Cat trees are meant to offer cats a sense of security, by creating interactive areas that are only used by them. While cat trees can help to deter cats from scratching on other furniture, not every cat will react the same and cat owners have reported varied results in that regard.

House cats are the descendants of tree-dwellers and have an instinctive desire (and aptitude) for climbing. In 1968, a Los Angeles man named Frank Crow patented the “cat tree.”

Cat trees also act as a safe space and provides your cat with overall happiness. They are comfortable and hold a lot of functions. Not only are they beds for your cat to nap on, but these trees also help your cat groom themselves and live an active and playful lifestyle.

Tall cat towers and trees also give cats ways to put distance between each other, which is a way they avoid conflict. If there's aggression or they just need a little space, they can use the cat towers. In a small home, adding vertical space greatly increases your cat's livable area.

When Frank Crow patented the first cat tree in 1969, it was with hopes that this new cat 'furniture' would “provide a clawing surface of maximum appeal to a cat”, “provide a climbing structure of high appeal and good exercising facility”, and finally “provide a facility for playing, feeding and sleeping”.

For a cat tree constructed like the one in the video above, start with dimensional lumber, PVC pipes or heavy cardboard tubes for posts or vertical supports. Choose plywood panels for platforms on the tree. Use a hand saw to cut the lumber and a table saw or handheld circular saw for the plywood.

A basic cat tree will generally feature a box base and a rope-covered scratching post. The post may be topped with a little perch for your cat to sit on. The box entrance may be round, square-shaped or feature a fun design like a cat head.

“Cat trees are great because they allow your cat to climb and observe what's going on in their environment, it provides them with a safe place that's entirely theirs, and it's a scratching surface as well,” says cat-behavior consultant Dr. Mikel Delgado.

Both carpeting and sisal rope can be good materials for making a cat tree, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Carpeting is a popular material for cat trees because it provides a soft and comfortable surface for cats to climb, scratch and rest on. It's also easy to find and relatively inexpensive.

Tall cat towers and trees also give cats ways to put distance between each other, which is a way they avoid conflict. If there's aggression or they just need a little space, they can use the cat towers. In a small home, adding vertical space greatly increases your cat's livable area.

When Frank Crow patented the first cat tree in 1969, it was with hopes that this new cat 'furniture' would “provide a clawing surface of maximum appeal to a cat”, “provide a climbing structure of high appeal and good exercising facility”, and finally “provide a facility for playing, feeding and sleeping”.

In fact, acat treemight be a good way to reduce feline conflicts in your home because it gives them a place to escape to. Kitties who are timid could benefit from a cat tree, as they can climb high to check out their environment and easily see what's going on around them without fear.

Vertical Space Giving your cat ways to get up above the action will help them feel less fearful and may even make them less likely to run and hide. Tall cat towers and trees also give cats ways to put distance between each other, which is a way they avoid conflict.

Cat Trees With Scratchers Most cat trees have scratching posts. Some have as many as 10! Scratching posts often serve as support pillars between the perches, like in the Frisco 48-in Heavy Duty Faux Fur Cat Tree & Condo, and sometimes, they double as boards or ramps too.

Cats Use Height for Safety Cats who live outside may choose to climb up trees in order to be able to observe what's going on around them from a safe place. They may also use a tree to target prey or get away from predators. And your indoor kitty has these same instincts.

Ultimately, no, your cat doesn't need a cat tree to live their best life. What they do require, however, are opportunities to act on their feline instincts, such as scratching, climbing, and hiding. And a cat tree gives them a safe space to do just that.