Cat tree for smell-sensitive Abyssinian

That's a really common and frustrating problem — cheap cat trees often use adhesives that off-gas chemical smells for days or weeks, and cats, with their acute sense of smell, simply refuse to go near them. Abyssinians in particular are bright and opinionated, so once they've decided something smells wrong, they're not easily persuaded otherwise. The good news is it's a solvable problem if you pick the right tree. Before I point you in the right direction: is your Abyssinian on the leaner, athletic side — and do they have a decent amount of vertical space to work with in your home?

Perfect. An active, athletic Abyssinian with space to spare — you want something tall, solid, and with enough going on to keep her brain engaged. The most important factors for any cat tree are stability and height: it must not wobble when she launches off the top platform at full speed, and cats genuinely feel more secure the higher they can get. Cheap trees fail on both counts, and the glue issue you experienced is a quality-of-materials problem all round. Can I ask — did the previous tree feel flimsy as well, or was the smell really the only issue?

Right, so you need a proper step up in both construction and materials. My recommendation is the Feandrea 173cm Large Cat Tree — it's one of the better-built options at a sensible price point. The frame uses a thick central post that stays genuinely stable when a cat throws themselves off the top, and critically, owners consistently report very low odour straight out of the box compared to cheaper alternatives. For an Abyssinian, the height is ideal — she'll be able to survey the whole room from the top platform, which is exactly what that breed wants. It has multiple levels, a hammock, scratching posts, and a condo, so there's enough variety to hold her attention. The covering is a short plush rather than the rough sisal-wrapped cardboard that tends to harbour smells. It's available on Amazon UK and typically ships within a day or two.

Yes, a couple of things worth doing. First, unbox it in the room and let it air for 24 hours before you encourage her near it — even a low-odour product benefits from airing out, and it removes any residual cardboard-and-packaging smell too. Second, don't put it near the spot where the old tree was if that's still associated with a bad experience; a fresh location helps. Rub a little of her own scent onto the posts — use a soft cloth on her cheeks and transfer it to the tree. Abyssinians are smart and respond well to environmental novelty, so she'll likely investigate on her own once it smells neutral and familiar. Sprinkle a pinch of dried valerian or catnip at the base if she responds to either — that can tip the balance early on.

Good choice. It should be a very different experience from the last one — she'll have height, stability, and nothing offensive to sniff. Enjoy watching her claim the top platform within about ten minutes of deciding she likes it.