Are Cat Trees Safe For Kittens?

Kittens are like children. They are enthusiastic, fearless, and too curious, so they don’t always adequately evaluate their abilities and risks.

For this reason, ensuring your kitten’s safety is your job. When picking a cat tree, consider its size, stability, materials, and accessory durability.

As a rule of thumb, avoid cheap cat trees because they are more likely to contain toxic materials or have a wobbly build.

Cat Trees Are Safe – But Not All Trees

Cat trees are generally safe for kittens. They are designed with your cat’s safety in mind from pet-friendly materials. Reputable manufacturers strive to make their products durable and stable to withstand abuse.

Unfortunately, not all cat tree manufacturers have your kitten’s best interests in mind, and some trees are unsuitable for young felines because of their size.

The general recommendation is to avoid cheap cat trees with a shaky structure because they can tip over.

Plus, such trees need replacement more frequently because they are made from low-quality materials. Some materials pose a choking hazard, while others are associated with an increased risk of cancer in the long term.

Cat trees for kittens often have toys, which help build positive associations with the tree. If a kitten finds the tree attractive, it’s more likely to claw the dedicated scratching area rather than your furniture.

The problem is that cheap cat trees often have feathery toys that last for a week at most. Kittens learn with their mouths and try to eat everything they see. They can easily remove feathers from the toy and ingest them.

If a kitten swallows feathers, it can choke or experience geometric problems. Low-quality cat trees might also have sharp elements sticking out that may hurt your pet.

Lastly, some cat trees are too big for kittens. A six-foot-tall cat tree is suitable for an adult feline or kitten over six months old that can already land on the ground safely.

However, a young kitten can fall from it and injure itself. Thus, choose a cat tree with an appropriate for your kitten size.

Size

The cat tree size depends on your kitten’s age, breed, and activity level. Kittens over four months old, particularly those of energetic breeds like Burmese and Abyssinian, will appreciate a taller tree with multiple levels.

However, don’t go overboard trying to make your kitten happy. The cat tree shouldn’t exceed four feet in height to prevent injuries if your kitten falls from it.

Kittens can begin using full-size cat trees for adults from about six months old. Your kitten should learn to control its body first because cats often overestimate their climbing and jumping capabilities.

Your kitten might be brave enough to climb a six-foot tree, but it likely won’t be able to descend because its movements aren’t yet coordinated. And if it decides to leap from the tree, you can only hope it lands on a couch.

Plus, kittens prefer broader cat trees that provide plenty of enrichment to tall yet boring trees. Think of the cat tree as of playground for your cat. Your kitten doesn’t want to practice pole climbing like a US army soldier.

Instead, it wants a place to nap, jump, hide, and rest. Ideally, the cat tree should be two to four inches tall and have platforms, condos, tunnels, ladders, jump-through holes, toys, and scratching posts.

Stability

Stability is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a cat tree. The market is full of affordable cat trees, but most of them are poorly designed and made from lightweight materials.

One would think lightweight materials are a pro because you can easily bring the tree home and don’t even need to assemble it. However, cats prefer jumping on and clawing stable structures.

Feral cats claw tree trunks, which don’t move an inch. Although housecats have lost some of their wild instincts, they, too, want a rigid cat tree. Your kitten may be afraid to use a shaky tree that can tip over at any moment.

In the best-case scenario, a wobbly cat tree will scare your kitten and make it hesitant to use it again. As a result, it might claw the furniture and avoid scratching posts.

In the worst-case scenario, the tree will fall on your pet, causing severe injuries. Pay attention to the base weight to tree’s height ratio. The best cat trees have solid wood bases that stay sturdy on the ground.

You shouldn’t be able to lift a high-quality cat tree in an assembled state or shake it without applying much pressure.

Check how the tree is attached to the base – glue is sufficient for accessories, but large elements should be secured with nails or screws. The screws shouldn’t stick out from the tree because they can cut your kitten.

Placement

Many feline owners concerned about their kitten’s safety consider the cat tree quality but neglect its placement. That’s a mistake because kittens are more likely to get injured when jumping off a tree than climbing it.

The best cat tree placement is on the carpet, away from the furniture. This way, your kitten will have something soft to land on if it accidentally falls and won’t get injured by crashing into your couch or table.

If you don’t have a carpet, put some mats or cat beds under the tree to bring you peace of mind, ensuring your kitten doesn’t break its leg when falling.

If a cat tree is placed near a bookshelf or another elevation, the kitten can get too high and have trouble getting down. One may think the kitten can use the same path back, but kittens aren’t always as bright.

Don’t place the cat tree too close to the window. Firstly, your kitten might jump out of the window chasing a fly or bird. Secondly, it might jump on the curtains and damage them.

If your kitten’s claws are long, they can get caught in the curtain and break. Consider all potential dangers around your kitten’s tree when choosing the location.

Material

Cat tree material plays a crucial role. The materials should be non-toxic to felines, durable, and not too sharp. The most durable cat trees are made from solid wood and sisal rope.

Wood is a natural material that won’t cause any harm to your pet even in the long term. A wooden base is heavy, preventing the cat tree from tipping over.

Sisal rope is perfect for adult cats, but kitten claws are softer, so they might find the material too rough. Consider cat trees with sisal fabric, carpet, or another softer clawing area for a kitten under five months old.

Cheaper cat trees might have a base from particle board or plywood. These are waste products significantly cheaper than solid wood yet equally environmentally friendly.

However, plywood and particle board are typically lighter than solid wood, so check whether the construction is stable. Avoid cat trees with plastic details because many plastic types are associated with increased cancer risk in felines.

Plus, if any of the tree’s details are low quality, your kitten might bite them off and choke. You want to ensure every element is attached securely and won’t come loose.

Check the cat tree for sharp details like nails sticking out or frayed sisal rope. Lastly, ensure the tree doesn’t contain glues and materials toxic to cats.

Avoid cat trees with Bisphenol A (BPA) plastic parts because it can disrupt your cat’s metabolism. Lead is another known toxin sometimes found in pet products, which can cause damage to vital organs and the nervous system.

Phthalates are a group of toxic chemicals found in kitten toys and trees. Some cat trees might have bromine in condo padding, which can cause gastroenteric upset and muscle spasms.

Super glue and expandable glue are dangerous for all felines and can even cause a lethal outcome, so ensure the cat tree is made with wood, Eco-Bond, or PVA glue.

Consider Alternatives

If you don’t have enough space or struggle to find a worthy option in stores, consider cat tree alternatives to meet your kitten’s needs while ensuring its safety.

Many kittens love sleeping in hammocks that can be attached to chair legs or the windowsill. Wall shelves are another way to give your kitten elevations to jump on without buying an entire tree.

If you don’t want to drill holes in your walls, you can set up a comfy watch spot on the windowsill for your kitten. If the windowsill is tall, help your kitten get on it by placing a chair next to the window.

Remember that your kitten needs a place to trim its claws, so get it a scratcher, either horizontal, angled, triangle, or vertical. It doesn’t have to be very big – just enough for your kitten to stretch.

Sources