Emily Laurence
Six months into using this, I can tell you Mau's cat tree is well worth the money.
I got Crosby, a friendly Russian blue-tabby mix, as a kitten. As sweet as he is, he is prone to some problematic behavior. For the first year, the arms of my couch were in shreds and my partner and I hadn't gotten a good night's sleep in months. At night, Crosby would run around our room, jump on the bed and claw at the curtains. If we kicked him out, he'd meow and tear at the carpet until we let him in again. We tried scratching pads, rosemary spray, calming treats – some were semi-successful, but nothing really worked.
I knew Crosby needed a place of his own to sleep, but let's be honest, most cat condos are total eyesores. Although… there was one that kept coming across my Instagram: the Mau wooden cat climbing tree. It was the most beautiful cat tree I'd ever seen and it included a basket bed. It even made a cameo in the most recent season of "And Just Like That," when protagonist Carrie Bradshaw assembled it for her kitty, Shoe. (Who, according to the Los Angeles Times, was actually adopted by Sarah Jessica Parker in 2023.) We even included this tree in our HuffPost Shopping Pet Awards for 2026.
$259 at Amazon
$259 at Chewy
But here's the thing: It's $259. I've bought cat trees for past pets that went completely ignored, passed over for random cardboard boxes and couch cushions. How would I know Crosby would actually use it? I decided to order it anyway and try it out. Six months into using this, I can tell you it's well worth the money. My cat is literally obsessed.
One of the reasons why I decided to invest in a quality cat tree was learning why they're important for cats' well-being. In previous HuffPost reporting, cat behaviorist Stephanie Merlin explained that "[c]ats are both predator and prey, so having a high vantage point is a natural way to help them feel safe and secure." The different levels and features — like the dangling fluffy ball and roped branch on the Mau tree — encourage play, counteracting boredom. PSA: If your cat is clawing your stuff, they're probably bored.
Putting together the Mau cat tree was super simple and only took a few minutes. It just involved connecting the big pieces together using a screwdriver. Once it was assembled came the big test: Would it be used or be ignored?
$259 at Amazon
$259 at Chewy
Crosby noticed his new hangout right away. He sniffed around the base before jumping up to the second platform, eventually jumping up to the basket bed. And then… he went to sleep. From that day on, the Mau cat tree has been where Crosby spends the majority of his time — both day and night. During the day, it's used as a plaything and bed. Crosby loves to scratch his claws on the wooden rope wrapped around the bottom half of the tree trunk and bat at the fluffy ball. (My couch, thankfully, is finally getting a break.) When we play together, he loves it when I put his toy mouse in the crook of the branches so he can knock it out with his paws.
Sometimes, Crosby sits on the lower padded level. But usually, you'll find him asleep in the wicker basket. Whenever he's not playing, this is where I find him. It's also (blessedly) where he sleeps at night. The nighttime transition didn't happen immediately; it took time. But now, Crosby knows he has a nice cozy place to sleep and he doesn't wake me up until he's hungry. (Well, most of the time.)
$259 at Amazon
$259 at Chewy
Last month, the base of the cat tree became stripped at the screw entry point, causing the tree to collapse. It's nothing against the structure; it happened due to plain old wear and tear. I contacted Mau and they responded immediately, offering to send a new base for free. Amazing, right? Fortunately, Crosby only had to go a few days without his cat tree. For me, investing in a quality cat condo was a game-changer. My furniture isn't being damaged as much and I'm able to get more sleep. Best of all? The design enhances my decor instead of taking away from it.
Still on the fence about buying it? Check out these reviews from other Amazon shoppers:
"My wife convinced me to buy this cat tree to replace one we had that was your typical carpet-padded one from PetSmart for our kitty and we all love it (especially Kitty). The carpet cat trees are really an eyesore and this one is a beauty. My wife wouldn't tolerate the previous ugly cat tree shedding carpet remnants in our living room, so Kitty's old tree was in the mud room by a big window. Now Kitty comfortably rests on a lovely work of art in our living room with us and we're all happier. However, the best part about this tree is the easily replaceable parts. We know cats love to scratch. If and when the time comes, we can very easily make the tree like new! My wife assembled the tree in minutes, literally probably two minutes. This is an excellent design. Absolutely worth every penny, and if you're considering it, go for it. You won't be disappointed." — Mark
"I like to buy my fluffball nice quality things because our pets deserve it just as much as we do. I surround myself with nice chairs, couches and beds to enjoy, and he deserves the same. I've bought Bob a few new cat snuggle spots over the past year, but nothing has clicked like this. I do not believe I've ever seen him in love with a certain spot in the house more. It took him all of one minute to hop in and claim it. After a decade of a variety of 'affordable' cat perches, to have one that looks this great in my home, but also be this great for him is just such a win. Worth the cost on multiple levels. The uniqueness of each piece sold, the quality of the materials used, and the overwhelming joy I receive when seeing my cat in a spot he loves so much." — Alexander Powlesland
"I am super into interior design, always wanted this for my cat and am so glad I did. My cat couldn't figure out how to get into the top bed at first (everything is kind of scary for her) so I put her in — I kid you not, she did not move for eight hours." — Larissa Blanz
$259 at Amazon
$259 at Chewy
The original version of this story was published on HuffPost at an earlier date.
