Cats | Enrichment

Best Cat Trees for Large and Heavy Cats in Australia

A big cat puts a small tree through things it was never built for. An eight-kilo Maine Coon or a broad Ragdoll lands on a top perch with real force, and a flimsy tower answers with a wobble, a lean, and eventually a topple that teaches the cat never to trust it again. What a large cat needs is height it can actually use — a perch wide enough to fit its whole body, posts thick enough not to flex, and a base heavy enough to stay put when eight kilos launches off the top. We've compared four cat trees you can buy in Australia right now, each chosen for big, heavy cats, and worked out which suits which household.

Best Overall

4.6

Heybly 190cm Cat Tree for Large Cats

190cm with a roomy top perch
Wide 70cm anti-tip base

Plush covering wears with use

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Best for Maine Coons

4.7

Gitelsnour Maine Coon Heavy-Duty Cat Tree

Rated for cats over 9kg
Long lie-flat removable perch

Heavy to assemble and move

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Best Natural Look

4.5

Hey-brother Wooden Cat Tree Tower

Reads as living-room furniture
Rigid wood, no long-term flex

Dearest of the four picks

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Best Budget Pick

4.2

Hzuaneri 170cm Cat Tree

Full 170cm for the least money
2 caves, hammock, 8 posts

Lighter base, best in a corner

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By Alex • Updated July 2026 • 🕒 12 min read

How we review →

We judged these four on what matters most to a large cat: usable perch size, how tall the tree stands and how stable it stays at that height, how well the base and posts hold up under a heavy cat, and the footprint in a typical Aussie home. If your cat's more interested in shredding the sofa than climbing, our guide to the best cat scratchers is the companion piece to this one.

What to look for in a large cat tree

The five things that decide whether a big cat uses a tower or topples it. Scroll across to read all five.

Perch size comes first

Height gets the headline, but a large cat needs a top platform big enough for its whole body — around 40 centimetres square for a cat that likes to sit up and survey the room, or a longer, slightly narrower platform for one that stretches out full-length. A perch a big cat spills off gets used once, then abandoned for the couch.

A base that stays put

The heavier and taller the cat, the more sideways force a launch off the top sends through the frame. A wide, weighted base — or a wall anti-tip strap — separates a tower a big cat trusts from one it learns to avoid.

Room to climb and perch

Vertical space isn't a luxury for indoor cats. Research on feline welfare notes that cat trees and climbing structures give cats vantage points and the chance to rest and retreat at different heights — exactly what a confident large cat wants.

Posts that don't flex

Under a heavy cat, thin pressed shelves bow and plush-over-cardboard tubes eventually creak and lean. Thick posts and rigid platforms — wood or dense board — hold their shape far longer when there's real weight behind every jump.

The footprint it needs

A tall tower on a wide base claims real floor, and the biggest, steadiest models claim the most. Measure the corner before you buy, and account for the ceiling height a near-two-metre tower wants to sit under comfortably.

At a glance

Our top four cat trees for large cats compared — size, price, and our one-line take on each.

Rank	Product	Best for	Key feature	Approx. price	Check price
Best Overall	Heybly 190cm Cat Tree	Most large cats and average rooms	190cm tall, 70×40cm base, roomy 40×40cm top perch	~$102–$122 AUD	Check price
Best for Maine Coons	Gitelsnour Maine Coon Cat Tree	Giant breeds and cats over 9kg	174cm tall, rated 9kg+ (20lb+), 60×30cm lie-flat perch	~$100–$120 AUD	Check price
Best Natural Look	Hey-brother Wooden Cat Tree	Homes where it has to look good	170cm modern wooden frame, raised-edge platforms, 5 sisal posts	~$130–$150 AUD	Check price
Best Budget Pick	Hzuaneri 170cm Cat Tree	A first large tree without overspending	170cm, cushioned perch, 2 caves, hammock, 8 sisal posts	~$88–$108 AUD	Check price

Our picks in detail

What we rate, what to watch for, and the cat each tree really suits.

Best Overall: Heybly 190cm Cat Tree for Large Cats

Bottom line — the large-cat all-rounder: a properly tall tower on a wide, weighted base, roomy enough for a big cat to sprawl.

The Heybly gets the balance right that most large-cat towers miss. At 190 centimetres it's tall enough to give a big cat a real vantage point over the room, and the top platform is a roomy 40 by 40 centimetres — enough for a broad cat to sit square with all four feet on the platform. Six sisal-wrapped posts carry the frame, so the height doesn't come at the cost of rigidity.

The reason it stays upright under a heavy cat is the base: a wide 70 by 40 centimetre footboard. It spreads the cat's weight and stops the sideways rocking that a launch off the top perch would send through a narrower base. Two condos and three hanging spots — two baskets and a hammock — give a big cat somewhere to hide and somewhere to drape, which matters more than it sounds in a multi-cat home where everyone wants their own level. The plush covering shows wear sooner than bare sisal, and at nearly two metres it wants a corner with the ceiling height to suit it. For most large cats and most rooms, it's the one to beat.

What we love	Areas for improvement
Roomy 40cm top perch fits a big cat Wide 70cm base resists tipping Two condos plus three hanging spots	Plush wears faster than bare sisal Needs a tall corner to suit it Beige only, shows every mark

Best for Maine Coons: Gitelsnour Maine Coon Heavy-Duty Cat Tree

Bottom line — built for the giants: a heavy-duty frame and a long, lie-flat perch rated for the nine-kilo cat a normal tower can't hold.

Maine Coons, large Ragdolls and the occasional very solid moggy break cat furniture that was really built for the average four-kilo tabby. At 174 centimetres, the Gitelsnour is built for them from the base up — rated for cats over nine kilos, with a wide 70-centimetre baseboard and two thick wooden perches where cheaper trees use thin pressed shelves that flex under a heavy landing.

The detail that earns its award is the removable top perch: at 60 by 30 centimetres it's built long rather than square, so a big cat lies full-length along it without half of it hanging in the air — less a spot to sit up on than one to stretch right out — and it lifts off for cleaning, which anyone with a shedding giant will appreciate. Fifteen sisal posts and two roomy caves round it out, so a big cat gets to climb, scratch and hide on one footprint. It's heavy to assemble and to move once built, and the styling is firmly functional and plain. It rates a notch above our overall pick on sheer build — but that edge only counts for a true giant; for a typical large cat the Heybly is the smarter all-rounder. If your cat is truly large, though, this is the one that won't flinch under them.

What we love	Areas for improvement
Rated for cats over 9kg (20 pounds) Long 60×30cm lie-flat removable perch Wide 70cm base, 15 sisal posts	Heavy to build and reposition Plain, functional styling with no frills Fewer soft lounging spots up top

Best Natural Look: Hey-brother Wooden Cat Tree Tower

Bottom line — the tower you won't want to hide: a modern wooden frame that suits the living room and still holds a large cat.

Most large cat trees are carpeted grey pillars that owners tuck into a spare room. The Hey-brother takes the opposite line — a frame of modern wooden boards in a warm finish that reads more like furniture than pet gear, so it can live in the lounge without fighting the décor. At 170 centimetres it still gives a big cat proper height.

Wood buys more than looks here. The flat platforms carry raised edging so a cat can lounge over the side without sliding off, and the rigid board resists the flex and creak that plush-over-tube towers develop over time. Five full sisal posts and a sisal ladder cover the scratching and climbing properly, so the styling doesn't come at the expense of function. The compromises are the price — it's the dearest of our four — and the harder surfaces, which some cats find less inviting than a padded condo until you add a cushion or two. For anyone who's held off on a cat tree because they all look the same, this is the one that finally doesn't.

What we love	Areas for improvement
Wooden frame that suits a living room Raised platform edges for secure lounging Rigid boards resist long-term flex	Dearest of the four picks Hard surfaces want a cushion added Fewer enclosed hiding spots

Best Budget Pick: Hzuaneri 170cm Cat Tree

Bottom line — the value pick: a full 170cm of climbing, hiding and scratching for a big cat at the low end of the range.

Buying big doesn't have to mean buying dear. The Hzuaneri delivers a full 170 centimetres of tower — real height for a big cat, and the least money of our four — which makes it the sensible starting point for a large cat you're not yet sure will take to a tree at all.

For the outlay you get a well-loaded frame: a cushioned top perch, two caves, a raised basket and a hammock, plus eight sisal posts spread over a multi-level layout a big cat can work its way up. The base is a thick particle board sized to cut the shaking that undoes cheaper towers, though it's the spot where the savings show — it's less planted than the heavy-duty picks, so it's happiest in a corner where a very large cat can't get it rocking. Treat it as a first tree, a second station in another room, or the tower for a big cat that's more climber than demolition crew, and it's a lot of furniture for the money.

What we love	Areas for improvement
Full 170cm height at the lowest price Loaded: caves, basket, hammock, 8 posts Multi-level layout suits active climbers	Lighter base than the heavy-duty picks Best steadied in a corner Particle board less planted under giants

FAQ

What size cat tree does a large cat need?

Two numbers matter more than the total height: the top perch and the base. A large cat wants a top platform big enough to hold its whole body — think around 40 centimetres square if your cat sits up to watch the room, or a longer, slightly narrower platform if it prefers to lie stretched out — so it isn't left draping over the edge and sliding off. Underneath, a wide, weighted base is what keeps a tall tower steady when a heavy cat launches off the top. An overall height of 150 centimetres and up gives a big cat a real vantage point, but a tall tower on a narrow base is worse than a shorter one that holds firm.

Are cat trees strong enough for a Maine Coon?

Some are, most aren't. A giant breed like a Maine Coon — often eight kilos or more — will out-muscle a tower built for an average four-kilo cat, flexing thin shelves and rocking a light base. Look for a model that states a weight rating and pairs it with thick posts, solid perches and a broad, heavy base. Furniture built specifically for big or heavy cats exists for exactly this reason, and it's worth choosing over a general-purpose tower if your cat is on the large side.

Where should I put a cat tree?

By a window is the classic choice, and for good reason — it turns the tree into a front-row seat on the street, the birds and the weather, which is most of what makes a cat use one. A quiet corner where the walls add stability works well too, especially for a tall tower. The one place to avoid is a spare room nobody visits: a cat tree gets used where the household already spends its time, so keep it in the busy part of the house.

How do I get my cat to use a new cat tree?

Placement does most of the work — put it where your cat already likes to sit or watch from, not where it's tidiest. Beyond that, a scatter of catnip on the perches, a wand toy worked up the levels, or a favourite blanket carried over from their usual spot all help. Reward the climbing when it happens, and give it time; a cautious cat can take a week or two to claim a new tower as its own.

Do indoor cats really need a cat tree?

They benefit from one more than most owners realise. Indoor cats rely entirely on the home for stimulation, and height is a big part of what a cat wants from a space — somewhere to climb, survey the room and rest out of reach. The RSPCA lists elevated observation and perching points, along with elevated resting places, among the resources every cat needs in its environment. A cat tree delivers several of those in one footprint, which is why it's one of the highest-value pieces of cat furniture you can add — especially for a large cat with energy to burn.

Final thoughts

Pixel's no giant — she's a standard-issue apartment cat — but she still spends half her day on the highest thing she's allowed on, which tells you most of what you need to know about why cats want a tree. Scale that instinct up to a cat two or three times her weight and the maths changes: the tree has to be taller to matter, the perch wide enough on top to fit the cat, and the base far heavier to stay upright. A large cat's tower has to be sturdier than a small cat's, and that counts for far more than how many extras it carries.

So if I were choosing for a big cat, I'd start with the base and the top perch and let everything else follow. Get those two right — a platform the cat fits on, a footing that won't rock — and height, condos and hammocks are just how much you want to spend on top. Get them wrong and you've bought an expensive wobble the cat will quietly refuse to use. Measure your corner, be honest about your cat's weight, and buy the sturdiest tree that fits both.