Cat tree for 3 cats — stop one hogging it

A dominant cat monopolising the tree is a really common problem in multi-cat homes — and the fix isn't a bigger tree, it's a smarter one. The most important factors in any cat tree are stability and height: it must not wobble when a cat launches off it at speed, and cats feel genuinely secure only when they can get high up. Cheap trees fail on both counts and get abandoned fast. To sort your specific situation I need a bit more detail: how many cats, how big and how active are they, and how much floor space can you give the tree?

That's a classic bottleneck setup — one route up, one gatekeeper at the top. The key design feature you need is multiple independent access routes, so the girls can reach a high perch without having to climb past him. Does the tree currently have only one main trunk, or have you tried anything with split routes before?

Right, so a single-pole tree will always have this problem regardless of height. What you need is the Feandrea 173cm Large Cat Tree — the model with two separate side columns and a wide top condo. It has multiple platforms at different heights connected by two independent climbing routes, so your male can own one side and the females can reach the top via the other without crossing his path. At 173cm it gives genuine high-up security for all three. The base is wide and heavily weighted — it handles a 7kg cat launching off the top without wobbling, which matters a lot with a big active male. The 80x80cm corner space will fit it comfortably. It's solidly built, which is why it doesn't end up as an expensive cat-avoider like cheaper trees do.

Most cats adapt within a week or two once the physical option exists — subordinate cats avoid dominant ones primarily because they have no choice, not purely out of deference. Put the tree in position, scatter a little catnip or a treat on each platform on the first day, and let them explore it without the male being herded away. Once the females discover they can reach the top without passing him, they'll use it. You may still see him claim the highest spot, but the females will settle on high platforms of their own rather than giving up entirely. That's the realistic outcome — three cats all using the tree at their own level rather than two cats ignoring it.

It's manageable solo but easier with two people — the tall poles need holding while you tighten the base bolts, and you want everything very tight to get the stability the design is capable of. Set aside about an hour, lay all the parts out first, and use the included Allen key rather than a power driver so you don't strip the fittings. Once it's properly assembled it won't flex or rock, which is exactly what you need with a heavy active male using it as a launch pad.