Christmas and cats don’t always get along — or perhaps they get along too well. It depends on how you want to look at it!
If you’re ever tried to put up a Christmas tree with a cat in the house, you may have noticed that it isn’t always easy. Cats love to climb trees, even if it’s a Christmas tree. Therefore, you may have to purchase a tree that is specifically designed for homes with cats. Otherwise, you may find your lights and ornaments broken!
In this article, we’ve done the leg work for you and created reviews of the nine best Christmas trees for cats.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
BOLUO Tall Cat Scratching Post
Supports up to 18 pounds
Sisal wrapping
Heavy cardboard base
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Best Value
NIBESSER Cat Bed Christmas Tree
Holds cats up to 16.5 pounds
Comfortable
Removable cushion
Check Price
Premium Choice
On2 Pets Cat Tree With Leaves
Functions like a real tree
Realistic leaves
Sturdy and durable
Check Price
PAWISE Christmas Tree Cat Cave
30-day money-back guarantee
Handmade
Festive design
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Best Choice Ornament Christmas Tree
Nearly impossible to climb
Space for many ornaments
Easy to assemble
Check Price
The 9 Best Christmas Trees for Cats
Your cat may seem to always want to scratch up your Christmas tree, so why don’t you let them with this BOLUO Tall Cat Scratching Post? As the name suggests, this is an actual scratching post for your cat, and it looks like a Christmas tree.
Product Type: Scratching post
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While this scratching post is decorative, it is also practical. It has sisal wrapping, which is well-liked by most cats and durable. The sisal is green to make it look like a tree.
The base is made with heavy cardboard to keep it from wobbling and tipping over. Therefore, this tree scratching post is a suitable option for active cats. It is also usable with large cats, as it can support up to 18 pounds.
If you’re looking for a tree that your cat can play with as they please, this scratching post is the overall best Christmas tree for cats.
Pros
Supports up to 18 pounds
Sisal wrapping
Heavy cardboard base
Decorative
Cons
No sisal replacements available
Your feline may like this NIBESSER Cat Bed Christmas Tree. For cats that prefer to sleep in your Christmas tree instead of running up and down it, this bed may provide them with a suitable sleeping alternative.
Supports up to 18 pounds
Sisal wrapping
Heavy cardboard base
Decorative
- Supports up to 18 pounds
- Sisal wrapping
- Heavy cardboard base
- Decorative
No sisal replacements available
- No sisal replacements available
Product Type: Bed
It is covered, which helps the cat feel more secure, just like they are when hiding in a tree. There is a detachable cushion on the inside that can be removed as necessary. Hopefully, it is soft enough to encourage your cat to sleep in this bed instead of in your Christmas tree. The cushion is pressure-resistant, so it won’t flatten as your cat uses it.
This product can hold a cat up to 16.5 pounds, which should be large enough for most felines.
This bed is cheaper than many alternatives out there. Therefore, it is the best Christmas tree for cats for the money.
Pros
Holds cats up to 16.5 pounds
Comfortable
Removable cushion
Inexpensive
Cons
Not machine washable
The On2 Pets Cat Tree With Leaves doesn’t look like a Christmas tree. However, it is a great option for cats that need a tree to climb instead of your Christmas tree. It looks like a regular tree with leaves. However, the inside of the tree has platforms for them to climb. The leaves are realistic enough for your cat to hide in and peer out of.
Holds cats up to 16.5 pounds
Comfortable
Removable cushion
Inexpensive
- Holds cats up to 16.5 pounds
- Comfortable
- Removable cushion
- Inexpensive
Not machine washable
- Not machine washable
Product Type: Fake tree
Truthfully, if you’re looking for an alternative to an actual Christmas tree for your cat, it doesn’t get much better than this. However, this tree is quite expensive.
That said, it is quite large and much creativity has been put into it. So, you are getting your money’s worth.
This product is made from artificial leaves, carpets, and pressed wood. It is made in the U.S.A., so you can be sure the quality is high.
Pros
Functions like a real tree
Realistic leaves
Sturdy and durable
Multi-level
Cons
Expensive
The PAWISE Christmas Tree Cat Cave Bed is a great option for cats that just need somewhere to hide. If your cat tends to hide and sleep in your Christmas tree, you may want to consider this festive, enclosed cat bed instead.
Functions like a real tree
Realistic leaves
Sturdy and durable
Multi-level
- Functions like a real tree
- Realistic leaves
- Sturdy and durable
- Multi-level
Expensive
- Expensive
Product Type: Cat bed
This bed provides a comfortable location for your feline to hide and rest. It is completely handmade, making it one of the higher-quality items out there. It also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, making it perfect for cat owners who aren’t completely sure if their cat will like it.
Some owners did report that this bed has a hard time remaining standing, however.
Pros
30-day money-back guarantee
Handmade
Festive design
Cons
Doesn’t stand up well
If you simply cannot get your feline to stay out of your tree, your best bet may be to invest in this iron tree. While the Best Choice Products 6ft Wrought Iron Ornament Display Christmas Tree isn’t a real Christmas tree, it can still display all your ornaments. Plus, your cat can’t climb it. It is made out of wrought iron, which your cat won’t be able to get a grip on.
30-day money-back guarantee
Handmade
Festive design
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Handmade
- Festive design
Doesn’t stand up well
- Doesn’t stand up well
Product Type: Wire tree
This iron tree is quite festive and stylish. It includes many levels of branches so you can display your ornaments similarly to a real tree. It is easy to assemble due to the interlocking tiles and has a complex bottom that enables it to remain quite stable.
That said, this metal tree is a bit fragile. An excitable cat could knock it over.
Pros
Nearly impossible to climb
Space for many ornaments
Easy to assemble
Cons
Somewhat fragile
Here is a tree that your cats will have a hard time messing up. The AerWo DIY Felt Christmas Tree Set is a simple felt tree that you place on your wall. You can hang the provided detachable ornaments from it, making this a particularly good option for children. It is not designed to work with regular ornaments, though. So, if you want to hang specific ornaments, this may not be the best option for you.
Nearly impossible to climb
Space for many ornaments
Easy to assemble
- Nearly impossible to climb
- Space for many ornaments
- Easy to assemble
Somewhat fragile
- Somewhat fragile
Product Type: Felt tree
This tree is made from 3 mm-thick felt, which makes it extremely durable and easy to install. You don’t have to worry about ripping it or anything of that sort.
For those who are having trouble keeping their cat and small children out of the Christmas tree, you can’t get much better than this option.
Pros
Extremely durable against cats
Durable
Perfect for children
Cons
Doesn’t work with normal ornaments
Some cats simply want to hide in the Christmas tree and sleep. If they are provided with a suitable alternative, though, they may leave it alone. For this purpose, the laamei Cat Bed Christmas Tree Tent is a solid option. It is a cat bed with a covered top that looks like a Christmas tree.
Extremely durable against cats
Durable
Perfect for children
- Extremely durable against cats
- Durable
- Perfect for children
Doesn’t work with normal ornaments
- Doesn’t work with normal ornaments
It is designed to make your cat feel secure and hidden, much like how they feel when in your Christmas tree.
The top of this bed is completely removable. If your cat ends up not liking the enclosed space, you can take off the top and let them use the bed unenclosed.
This product is shipped completely rolled up, which can make it a bit squished when it arrives at your home. The star on the top also doesn’t stand up all the way because the whole tree tends to be wrinkled and squished upon arrival.
Pros
Removable top
Washable
Cons
Shipping problems
The Ushang Pet Christmas Tree Cat House Bed is a cat bed specifically designed to look and feel like a Christmas tree. It provides your cat with a hidden place to sleep that isn’t inside your decorated tree. Sometimes, providing a bed like this is enough to keep your cat occupied.
Removable top
Washable
- Removable top
- Washable
Shipping problems
- Shipping problems
The lights on this bed may prove to be fun toys for your feline to play with. However, they aren’t necessarily meant for that purpose. They don’t dangle or anything of that sort. Therefore, some cats may simply ignore them.
This bed is machine-washable, which is always a nice addition. It makes the bed easier to care for.
Pros
Lights on bed act like toys
Machine washable
Cons
Actual product doesn’t match the picture, as colors are more muted
Structural problems
The Kitty City Large Cat Tunnel Bed has many different levels for climbing purposes. For cats that like to climb your Christmas tree, this climbing structure provides a suitable alternative. Each tier includes a polyester nap pad, so your cat can sleep and play on the structure. There are also many toys included throughout, encouraging your feline to exercise. There are nine toy “ornaments” in all.
Lights on bed act like toys
Machine washable
- Lights on bed act like toys
- Machine washable
Actual product doesn’t match the picture, as colors are more muted
Structural problems
- Actual product doesn’t match the picture, as colors are more muted
- Structural problems
Product Type: Climbing structure
The large center post is wrapped in sisal to work as a scratching post. It is durable and should last a long time.
That said, the customer service for this product is not stellar. Getting no reply when you have problems seems to be rather common. Hardware also tends to be missing, which means that assembling it is impossible.
Pros
Multi-level
Many toys
Cons
More customer service
Commonly missing hardware
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Christmas Tree for Cats
When you’re trying to put up the best Christmas tree for cats in a home, there are many things that you need to consider.
Multi-level
Many toys
- Multi-level
- Many toys
More customer service
Commonly missing hardware
- More customer service
- Commonly missing hardware
Distraction vs. Alternative
When you’re in a war with your cat over the Christmas tree, you can typically win in one of two ways. First, you can offer a distraction that will keep your cat away from the tree. For this to work, you need to figure out why your cat is using the tree in the first place.
Some cats use the tree as a climbing structure and plaything. In this case, you’ll likely need to purchase a climbing structure with toys for them to use instead. If your cat likes to scratch on the tree, it could be that they need another scratching post.
Providing them with a suitable alternative and encouraging them to use it may distract them from the tree during the holiday season.
With one of these options, you can still have your usual Christmas tree.
Second, you can attempt to use an alternative Christmas tree altogether. If your cat is simply too obsessed with the Christmas tree to leave it alone, this is sometimes the only choice that you have.
Fortunately, there are many alternative trees on the market that most cats will leave alone. For instance, a wire tree doesn’t have the same appeal to a cat as a real tree. Therefore, it usually doesn’t draw their attention. A felt tree is another solid option.
This way, you can still have a Christmas tree of some sort — just not the traditional option.
Price
Many of these products come at all different price points. Most are cheaper than a real Christmas tree, so if you’re using one as an alternative, you may actually save yourself a bit of money.
They are also often easier to store than an artificial tree.
However, there are expensive options out there. For this reason, you should consider what your budget is before making a purchase.
Typically, the price corresponds with the size of the structure. If you’re purchasing something large, you can expect to pay more. The increase in materials leads to an overall increase in price.
Conclusion
Navigating Christmas trees for cats can be a bit difficult, but we hope that this article has helped you figure out which one is the best option for your household, whether you need to completely replace your tree or set up a distraction.
For many people, the BOLUO Tall Cat Scratching Post is the best cat Christmas tree option. This scratching post is perfect for felines that like to scratch and need a distraction from your actual tree. It has sisal, which is a well-loved scratching material by most felines.
If you’re on a budget, consider our best Christmas tree for cats for the. Money, the NIBESSER Cat Bed Christmas Tree. This bed is perfect for cats that like to hide in the tree, as it provides them with an enclosed place to hide instead.
No matter what you choose, we hope that your Christmas is a little less stressful this year!
See also: 10 Awesome DIY Cat Christmas Stockings (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Nadtochiy, Shuttterstock
