Cats may be low-maintenance compared to dogs, but they still need exercise. If you don’t give them a cat tree to satisfy their climbing and jumping instincts, your kitty is more likely to sink their sharp claws into your furniture and curtains. We searched for pet brands that make cat trees stateside. If you buy from one of them, your feline friend will be very happy!
Complete List of Cat Tree Brands Made in the USA
FurFluffy makes modular cat trees with lots of fun options, such as hammocks and sleepers. You can customize your own kitty playground according to your furry pal’s size and needs. If you have more than one cat, FurFlurry has trees built for multiple felines. The company uses furniture-grade laminated wood, all-natural sisal scratching posts, and faux fur for its cat trees.
Bon Cat Furniture produces cat trees and towers with modern designs that look beautiful in your home but still fit your kitty’s needs. Their products are sturdy enough for even big Maine Coon cats. Everything is assembled right here in the USA, but a few parts are sourced elsewhere. For example, their birch plywood is imported from Russia.
Playtime Workshop doesn’t just make cat trees. This company creates kitty condos and hotels with multiple levels and customized features such as ladders and kitty toys. The cat trees are assembled in the USA from carpet-covered solid wood, so you can be sure you are getting a durable, high-quality product for your beloved furbaby. That being said, Playtime Workshop does import some of its components.
Despite its name, this family-owned company is well-established, having been around for 40 years. New Cat Condos specializes in cat trees, condos, and scratching posts that are crafted by hand in the USA, but are still budget-friendly (probably because some materials are sourced from overseas). This brand’s pet furniture is made from solid wood covered with the kind of carpeting that kitties love to scratch!
Molly and Friends is a leading US cat furniture manufacturer that focuses on quality and affordability. This company makes double-tier, triple-tier, and quadruple-tier (and even higher!) cat trees with features such as tunnels and cozy beds. If you have a big kitty or an entire family of fluffballs, Molly and Friends might be purr-fect for your household. We love that their feline furniture is made from solid pine wood rather than the flimsy materials some cat tree manufacturers use.
Square Cat Habitat prides itself on making modern cat trees and towers from non-toxic and sustainable materials. This brand’s kitty furniture is designed to be aesthetically pleasing. Square Cat Habitat donates 2% of the proceeds from each purpose to cat charities, which is a nice bonus.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Cat Trees
How to Find Cat Trees Made in the USA
Cat trees are frequently produced overseas, so finding ones that are 100% made in the USA can be a challenge. However, the search is worth it because domestically made cat trees tend to be of higher quality. Buying goods made here also supports the US economy.
Below are some important tips for shopping for American made cat trees.
What Does “Made In The USA” Mean?
So, what exactly is the definition of “made in the USA”? The Federal Trade Commission says this phrase means “all or virtually all” materials were sourced domestically and assembled here as well.
To learn more about this topic, we recommend reading our detailed guide on FTC regulations.
Materials
Since materials for a made in the USA product must be from the United States, it’s essential to consider the components of a typical cat tree. Here’s a list of those parts and their most likely countries of origin.
Solid Wood
Your best bet for finding a cat tree made in the USA is to look for one with a solid wood frame. Although China is the leading hardwood producer, the United States ranks second. This means you shouldn’t have much of a problem finding cat trees made from US wood.
Fiberboard
Fiberboard, also called composite wood, engineered wood, or MDF wood, is made from fresh or recycled pieces of wood. A cat tree with a fiberwood frame costs less than one with a solid wood frame, which can be quite expensive. However, solid wood is more durable, which might save you money in the long run.
Fiberboard production originated in the United States in the 1960s and spread to other countries. However, some fiberboard is still being made here.
Carpet
Carpet is the most common covering for cat trees because kitties like to take naps on something warm and comfy. This material also makes it easier for them to climb. Finally, most cat trees double as scratching posts, and carpet is ideal for this purpose.
Turkey, Belgium, India, China, and Germany are the world’s leading carpet producers, but some US companies make carpeting as well.
Sisal Fiber
Sisal is even more durable than carpet. Furthermore, it is non-toxic because it is a natural fiber. However, sisal is more expensive than carpet. We also couldn’t find any that’s made in the USA.
Brazil produces more than half of the world’s sisal. Other top sisal-producing countries include Tanzania, Kenya, and China.
Faux Fur
Kitties love faux fur because it is so soft. The downside of this material is its lack of durability compared to sisal fiber and carpet.
China is the global leader in faux fur production, but the United States also makes some of this material.
Labeling
Now that you know about cat tree materials, it’s time to look at labeling. All imported products must have their country of origin on their label, according to Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the US code. And as we stated earlier, the FTC protects the “made in the USA label. But finding a cat tree that’s made here isn’t as simple as it sounds.
First, the FTC doesn’t have a pre-approval process for companies to receive the “made in the USA” label on their products. This means companies can decide on their own whether their goods meet the criteria for this label. This is a sure recipe for misuse.
Another potential pitfall for shoppers is brands often use misleading language on labels to trick consumers into believing products were made here when they weren’t. Here are some phrases that could be red flags that an item isn’t made entirely in the United States:
- Assembled/Designed in the USA: This means only some of the manufacturing process takes place stateside.
- Made in the USA with imported materials: This language indicates a product contains foreign components.
- Made in America: Mexico or Canada are part of North America along with the United States.
Finally, some brands will put American flag stickers on labels even if a product wasn’t made in the USA, and they can get away with it because the flag’s image isn’t protected. In other words, the presence of Old Glory on a label is no guarantee a cat tree was made here.
Final Tips
Here are some additional tips for finding cat trees made in the USA:
Buy from Reputable Companies
Look for well-established brands that are transparent about how their products are made and where the raw materials come from. These companies are more likely to make high-quality merchandise.
Check the Brand’s Website
If a company is reputable, its website will likely be a good source of information regarding its manufacturing process and material sourcing. Brands know that having products made in the USA is a big selling point, so if they do make their items here, they won’t be shy about saying so online! This information is most likely to appear on pages labeled “About Us” or “Our Story.” If some items a company makes are imported, and others are domestically produced, you might be able to tell which is which by checking out individual product pages. However, if no country of origin is listed there, it’s likely the item wasn’t made in the USA.
Look at Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms can be good sources of information about the origins of a brand’s products. These sites might even have photos or videos of the manufacturing process.
Call the Company
If you still have doubts about the country of origin of a cat tree or its materials, don’t hesitate to call the company. Brand representatives can usually answer your questions.
Cat Tree Brands Not Made in the USA
While conducting research on cat trees, we found some companies that don’t make theirs in the United States. Here is the complete list, which we will update periodically.
- Frisco Pet Products – Made in China.
- Midwest Homes for Pets – Made in China.
- Yaheetech – Made in China.
- Go Pet Club – Made in China. MidWest – Made in China.
