The Best Cat Trees for Selkirk Rex & Devon Rex (Tested in Our Cattery)
Not All Cat Trees Are Created Equal
If you've ever bought a cat tree that wobbled after a week, lost its sisal rope in a month, or simply got ignored by your cat — you know the frustration. When you're dealing with active breeds like Devon Rex and sturdy breeds like Selkirk Rex, the stakes are even higher.
At Mon Chat Mouton, we have 12+ adult cats and rotating litters of kittens. Our cat trees get serious use. We've gone through cheap ones, mid-range ones, and premium ones. Here's what we've learned.
What Rex Cats Need From a Cat Tree
Devon Rex: The Acrobats
Devon Rex are climbers, jumpers, and height-seekers. They want the tallest perch in the room and they'll launch themselves at it with zero hesitation. For Devon Rex, you need:
Height — at least 150 cm (5 feet), ideally ceiling-height
Stability — a wide, heavy base that won't tip when a cat leaps from across the room
Multiple platforms — Devon Rex are social and like to perch near each other without being on each other
Warm materials — Devon Rex have thin coats and gravitate toward plush, fleece-covered surfaces
Selkirk Rex: The Loungers
Selkirk Rex are heavier-boned and more laid-back. They use cat trees more for napping and observation than acrobatics. For Selkirk Rex, focus on:
Wide, deep platforms — they need room to spread out comfortably
Sturdy hammocks or baskets — Selkirk Rex love enclosed spaces where they can curl up
Low-to-mid height options — they're less obsessed with ceiling height than Devon Rex
Strong construction — a 5 kg (11 lb) Selkirk Rex landing on a platform tests the joints
Our Top Picks (Battle-Tested)
Best Overall: The Tall, Multi-Level Tree
This is the one that lives in our main cattery room and sees daily use from 10+ cats. It's ceiling-height with multiple sisal scratching posts, platforms at varying heights, and two enclosed condos at the base. After over a year of heavy use, it's still structurally solid. The sisal has been replaced once — which is normal and actually a sign of good use.
What we love: Stable enough for Devon Rex launching, wide enough for Selkirk Rex lounging. The platforms are carpeted with short-pile material that doesn't trap too much fur.
👉 See this cat tree in our Boutique →
Best for Kittens: The Mid-Size Starter
For kittens under 6 months, we don't recommend floor-to-ceiling trees — a fall from that height can cause injury in a small kitten. Instead, we use a mid-size tree (about 100 cm) with gentle ramp access and a cozy hiding box at the top.
This is also what we recommend to new adopters as their first cat tree. It's affordable, well-built for the price, and gives kittens confidence before graduating to a taller tree.
👉 See our kitten-friendly tree in the Boutique →
Best Wall-Mounted Option
If floor space is limited, wall-mounted shelves are an excellent alternative — especially for Devon Rex who love vertical space. We installed a set of floating cat shelves in our kitten socialization room, and they've been a huge hit. The kittens use them constantly for climbing exercises, which builds their coordination.
👉 See wall-mounted options in our Boutique →
Cat Tree Mistakes to Avoid
Buying too small. A cat tree that's "cute" at the store is often too small for an adult Rex. Devon Rex males can reach 4.5 kg and Selkirk Rex can exceed 6 kg. Get one that can handle the adult size.
Ignoring the base. If the base isn't at least 50 cm × 50 cm, the tree will wobble. A wobbling tree is an unused tree — cats avoid unstable structures.
Carpet-only surfaces. While plush carpet feels nice, it traps hair and harbors bacteria if not cleaned regularly. Look for trees with removable, washable covers or short-pile fabric.
Skipping the sisal. If the tree doesn't have good scratching surfaces, your cats will find alternatives — like your couch. Make sure at least 2–3 posts are wrapped in thick sisal rope.
Maintenance Tips
We wash removable covers monthly and vacuum the platforms weekly. Sisal rope gets replaced every 8–12 months depending on how many cats use the tree. A lint roller lives permanently next to every cat tree — the Selkirk Rex curly fur clings to everything.
Our Recommendation
Invest in one quality tall tree and one mid-size tree rather than three cheap ones. Quality trees last years; cheap ones become landfill within months. Every tree we recommend in our boutique has survived the ultimate stress test: a house full of Rex cats.
→ Browse All Our Cat Tree Recommendations in the Boutique
Mon Chat Mouton is a family-run Selkirk Rex and Devon Rex cattery in Quebec. Our boutique features affiliate links — purchases through our links earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you, helping us continue raising happy, healthy kittens.