
Insulation, raised floors, two exits and the counter-intuitive rule that a bigger shelter keeps a cat colder. Written with feral colonies and garden cats in mind.
Cat Breeds List
An A–Z table of 75 breeds with origin, coat, adult weight, grooming load and temperament — sortable by eye, and honest about which ones shed.
The short version
What separates a used cat tree from a rejected one
Four numbers explain most of it. If a product page will not tell you these, that is itself an answer.
120–160 cm
The height range most indoor cats settle on — roughly windowsill to wardrobe top.
6 mm+
Sisal rope diameter that survives daily scratching. Thinner rope frays within weeks.
70 cm
Minimum base width for a tall tree. A narrow base wobbles, and a wobble ends use.
60 cm
Post length a full-grown cat needs to stretch out while scratching, claws above shoulders.
By the cat you have
Popular breed and size questions
A 9 kg Maine Coon and a 3 kg Singapura want very different furniture. These are the pairings people ask about most.
- Maine Coon
- Ragdoll
- Bengal
- Savannah
- British Shorthair
- Siberian
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Sphynx
- Persian
- Siamese
Large and heavy breeds
Maine Coons, Ragdolls, Savannahs, Norwegian Forest Cats and Siberians routinely pass 7 kg. They need platforms 40 cm or wider, posts thicker than 9 cm and a base heavy enough that a landing jolt does not shift it.
Cats that live partly outdoors
Semi-longhaired working breeds cope with cold far better than a Sphynx or a Devon Rex, but every outdoor cat still needs a dry, insulated box off the ground with a wind-shielded entrance.
Not sure where to start?
Most people arrive with one cat and one problem: shredded sofa, cold garden cat, or a breed they are about to adopt. Pick whichever sounds like you.
Start with cat treesCommon questions
How tall should a cat tree be?
Between 120 and 160 cm suits most adult cats, because that is the height of the furniture they already climb. Go taller only if the tree is anchored to a wall, and never trade height for base width.
Do cats actually use outdoor cat houses?
Yes, when the shelter is small enough to trap body heat, raised off wet ground, and placed somewhere the cat already feels safe. An oversized shelter dropped in an exposed spot usually stays empty.
How many cat breeds are there?
It depends on the registry. The Cat Fanciers' Association recognises 45 pedigree breeds; The International Cat Association recognises around 73. Counting breeds accepted by only one or two registries pushes the total past 100.
Is carpet or sisal better for scratching?
Sisal, clearly. Carpet mats down, traps claw sheaths and teaches a cat that carpet is a legitimate scratching surface — which is bad news for your stairs. Thick sisal rope or sisal fabric wears evenly and lasts years.