How to Clean a Cat Tree
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A cat tree gets more use than most furniture: your cat sleeps on it, scratches it, sheds on it and sometimes brings in mud or worse. Carpet and plush hold hair and smells, and sisal frays over time. A regular clean keeps the tree pleasant for your cat and helps you spot loose parts before they become a safety problem. This guide covers what to use, a weekly and monthly routine, how to deal with stains and smells, sisal care, checking for wobble, when to replace parts, and when what you find on the tree is a reason to call your vet.
How we wrote this: the advice comes from the care notes for the Mau Ivy cat tree, one of the trees we list, PDSA’s page on fleas on cats, and Battersea’s litter tray set-up guide on cleaning products cats dislike. Other product facts come from our product pages, which cite the makers and reviewers. We put their advice in our own words and mark our own tips with “in our view”. All were checked on 2 November 2026. We did not test any cleaning products for this guide, and we do not show prices or ratings. Always check your own tree’s care label first; materials differ.
What you need
In our view, most cat trees can be cleaned with a small kit:
- a vacuum with a brush or upholstery attachment,
- a lint roller, rubber glove or pet hair remover for carpet and plush,
- a cloth and plain water, or a mild, unscented cleaner the maker allows,
- an enzyme cleaner made for pet urine and vomit,
- a screwdriver or Allen key that fits the tree’s bolts.
Skip strong-smelling products. Battersea warns that bleach and other harsh-smelling cleaners can put a cat off its litter tray, and in our view the same applies to a tree your cat sleeps on. Cats also groom what they lie on, so rinse or wipe off any cleaner well and let the tree dry before your cat uses it again.
Weekly: remove hair and dust
A quick weekly pass stops hair building up in the carpet and plush. In our view:
- Lift off any removable cushions, beds or hammocks and shake them out outside.
- Vacuum each platform, cave and ramp with a brush attachment, working from the top down so dust falls onto parts you have not cleaned yet.
- Go over carpet and plush with a lint roller or pet hair remover to lift hair the vacuum misses.
- Reach inside caves and condos, where hair and litter gather.
Our guide on how to remove pet hair from furniture, car seats and clothes covers which hair tools work best on which fabrics.
Monthly: wash what you can
Check which parts come off and can be washed. Our product page for the Mau Ivy 73-Inch Modern Cat Tree lists removable, machine-washable basket cushions. Mau’s own care notes say to wash them on the coldest setting without detergent, check them often in the dryer, and stretch the filling back into shape once dry. For the frame, Mau suggests wiping with a damp cloth, vacuuming with a brush attachment and using a dry foam cleaner on stains, and says not to use liquid detergents.
Many trees have fixed carpet or plush that cannot go in the machine. Our product page for the Feandrea 37.8-Inch Cat Tree notes its plush is not machine washable, for example. For fixed covers, in our view:
- wipe with a cloth barely damp with water, or the cleaner the maker allows,
- work on a small area at a time and do not soak the board underneath; particleboard can swell if it gets wet,
- blot dry with a towel and let the tree air-dry fully, with a window open if you can.
Stains, vomit and urine
Deal with accidents as soon as you find them. In our view:
- Lift off any solids with a paper towel, and blot liquids; do not rub them deeper into the carpet.
- Apply an enzyme cleaner made for pet messes, following its label, and leave it for the time it says.
- Blot and let the spot dry completely before your cat uses that level again.
Enzyme cleaners are made to break down the substances that cause pet smells, which plain soap may leave behind. Our best enzyme cleaner for pet urine guide compares options. If a cat repeatedly pees on its tree, treat it as a toilet problem rather than a cleaning one; see the vet section below.
Sisal care
Sisal is meant to be shredded; frayed rope is a sign the tree is doing its job. In our view:
- vacuum loose fibres from the base of each post every week,
- trim long loose strands with scissors so claws do not catch in them,
- push down any rope that has slipped, and check the ends are still fixed at the top and bottom,
- do not wash sisal posts with water; a dry brush and vacuum are enough.
When a post is worn through to the core, or the rope has unravelled, it is time to replace it. Mau says all its wear and tear parts can be replaced, and our product page notes it sells replacement parts separately. Check whether your tree’s maker does the same before you buy a whole new tree.
Check for wobble and loose parts
Cleaning is a good time to check the tree is still safe. In our view, every month:
- tighten every bolt and screw you can reach, without over-tightening into particleboard,
- push each platform and the top of the tree gently and watch for any lean or wobble,
- check hammocks, ramps and hanging toys for torn fabric, loose stitching or cords a cat could get tangled in,
- make sure any anti-tip strap is still fixed to the wall; our product page notes the Feandrea comes with an anti-tip kit.
Stop your cat using any part that moves or cracks until you have fixed or replaced it. Tall trees and trees for heavy or very active cats need the closest checks.
Keep it cleaner for longer
Where the tree stands affects how dirty it gets. In our view:
- keep it away from the litter box, so litter is not tracked up the posts and platforms,
- keep it out of the kitchen and away from food bowls, so spills and crumbs do not end up in the carpet,
- put a washable mat or throw under the base to catch sisal fibres and hair,
- lay a washable blanket in your cat’s favourite bed or perch, so you wash the blanket rather than the tree,
- brush your cat regularly, so less loose hair lands on the tree in the first place.
If your cat sheds heavily, our best cat brush for shedding guide compares brushes by coat type.
When to replace the tree
In our view, consider a new tree when:
- the base board or platforms have swelled, cracked or crumbled,
- the tree still wobbles after tightening every bolt,
- a smell will not go even after enzyme cleaning,
- carpet is torn so badly that claws catch on it.
Our best cat trees for indoor cats guide compares trees, including ones with washable or replaceable parts. If your cat is wary of a new tree, see how to get a cat to use a cat tree.
Fleas, skin problems and toileting: see a vet
Look closely at the tree while you clean it. Small dark specks in the carpet or bedding, or a cat scratching itself more than usual, can be signs of fleas. PDSA explains that the bulk of any flea infestation is in the house, not on the cat itself, and that fleas can cause itchy skin and skin problems. If you think your cat has fleas, PDSA advises calling your vet practice for advice on treating your pets and your home.
PDSA also warns that flea products made for dogs, and sprays meant for the home, must never be used on a cat, and that a cat exposed to either needs a vet straight away. Do not spray the cat tree with anything for fleas unless your vet has told you what to use and how.
Call your vet as well if you notice:
- sores, scabs, bald patches or red skin on your cat,
- your cat peeing or pooing on the tree or outside its litter box,
- blood or vomit on the tree more than once,
- your cat suddenly avoiding the tree or struggling to climb it, which can be a sign of pain.
FAQ
How often should you clean a cat tree?
In our view, a quick vacuum and lint-roll once a week, a fuller clean of washable parts once a month, and spot cleaning straight away after any accident.
Can you put a cat tree cushion in the washing machine?
Only if the maker says so. Mau, for example, says its Ivy basket cushions can be machine washed on the coldest setting without detergent. Many trees have fixed carpet that cannot be washed.
What can I clean a cat tree with?
A vacuum, a lint roller, a damp cloth and an enzyme cleaner for accidents cover most jobs. Avoid bleach and strong-smelling products; Battersea notes these can put cats off.
How do I get rid of fleas in a cat tree?
Call your vet first. PDSA says a flea problem means treating your pets and your home, and warns that some household flea sprays and dog flea products are dangerous to cats.