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We examined 28 cat bushes
Once your cat is 11 years or older they’re thought-about seniors, and will begin to endure extra restricted mobility. As a lot as 90 p.c of cats begin exhibiting signs of osteoarthritis or joint degeneration over the age of 12. Cats will be excellent at hiding ache, however indicators to look out for embody problem leaping on to furnishings, irritability, and fewer flexibility when grooming.
“Encouraging regular exercise and playtime can help keep a cat spry and active,” Dr. Gabrielle Fadl, Director of Primary Care at Bond Vet informed The Spruce Pets. “It’s beneficial to choose a cat tree with ramps or staggered steps instead of tall vertical structures.”
After researching greater than 50 bestselling cat bushes, we purchased and examined 28 of essentially the most promising, delivery every cat tree to a volunteer home to spend months with the cat or cats in residence. Our volunteer tester cats have been of all ages, and we shortly found that some cat bushes have been extra appropriate for senior cats than others. In explicit, our senior cat volunteers loved cat bushes that provided broad lounging perches, ramps to platforms, and hanging hammocks for lengthy naps.
After months of mixed testing, we predict the perfect cat tree to your senior cat is almost certainly the Feandrea Cat Tree, which affords a number of easy-to-reach beds and perches. It’s a easy, compact design, however one with choices well-suited to your older cat’s way of life.
Best Overall: Feandrea Cat Tree for Large Cats
Buy at Amazon.com
What We Like
What We Didn’t LIke
An excellent cat tree for an aged feline must be shut sufficient to the bottom, whereas nonetheless providing that sense of top that elates and entices. Finding that center floor between accessible and boring will be tough, however Feandrea has created a masterful cat tree that any cat, no matter age, ought to take pleasure in. The two cat caves and mattress are lined with a comfortable plush material that makes it a snug place to lounge.
We significantly just like the 22 by 16-inch prime perch, which is loads roomy for big cats. It’s additionally obtained a cushioned rim for lengthy naps. Combined with the 2 “apartment playhouses,” the Feandrea Cat Tree affords a number of completely different hiding, napping, and lounging zones well-suited to seniors. It additionally splits its perches throughout 4 completely different ranges throughout a complete top of 33 inches, which signifies that it is simple for cats to climb between the completely different elevations.
Our testers additionally favored that the Feandrea Cat Tree was compact, taking on so much much less house in a tiny condo than taller cat bushes with bigger footprints. Testers discovered it to be persistently sturdy too, even with cats leaping out and in of the playhouses.
There are additionally a number of scratching posts coated in a sisal rope that received’t fall aside from intense play. All of those are connected to a sturdy particle board base, ensuring that it received’t tip over whereas in use. There’s even an anti-tip equipment that means that you can add it to your wall for additional safety.
The entire tree does must be assembled, however it comes with all of the instruments wanted to shortly put it collectively. It’s a easy however unbelievable choice, providing near-unlimited play for an inexpensive value.
The Feandrea Cat Tree is accessible in three completely different colours.
Price at Publish: $70
Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.7 x 33.1 inches | Weight: 24 kilos | Colors: beige, smoky grey, gentle grey | Features: Accessory equipment, scratching posts, cat mattress, two cat caves
Best Budget: Frisco 28-in Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo
Buy at Chewy.com
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Our testers favored that this 28-inch tall Frisco cat tree was sized proper for smaller areas, like on the foot of a mattress or in entrance of a windowsill. It’s significantly well-suited to senior cats as a result of its cat cave hiding spot is on the bottom and its three elevated platforms are all staggered, so your cat can get from one to different like they’d climb stairs. The roof of the cat cave is simply 11 inches off the bottom, whereas the subsequent platform is simply eight inches above that.
In addition to the carpeted surfaces, the Frisco Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo additionally has posts wrapped in sisal rope. Really decided cats could possibly detach and unwind the rope from across the posts, however sisal rope is simple to exchange.
Price at time of publish: $45
Dimensions: 13 x 18 x 28 inches | Materials: Carpet, engineered wooden, sisal rope | Weight: 15.87 kilos
Best Beds: Go Pet Club 23” Cat Tree Condo
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Buy at Chewy.com
What We Like
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Multiple perches
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Faux fur
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Easy to set-up
What We Didn’t Like
Our testers appreciated the durability and high-quality carpeting on Go Pet Club cat bushes, and their bestselling 62-inch kitty tower incorporates options appropriate for older cats, like a number of hammocks and a ladder that may assist non-leapers attain the bottom platform’s cozy cave. It’s an awesome choose for a family with each younger and outdated cats, however for seniors-only households, we might advocate the 23-inch Cat Condo as an alternative.
The two elevated beds on the Go Pet Club 23″ Cat Condo are lower than two toes off the bottom and are coated in fake fur, creating a calming surroundings that’s straightforward to succeed in. The beds are held up with a number of scratching posts coated in thick sisal ropes that may deal with the hardest of scratchers.
The cat tree is designed for small and medium-sized cats and could be very straightforward to assemble, with the entire items and {hardware} included within the field. It’s light-weight sufficient to be saved simply however has a sturdy sufficient base to maintain from getting rocked round in play.
Price at Publish: $31
Dimensions: 19.25L x 19.25W x 23H inches | Weight: 16 kilos | Colors: Grey, Brown | Features: two fake fur perches
Best Splurge: Whisker Cat Tower
Buy at Litter-robot.com
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
The Whisker Cat Tower was the sturdiest of any cat tree we examined, and it nonetheless seems model new after greater than a 12 months of two fully-grown cats scratching and leaping throughout it. It’s obtained broad sisal scratching surfaces, and comes with a cat mattress that slots completely into the underside of 4 carpeted platforms.
Old cats ought to alter shortly to the big, sq. surfaces and skill to climb from platform to platform by the cut-out “doorways” between the completely different ranges. Reaching the middle cubic compartment requires a leap, however from there it is simpler to climb from the within, permitting your cat to make use of the sisal partitions and different surfaces for assist in climbing. This tower would pair properly with a set of stairs in case your senior cat is not in a position to climb in any respect anymore.
The Whisker Cat Tower is accessible in two colours—white and gray woodgrain.
Price at time of publish: $199
Dimensions: 18.03 x 17.2 x 53.86 inches | Weight: 53.2 kilos | Materials: Composite wooden, sisal | Colors: White, gray woodgrain
Best for Multiple Cats: Go Pet Club Cat Tree
Buy at Amazon.com
Buy at Chewy.com
What We Like
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Durable
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Multiple perches
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Faux fur end
What We Didn’t Like
Getting a number of cats to agree to hold onto the identical cat tree isn’t precisely straightforward. Your feline good friend will be territorial relating to its favourite haunt cease. So when you have a number of cats, may we advise this basic pet tree from Go Pet Club? Coming in at a whopping 62 inches, it comes with a hammock, lounging space, cat cave, and a round perch for them to lounge round in. And all of it’s made with wooden coated in a fake fur end, which ought to hold them snuggly.
These hangout spots are suspended on a number of scratching posts coated in sisal rope. It could possibly be tough for an older cat to succeed in the highest, however fortunately there is a ladder to assist attain a number of the lower-hanging choices.
Price at Publish: $62
Dimensions: 38 x 27 x 62 inches | Weight: 41 kilos | Colors: Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Gray, Paw Print | Features: rope, basket, ladder, cat cave, circle perch
Best Hammock: JUNSPOW Cat Bed
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Buy at Sears.com
What We Like
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Simple to assemble
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Durable
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Easy to scrub
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Lightweight
What We Didn’t Like
An excellent cat hammock may also help take a number of the stress off their joints, permitting them to lounge and chill out. Quite a lot of cat hammocks require them to be mounted to a window or wall, however it could possibly be tough for a cat to rise up that prime. Junspow affords one other light-weight choice, utilizing two metallic legs to carry the hammock up. It will be folded right into a bag and is simple to scrub when not in use.
If your cat has severe joint points, then this hammock is probably not the only option. It’s about 5 inches off the bottom and that could possibly be an issue for these unable to leap. But you may all the time use a set of stairs to maintain them hanging safely.
If your cat is a bit more dexterous, our testers additionally liked the Trixie Baza Scratching Post with Hammock, although its hammock is additional off the bottom and may be tricker for older cats to succeed in.
Price at Publish: $30
Dimensions: 17.72 x 16.54 x 9.06 inches | Weight: 2.5 kilos | Colors: Gray, purple, pink, black | Features: self-standing cat hammock
Best Stairs: New Cat Condos Pet Stairs
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Buy at Newcatcondos.com
What We Like
What We Didn’t Like
An excellent set of cat stairs are essential as your feline good friend will get older. They’ll assist them rise up on couches or the mattress when their joints begin to really feel rather less springy. These stairs from New Cat Condos supply a sturdy but aesthetically pleasing piece of furnishings that your cat will love to make use of. Each step is made with a bit of wooden coated in carpet, permitting them to dig by their claws to get to reachable heights.
Made within the United States, the steps are extremely sturdy holding as much as 100 kilos and not using a downside. It additionally comes absolutely assembled, so no must spend an excessive amount of time making an attempt to get all of it collectively,
Price at Publish: $42
Dimensions: 20 x 20 x20 inches | Weight: 18 kilos | Colors: Neutral, grey speckled
Final Verdict
Our favourite cat tree for many senior cats is the Feandrea Cat Tree, which affords a number of locations to relaxation, fully-carpeted surfaces, and staggered elevations for straightforward climbing. It’s extra-large prime mattress is bound to be a favourite spot. We additionally actually like Go Pet Club cat bushes, since they’re well-carpeted, and have options like ladders and hammocks that make their bushes inviting and accessible for senior cats.
What to Look for in Senior Cat Trees
Common Features
There are fairly a number of various kinds of play and relaxation areas you’ll find in a cat tree.
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Hammocks: Comfy for outdated cat butts.
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Cat Caves: Provides hiding areas from younger cats.
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Stairs/Ramps: Can help in climbing for cats much less in a position to bounce.
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Scratching Posts: Fully stretching to entry scratching surfaces is great train for older cats.
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Perches: Look for surfaces which are straightforward to entry from decrease surfaces, with sufficient house that your cat lie down.
Cleaning
According to Fadl, the easiest way to maintain a cat tree clear is to “maintain regular maintenance.” A lint curler or vacuum may also help choose up numerous the hair and particles they carry with them. For spills and stains, comply with the instructions from the producer and use a pet-safe cleansing agent.
Platform and Entrance Sizes
It’s necessary to discover a cat tree that provides sufficient house to your cat, or else they might really feel much less possible to make use of it. It must have ample house for them to show round and cool down.
“It’s best to choose openings or platforms that allow them to navigate without excessive effort or discomfort,” Fadl stated.
How We Tested Cat Trees for Seniors
Our product testing all the time begins with analysis, on this case a deep dive into practically 60 completely different cat bushes, on the lookout for cat bushes, hammocks, and scratchers which have been well-reviewed by consumers, steadily beneficial by pet specialists, and are available from trusted manufacturers. We narrowed the record all the way down to the 28 most promising cat bushes, then shipped them out to the houses of volunteer testers.
Testers started evaluating the product proper once they opened the field, taking photos and notes as they assembled their new cat bushes. Favorites just like the Whisker Cat Tower (pictured unassembled above) have been tough to place collectively, however finally resulted in a sturdy cat tree after a painful meeting. Others have been very straightforward to assemble, and even arrived absolutely assembled.
After meeting, we commenced two weeks of testing. Testers described how their cat used the cat tree, answered questions on sturdiness, and measured how properly their new cat tree match of their home or designated house.
Once the testing interval was full, testers rated their cat bushes with a rating between 1 and 5, in 4 completely different classes: Ease of Setup, Quality, Size, and Value. Testers crammed out a ultimate analysis, answering a battery of questions on how properly the cat tree stood as much as cat claws, and the way a lot their cats loved utilizing it. These scores and observations have been compiled right into a ultimate, tabulated set of outcomes, which allowed us to check the total vary of cat bushes towards one another in a wide range of classes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do to get my senior cat to make use of a cat tree?
“Firstly, make sure the tree is placed in a location that is easily accessible and appealing to the cat, preferably near their favorite resting spots,” Fadl informed The Spruce Pets. You can encourage their curiosity by inserting treats or toys on the tree. Additionally, chances are you’ll wish to think about a cat tree with completely different options or designs that may be extra interesting to your senior cat’s preferences.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets
This article was written by Steven Asarch, a contract author and product knowledgeable, for The Spruce. A religious cat dad of two, he has knowledgeable expertise determining which merchandise are good for them. Steven has beforehand analyzed testing information, tried out merchandise at home, and offered suggestions for different classes of cat merchandise, together with catnip toys, wand toys, litter disposal techniques, and in addition wrote an exhaustive record of the necessities it is best to have earlier than welcoming a brand new kitten into your home.
To get the perfect understanding of what makes a superb senior cat tree, he spoke with Dr. Gabrielle Fadl, Director of Primary Care at Bond Vet. With her experience, he was in a position to slender down the perfect selections for older cats, prioritizing sturdiness, consolation, and value.
Read Next: The 6 Best Cat Caves of 2023
