Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Lorna Whittemore
Veterinarian, MRCVS
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
All happy kitten owners know the fearlessness and rambunctiousness of their miniature feline! And what better than a cat tree to satisfy their insatiable curiosity and playful side? But beware, kittens aren’t yet those nimble, graceful creatures that are height experts like adult cats: a common high cat tree might not be suitable and safe for them. So, we’ve reviewed and compiled a list of the best options available for your little kitten. Four primary criteria guided our search for the best tree for kittens: safety, quality of materials, price, and versatility. As a note, a cat tree for a kitten should not be more than 3 feet tall to avoid painful falls.
You’d better hurry up and scroll down to our reviews before your kitten destroys your sofa for lack of a tree to climb, scratch, and play on all day!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
FEANDREA Cat Tree & Condo
Perfect height for kittens
Plenty of fluffy areas to nap and hide
Can accommodate more than one kitten
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Best Value
Frisco Faux Fur Cat Tree
Very easy to put together
Comes in a fun animal print pattern
Doesn’t take up too much space in your living room
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Premium Choice
KBSPETS Floral Sisal Cat Tree
Beautiful and original design
Super easy to assemble
Includes a hemp rope post
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TRIXIE Malaga Cat Tree & Condo
Cute design and available in 2 colors
Perfect for a pair of energetic kittens
Sturdy material and solid base
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Frisco Unicorn Cat Condo
Spacious but not too tall
Adorable designs
Also perfect for older cats
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The 6 Best Cat Trees for Kittens
FEANDREA 32.7-in Cat Tree & Condo is a fantastic option for your mischievous and playful mini feline! For one thing, the height is perfect: it’s no more than 3 feet tall, eliminating the risk of injury if your still clumsy little kitty were to fall off the “tallest” tower. Plus, it includes a variety of options to keep your kitty entertained for hours: two condos for napping or setting up an ambush, a hanging plush mouse, a cozy and spacious hammock, two perches, and two sisal poles for sharpening his ruthless claws.
Height: 32.7 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Faux Fleece, sisal
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The bottom is also reinforced for stability and anti-tip fittings are provided so you can secure the tree to a wall. The only drawback is that its price is a bit high for a tree of this height. Nevertheless, your kitten will most likely continue to hide and play in this tree even when it reaches adulthood, making it a more than worthwhile purchase in the long run.
Pros
Perfect height for kittens
Plenty of fluffy areas to nap and hide
Can accommodate more than one kitten
Can be secured to a wall for added safety
Well designed and sturdy
Easy to assemble
Cons
A bit pricey
Frisco 28″ Faux Fur Cat Tree offers good value for money but is only suitable for kittens or very small adult cats. Indeed, this mini cat tree is not stable enough to support the weight and the jostling of adult and extra-large kitty cats but will satisfy all the tiny felines perfectly. It includes three sisal scratching posts, a faux fur tunnel, two soft hanging pom poms for play, and a small perch. And its animal print is simply to die for!
Perfect height for kittens
Plenty of fluffy areas to nap and hide
Can accommodate more than one kitten
Can be secured to a wall for added safety
Well designed and sturdy
Easy to assemble
- Perfect height for kittens
- Plenty of fluffy areas to nap and hide
- Can accommodate more than one kitten
- Can be secured to a wall for added safety
- Well designed and sturdy
- Easy to assemble
A bit pricey
- A bit pricey
Height: 28 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Faux Fur, sisal
However, keep in mind that despite its low price, you will eventually need to replace this cat tree when your kittens grow up, which is not the case with most of the models on our list.
Pros
Includes 3 scratching posts and hanging plush toys
Doesn’t take up too much space in your living room
Very easy to put together
Comes in a fun animal print pattern
Cons
Not suitable for older and/or bigger cats
Not the most stable
If you are deeply bored with common cat tree designs, then the KBSPETS Floral 35-in Sisal Cat Tree might be for you. This beautiful cat tree actually looks like a large flower and each piece is unique and handmade. Besides, one look at its price will convince you that you are not dealing with a junk cat tree!
Includes 3 scratching posts and hanging plush toys
Doesn’t take up too much space in your living room
Very easy to put together
Comes in a fun animal print pattern
- Includes 3 scratching posts and hanging plush toys
- Doesn’t take up too much space in your living room
- Very easy to put together
- Comes in a fun animal print pattern
Not suitable for older and/or bigger cats
Not the most stable
- Not suitable for older and/or bigger cats
- Not the most stable
Height: 35 inches
Structure material: Natural tree branches
Covering: Sisal, faux fur
But beyond its quirky and interesting design, the KBSPETS is the perfect height to keep kittens from falling out, strong enough to comfortably hold the biggest cats, easy to assemble, and sturdy. However, it lacks a few extra features to keep energetic little cats entertained and lacks cozy hiding places for naps. But, if you’re going to splurge on this high-quality cat tree, the good news is that it will most likely last after your kitty reaches adulthood.
Pros
Beautiful and original design
Super easy to assemble
Each cat tree is unique and handmade from real natural tree branches
Includes a hemp rope post
Cons
Very expensive
No hiding places
- TRIXIE Malaga 43″ Fleece Cat Tree & Condo
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Height: 43 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Faux fleece, sisal
TRIXIE Malaga 43 Fleece Cat Tree & Condo” is another cat tree that includes condos, perches, a hammock, and no less than 5 sisal scratching posts! If your kitty is going to scratch your couches after this, there’s no hope. But seriously, this tree is a great, albeit more expensive, option for kittens and older cats. Kittens will climb and run to the top using the sisal ladders, while older cats can take a nap in one of the two faux fur condos.
Beautiful and original design
Super easy to assemble
Each cat tree is unique and handmade from real natural tree branches
Includes a hemp rope post
- Beautiful and original design
- Super easy to assemble
- Each cat tree is unique and handmade from real natural tree branches
- Includes a hemp rope post
Very expensive
No hiding places
- Very expensive
- No hiding places
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Height: 43 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Faux fleece, sisal
Be aware though that assembly is not as easy as the other options and will surely test your patience. Nonetheless, as one buyer humorously put it, “after you angrily finish building it, it’s worth it!”
Pros
Cute design and available in 2 colors
Perfect for a pair of energetic kittens
Sturdy material and solid base
Includes ladders for frantic runs to the top perch
Cons
Expensive
Not so easy to put together
- Frisco Unicorn Cat Condo
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Height: 35.82 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Faux fleece, sisal
This Frisco Unicorn Cat Condo has got to be the cutest kitten tree we’ve ever seen! You have the choice between three models, each more adorable than the other: the colorful unicorn, the charming llama, and the discreet sloth. Besides, if you have children, they will probably fight to keep this cute cat tree in their room! But, aside from the sweet design, this product is perfect for a kitten, due to its appropriate height, sisal scratching post, and cozy condo. Plus, the cushion inside the condo is machine washable.
Cute design and available in 2 colors
Perfect for a pair of energetic kittens
Sturdy material and solid base
Includes ladders for frantic runs to the top perch
- Cute design and available in 2 colors
- Perfect for a pair of energetic kittens
- Sturdy material and solid base
- Includes ladders for frantic runs to the top perch
Expensive
Not so easy to put together
- Expensive
- Not so easy to put together
Height: 35.82 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Faux fleece, sisal
However, you may eventually need to replace the sisal rope on the scratching post, especially if your kitten is having a blast with it. Also, the tree does not include other features to stimulate your feline physically and mentally. In short, this cat tree would be perfect for decorating a child’s room and providing an extra hiding place for your kitten.
Pros
Spacious but not too tall
No sharp edges, no staples, or anything that may hurt kittens
Adorable designs
Also perfect for older cats
Cons
Sisal scratching post may not last very long
Doesn’t have added features like hanging toys or extra perches
- Frisco 32-in Real Carpet Wooden Cat Tree
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Height: 32 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Carpet, sisal
Frisco 32-in Real Carpet Wooden Cat Tree has the advantage of being very sturdy and made with quality materials. The entire tree is carpeted, making it the perfect place to scratch (especially if you sprinkle some catnip on it). However, the hanging toy won’t withstand repeated assaults from your playful feline, and the rather simplistic and rustic design of this cat tree won’t look the prettiest in your living room.
Spacious but not too tall
No sharp edges, no staples, or anything that may hurt kittens
Adorable designs
Also perfect for older cats
- Spacious but not too tall
- No sharp edges, no staples, or anything that may hurt kittens
- Adorable designs
- Also perfect for older cats
Sisal scratching post may not last very long
Doesn’t have added features like hanging toys or extra perches
- Sisal scratching post may not last very long
- Doesn’t have added features like hanging toys or extra perches
Height: 32 inches
Structure material: Engineered wood
Covering: Carpet, sisal
Pros
The whole tree can be used as a scratching post
No assembly required
Hand-built and sturdy
Cons
Not-so-sleek design
No secret hiding places
The hanging toy is cheap and easy to detach
The whole tree can be used as a scratching post
No assembly required
Hand-built and sturdy
- The whole tree can be used as a scratching post
- No assembly required
- Hand-built and sturdy
Not-so-sleek design
No secret hiding places
The hanging toy is cheap and easy to detach
- Not-so-sleek design
- No secret hiding places
- The hanging toy is cheap and easy to detach
Buyer’s Guide: Important Things to Consider When Buying a Cat Tree for Kittens
Material
Most models are made of engineered wood, which gives them a sturdy structure. The covering material can be faux fur, faux fleece, carpet, and other synthetic materials. Sisal scratching posts are also very useful to limit the damage of your kittens’ claws on your furniture.
Height
This is without a doubt the most important thing to consider when shopping for a cat tree for kittens. Ideally, the tree should not be taller than 3 feet, as your baby cat has not yet acquired the agility of the big ones. His movements and jumps are less assured, and he is not able to judge heights well, which makes falls more dangerous.
- See Also: 10 Best Cat Trees For Small Apartments
Price
No need to splurge, especially if you eventually want to buy a gigantic cat tree with more features. However, if you plan to keep the same model even after your kitten has reached adulthood, it is more advantageous to invest in a tree that offers excellent value for money.
- See Also: 10 Best Budget Cat Trees
Versatility
A kitten needs to be entertained. Your kitty might get bored quickly if the cat tree only includes a sisal scratching post. The best thing is to buy him a tree with at least a small plush condo for his hiding places, a hammock, a hanging toy, and one or two perches so that he can quietly observe his surroundings.
Getting Your Kitten Used to His New Cat Tree
Now that you’ve chosen the perfect cat tree for your kitten, we’ll give you some tips on how to attract him or her to this awesome new giant “toy”:
Sprinkle catnip on the bottom platform to attract your kitten. If you don’t have catnip at home, put some food in it, like kibble or treats.
Kittens are very curious and eager to discover the world around them. Attract them by shaking the cat toys on the tree and calling them by name.
Gently place the little kitten directly on a cushion of the cat tree to give him confidence in his new territory. Make him feel at home and let the baby cat discover the cat tree by himself. Besides, this technique is also highly recommended for teaching your kitten to use her litter box.
It’s important to quickly teach your new cat good habits and attract them to their cat tree so they can scratch it without damaging your furniture.
Be patient! A kitten is also a little baby that deserves patience and love.
- See Also: Can Kittens Have Catnip? How Old Should A Cat Be? (Vet Answer)
Sprinkle catnip on the bottom platform to attract your kitten. If you don’t have catnip at home, put some food in it, like kibble or treats.
Kittens are very curious and eager to discover the world around them. Attract them by shaking the cat toys on the tree and calling them by name.
Gently place the little kitten directly on a cushion of the cat tree to give him confidence in his new territory. Make him feel at home and let the baby cat discover the cat tree by himself. Besides, this technique is also highly recommended for teaching your kitten to use her litter box.
It’s important to quickly teach your new cat good habits and attract them to their cat tree so they can scratch it without damaging your furniture.
Be patient! A kitten is also a little baby that deserves patience and love.
- Sprinkle catnip on the bottom platform to attract your kitten. If you don’t have catnip at home, put some food in it, like kibble or treats.
- Kittens are very curious and eager to discover the world around them. Attract them by shaking the cat toys on the tree and calling them by name.
- Gently place the little kitten directly on a cushion of the cat tree to give him confidence in his new territory. Make him feel at home and let the baby cat discover the cat tree by himself. Besides, this technique is also highly recommended for teaching your kitten to use her litter box.
- It’s important to quickly teach your new cat good habits and attract them to their cat tree so they can scratch it without damaging your furniture.
- Be patient! A kitten is also a little baby that deserves patience and love.
Conclusion
Cats love high areas and textured materials that they can scratch at will without you scolding them, so naturally, cat trees are a must for any cat owner. However, kittens still don’t have enough coordination to safely climb cat trees 5 feet or taller. A maximum height of 3 feet is perfect for them to avoid any painful consequences of rough play.
That’s why we advise you to buy trees that are small in size but offer enough features to entertain your little feline. The 32.7-inch FEANDREA cat tree and the 28 inch link are the best overall choice and the best value, respectively, so your baby cat can play for hours without your constant vigilance.
Featured Image Credit: Von Berlin, Shutterstock
