Cat Tree Cute vs. Cat-Approved: What I Learned After My Cat Said No
I used to think that a cat tree was just cute, until I actually got a cat.
To be honest, before getting a cat, everything I knew about a cat tree came down to just two words:
"cuteness" — and the fact that it looked good in photos.
Back then, the way I first encountered cat trees was pretty much the same as everyone else:
On social platforms, at friends' houses, and on curated pages (like mewzoom, where the whole page is packed with different styles).
What I saw were colors, shapes, and whether it "matched my home well".
After actually having a cat, I discovered a harsh truth:
Cats simply don't care whether you think they look good or not.
A cat only cares about three things:
Can it jump, is it stable, and is it trustworthy?
The first cat tree — my cat voted against it immediately.
The first cat tree I bought was extremely "popular".
Soft, in a light color, and looking fluffy, it basically looked like a piece of decor sitting in the corner of the living room.
When a friend came over to my house, the first thing they said was: "So cute."
But where was the cat?
She sniffed, looked at me, and then —
turned around and jumped up onto the bookshelf.
At that moment, I realized a problem:
The cat doesn't need a cat tree; rather, she won't accept an unreliable one.
The problem with that tree is now quite obvious when looked back on:
- Light
- Shaky
- The platform is small.
- The height is insufficient.
For cats, this is not a "rest area", but a "danger zone".
Later I came to understand: a cat tree is the "property" of the cat, not a toy.
One day, I carefully observed the movement pattern of my cat for a whole day.
It wasn't that I wanted to do so; it was because she really was "patrolling her territory" every day.
She will:
- Stand in high places and watch the entrance
- Staring at the birds from the window seat
- When frightened, the first reaction is not to hide, but to jump up.
At this moment, I suddenly understood:
For cats, the cat tree is more like a "vertical property".
It is not a toy, nor a piece of furniture, but rather —
It is the place where she feels secure and in control.
This is why many cats don't like to use cheap, unstable and randomly designed cat trees.
It's not that she chooses them, but rather that she is cautious.
Why do so many people search for "cat tree cute", but end up regretting after buying it?
To be honest, "cute" is really important.
Even now, I am still drawn to the cute cat tree.
But the problem is:
Many so-called cute cat trees only appeal to humans' sense of cuteness.
Common tipping points include:
- The platform is so small that even a cat has to tuck in its abdomen to be able to lie down.
- When you look closely, you’ll notice her center of gravity is unstable.
- There is too much hair, and over time it becomes covered with cat hair and takes on a cat-like smell.
- The design is complex, but the cat doesn't actually need it at all.
Cats are not decorative props.
She will use her body to tell you:
"This won't work. Try the next one."
The truly useful cat tree actually looks rather "ordinary".
Later, I became smarter.
I no longer look at the shape first, but rather the structure first.
Now when I judge a cat tree, I would first ask myself a few questions:
- Can a cat jump all the way up to the top?
- Would she be completely suspended in the air if she lay on it?
- Let me give it a push. Will it wobble?
- Three months later, will I still want to see it every day?
Interestingly:
The cat trees that meet these criteria actually all look rather restrained.
The color is clean, the lines are simple, and it's not noisy or chaotic.
But the cat uses it every day.
Later, when I was browsing some collection pages like mewzoom, I also clearly felt that:
The cat trees that are truly suitable for long-term use in households,
do not rely on "exaggeration" to succeed.
Cat Tree was chosen correctly. The cat really did become "well-behaved".
I didn't believe this before, but now I'm absolutely convinced.
When the cat had a stable, her own elevated spot:
- She no longer jumped over the table.
- Stopped climbing the bookshelf
- Not staring blankly at your computer screen
- The emotions have become noticeably stable.
It wasn't that she suddenly became sensible;
it was that she finally had her own space.
Many people think that cats are "busy" and "love to cause trouble",
but in fact, they are merely using their instincts to defend their territory.
So here are a few straightforward suggestions if you’re still struggling:
If you are currently comparing the cat tree over and over again, here are a few unpretentious suggestions for you:
First, look at the stability, not the photo filters.
Once a cat is shaken, it will remember.
Second, the platform must be large.
You might think it's "just right", but for cats, it's usually "not enough".
Thirdly, choose one that you personally like.
The cat tree is a permanent fixture, not a temporary decoration.
Fourth, don't underestimate the significance of height.
Cats are naturally inclined to climb up, and this is hardwired into their DNA.
Now, I no longer pursue being "the cutest".
What I'm more concerned about is:
Will the cat sleep upside down on that cat tree?
In the evening, she climbed to the top floor,
staring blankly out of the window while I was using my phone on the sofa.
No one disturbed the other.
At that moment, I knew:
This cat tree was the right choice.
So, if you also started by searching for "cat tree cute",
I wouldn't be surprised at all.
I went through the same process.
Just hope that beyond being "attractive", you can also think twice about the cats.
Because when a cat truly accepts a space,
she will make the entire home more comfortable.