The best cat furniture for apartments doesn’t take up a lot of floor space.
Instead, aim to buy cat furniture that takes up a lot of vertical space.
And the cat furniture should provide as many enrichment needs as possible.
Cats need enrichment when they live indoors. They need a place to perch, climb, nap, hide, and play.
All of this enrichment and exercise will keep your cats happy in an apartment.
Here’s the best cat furniture for apartments:
- Scratching post
- Tall cat condo
- Cat beds
- Ripple Rug
- Cat tunnels
- Window perch
- Cat Ladder
- Modern cat furniture
- How to place cat furniture
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1. Scratching post
Every cat needs a scratching post. No matter how big or small your apartment is.
All cats have a natural urge to scratch. Even if they have lived indoors their entire lives.
Scratching is a calming method for cats, and they do it when they are excited.
Get the tallest scratching post you can find. Cats like to stretch while they scratch.
However, scratcher pads work great too.
Best scratching posts:
Sisal fabric, multiple height options, and customizable colors.
Modern and upscale.
You can also get a budget-friendly scratching post on Amazon and Chewy. A cheap scratcher is better than no scratcher!
There are also cardboard scratcher pads on Amazon and Chewy.
Cat scratcher hacks
Teach your cat how to use it!
You can scratch on it yourself and tease wand toys around it.
Or sprinkle some organic catnip, silvervine, or valerian root to entice your cat to use it.
You know it’s a cat scratcher. But your cat doesn’t know that yet.
If your cat scratches your furniture, redirect his behavior to the proper scratching post.
2. Tall cat condo
A tall cat condo can help you and your cats in many ways.
These are great because they take up vertical space instead of lots of floor space.
Most cat condos have sisal rope for scratching, different levels to climb, little houses or beds, and levels to perch.
We’ve knocked out a lot of enrichment ideas all in one piece of cat furniture!
You can get the grey condo that I have on Amazon and Chewy. It’s just over five feet tall, and it has many levels to perch.
Jericho loves to climb and hop up to the top perches for napping.
Best cat condos:
Modern and upscale.
Modular furniture and soft carpeted trees.
Cat condo hacks
Put your cat towers by your windows. Now your cat can birdwatch! This is excellent for providing indoor enrichment.
This will also keep your cat entertained while you’re at work.
Another cat condo hack is to put a cat bed on the bottom level.
It’s important to have cat beds (more in the next section). But if you have a small space you can’t cover your floor with beds.
Put a cat bed on the platform of the condo so it doesn’t take up any floor space.
3. Cat beds
Cats need warm and snuggly places to curl up.
Even if your cat sleeps in bed with you, he needs private beds.
For example, Jericho cuddles with me and my partner every night in bed. But Jericho only goes on our bed if we are in it.
So Jericho needs warm places to nap during the day while we are working.
Cats are territorial creatures so it’s best to offer multiple options.
We have three cat beds.
The grey 2-in-1 cat bed (on Amazon and Chewy) is Jericho’s sanctuary while I work.
He loves to be with me at all times. So this bed goes on my desk.
Jericho loves to snuggle in his organic cotton sleeping bag.
I like using this one when he wants to nap in my lap.
Make sure you wash all beds before use based on its instructions.
Cat bed hacks
You can put cat beds on your cat condos.
Another great place for cat beds is on top of scratching posts if there is a sturdy ledge.
You could put a cat bed on top of your coffee table, ottoman, nightstand, or any other piece of furniture.
Just make sure your cat can easily go in and out.
Also, make sure it isn’t wobbly or uneasy to walk around inside the bed. Cats like stable surfaces to feel secure.
If he isn’t comfortable getting in and walking around in the bed, he won’t use it.
4. Ripple Rug
This is a wonderful activity center that serves multiple purposes.
The Ripple Rug is quite large so make sure you measure your space before purchasing.
However, don’t let the size scare you. The Ripple Rug is amazing. And it’s easy to fold up when you’re done playing.
These fun rugs are incredibly versatile.
Your cat can nap, hide, scratch, hunt, and play. All on this one activity mat!
Buy the Ripple Rug from Amazon or Chewy. Beware of the knockoffs!
Or buy directly from Ripple Rug for different colors and international shipping.
Ripple Rug hacks
I love hiding toys and treats inside the ripples.
At night I’ll randomly hear toys and bells jingling because Jericho is pawing them out of the ripples.
This is a great place to play with wand toys and the Cat Dancer too (here are a few different ways to play with the Cat Dancer).
You can tease toys in and around the ripples to simulate the hunting experience.
Cats are attracted to movement. And they go nuts when they see something disappear from their vision.
I use the Ripple Rug to hide his treats for hunting as well.
5. Cat tunnels
Tunnels are an amazing addition to your apartment.
Cat tunnels encourage running and playing. Most of them have a crinkle sound which makes cats want to run even more.
They also have toys that hang from the tops which pique interest right away.
This is the tunnel that we have. It’s the sturdiest and widest tunnel I’ve come across.
I worked with over 400 cats professionally so I’ve played with tons of tunnels.
This tunnel is excellent because it’s the best quality, and it’s easy to fold down and store away.
Cat tunnel hacks
Again, measure your space before you buy it. This tunnel is quite long. But don’t let that deter you.
Since you have your cat condo up against the window, place your tunnel along the wall next to it.
You can even connect the tunnel to the cat bed on the bottom platform of the condo.
This tunnel has loops so you can connect the ends forming a U shape. This setup might be better for your apartment.
Or you could easily fold it up when you’re done playing.
Cats are interested in new things so maybe reserve this cat furniture piece for special playtimes.
This will get your cat excited.
6. Window perch
As mentioned above, giving window access is a must.
Window perches don’t take up a lot of space, and they are wonderful for indoor enrichment.
You can buy the same one we have on Amazon and a similar one on Chewy.
The perch is mounted on the windowsill. Make sure you measure your windowsill before buying.
It comes with two legs that you screw into the perch. And the other end of the legs rests on the wall.
You don’t need any additional tools to install this window perch.
Everything that you need comes with it. Other window perches may need additional tools.
The bed part is memory foam, and it comes with a washable cover. The cover fits around it similar to a fitted sheet.
It’s soft and an excellent size.
Jericho loves to nap in the sun on the perch.
He also watches over the neighborhood from his perch. He’s so nosey.
Window perch hacks
I installed the legs that came with the window perch.
Additionally, I rest the perch on one of the condo platform levels for extra security.
Again, you want to make sure that your cat furniture isn’t wobbly or unsteady.
If your cat senses that it is unstable, he probably won’t use it.
Friends and clients have tried the hammock-looking window perches. Their cats didn’t use it.
7. Cat Ladder
The Cat Ladder is exactly what it sounds like. This is great for apartments because it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
You have many options for steps, stains, and carpet.
We have the 6-step ladder, and Jericho loves it. He climbs, rests, perches, and scratches.
The Cat Ladder is great because it satisfies multiple needs for your cat. It’s also modern and will fit any aesthetic.
Cat Ladder hacks
I put it up against the window. And it only takes up ~1-2′ of floor space.
Hide treats and toys on the steps to get your cat interested in his new furniture.
8. Modern cat furniture
There are a few pieces of cat furniture that are on my wish list.
These are modern, upscale, and built to last.
These cat furniture pieces are designed with the cat and human in mind.
They satisfy multiple enrichment needs. And they go along with any aesthetic.
9. Homemade cat furniture
You can DIY a cat condo or tree.
Again, just make sure that what you make is sturdy. Cats can be rambunctious when they play.
You want to make sure that you always implement a safe playtime.
If your cat has a bad experience with something, chances are he won’t return to it.
If you happen to have wire shelving pieces lying around you can make a cat condo with these.
Someone left these behind when we moved into an apartment so we took them.
The makeshift stairs condo is up against the wall and next to Jericho’s tall condo.
Jericho runs up the stairs, jumps to the upper levels of the condo, jumps down to the window perch, and then jumps to the top of his Cat Ladder.
He loves having all four of these furniture pieces next to each other.
And they aren’t in the way since they run against the wall and window.
10. How to place cat furniture
It’s wonderful to group cat furniture pieces together because your cat is more likely to use them.
Our cat tunnel runs alongside our coffee table.
Then I put his scratching post, Ripple Rug, and area rugs with other toys all in the same area.
I’m working with a long space, and Jericho loves to run around.
Jericho can get to each level of his condo without jumping too far.
He can get to the window perch easily because he has the stairs and condo to get him there.
Your cat is more likely to use something if he enjoys using it.
Final thoughts on cat furniture for apartments
The best cat furniture for apartments satisfies multiple enrichment needs and doesn’t take up a lot of floor space.
The Cat Ladder is my favorite piece of cat furniture for apartments because Jericho can climb, perch, rest, and scratch on it. And it doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Put it next to the window for added entertainment.
Don’t forget to teach your cat how to use his new cat furniture!
You know what it is. But your cat doesn’t know it yet.
Tease toys on the furniture, hide treats, or use organic catnip to get him to play on it.
Want to keep your cat happy? Grab my Cat Care Binders to stay on top of your cat’s needs!
