Cat tree for two rival cats: Ragdoll and DSH

Two cats who don't always get along is one of the trickier setups to buy for — the tree itself can either ease the tension or make it worse. The most important things in any cat tree are stability and height: it must not wobble when a cat launches off it, and cats feel safest when they can get up high. Cheap trees often fail on both counts and end up ignored. For a rivalry situation specifically, you also need genuinely separate platforms — not just two perches six inches apart. Before I suggest anything: how big is the Ragdoll compared to the DSH, how active are they both, and how much floor space can you give the tree?

That's a classic dynamic — the smaller cat is the aggressor and the big gentle one just needs a refuge. The key here is vertical separation with enough height that the top perch genuinely feels out of the DSH's territory, not just one level above her. You also need wide, stable platforms because a 7kg Ragdoll on a narrow perch is uncomfortable and he'll stop using it. What's the ceiling height in that room, and is the 2 metres of wall space in a corner or along a flat wall?

Good — 2.4m ceilings work well with a 170cm-plus tree, and a flat wall is fine as long as the base is wide and you're not relying on a wall anchor for stability. Here's what I'd recommend: the Feandrea 173cm cat tree, specifically the XXL model with the large hammock and wide top perch. It's one of the few trees in this price range that's genuinely stable with a heavy cat — the base is broad and the poles are thick. The top platform is large enough for your Ragdoll to sprawl, and it's high enough that the DSH is unlikely to bother climbing up just to evict him once she has her own mid-level spots staked out. The multiple platforms at different heights mean they can each claim a level without constant standoffs. It runs around £90–£110 on Amazon UK and holds up well — the sisal doesn't shred to nothing in three months like cheaper options. One thing: assemble it properly and make sure the base feet are fully spread. A wobbly tree will put a nervous cat off for good.

The XXL version has a top platform around 35–40cm across, which is workable for a large Ragdoll in a loaf position though not a full sprawl. If he tends to drape himself over edges and hang off things, he'll manage fine. If he likes to fully stretch out flat, it might feel a bit tight. In that case, there's a newer Feandrea model — the 188cm UPCT184 — which has a larger top condo and a broader upper platform. It's about £120–£130 but gives him meaningfully more room. Worth looking at both listings and checking the platform dimensions against how he actually sleeps.

Put it somewhere they already spend time — next to a window if possible, cats use height most when there's something to watch. Rub a little of each cat's scent onto the platforms before you introduce it, or let them investigate at their own pace with some treats scattered around. Don't force either cat onto it. The DSH will likely claim a mid-level spot quickly since she's the assertive one — that's fine, it leaves the top free for the Ragdoll. Give it a week or two before concluding anyone isn't using it. Most cats take a few days to decide a new structure is trustworthy.