SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber Review
SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber
$70
Pros
- Great for climbing & scratching
- Multi-cat friendly
- Space-saving design
- Affordable
Cons
- Not ideal for large cats
- Difficult to assemble
- Carpet doesn't last long
- Noisy
- Not very stable
Summary
The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is a novel, space-saving alternative to a bulky cat tree. Whether you hang it on your door or decide to mount it to a wall, these affordable cat shelves are worth consideration.
Specifications
The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber attaches to any standard door using a spring-loaded bracket system. This is a non-permanent installation that can easily be moved from door to door. Four wooden shelves that are covered in thin carpet are staggered to provide vertical climbing territory for your cat. A 6” wide sisal scratching post makes up the backbone of this shelving system. Mounting hardware is included.
Overall Dimensions: 23.5″L x 9″W x 80″H
Shelf Dimensions: 17″L x 9″W
Spacing Between Shelves: 14”
Item Weight: 30 pounds
Assembly
With only 9 pieces to assemble, it might not seem like much effort will be involved. But assembling the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is not a small task for one person. We definitely recommend having 2 people, as it can be rather tricky to balance 3 pieces at a time while tightening screws. There are several YouTube videos online that are more helpful than the actual instructions. Before arbitrarily picking a direction for your first shelf, make sure you figure out where the door handle will hit and work backwards from there. Remember to tighten everything at the end.
A lot of owners have been dissatisfied with the stability of these cat shelves on a door and have resorted to mounting the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber to a wall. We’ve seen several installations of the Cat Climber on walls and we think this tweak is a great idea. Even with the additional effort required to make this alteration, it is still more cost effective than most cat shelving options.
Appearance
The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber might not be the most modern-looking piece of furniture in your home, but its clean lines and wooden accents ensure that it will blend it fairly well. One of the most appealing aspects of the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is its unobtrusiveness. In a small apartment, the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber can take the place of a cat tree, cat shelves, and a cat scratcher. So this Cat Climber might be the perfect solution for the minimalist cat owner.
Cat-Friendliness
We know that most cats love being up high and they love to scratch. The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber does more than your average cat shelf. This Cat Climber provides multiple levels to climb and several high-quality sisal surfaces to scratch.
The size of the shelves is adequate for climbing, but might be too narrow for lounging. The spacing between the shelves and the amount that they overlap each other might make the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber difficult to maneuver for a larger-sized cat. Some owners have complained that their cats have difficulty turning around at the top to come back down the shelves.
Another common complaint is with the stability of these cat shelves on the door. But we’ve also seen 4 very happy cats enjoying each shelf of the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber simultaneously. So the stability is probably less of a concern for your cat than the rattling noise. So make sure to put a cork or piece of cardboard behind the climber to minimize any noise.
Quality
Similar to our top-rated SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post, the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is made of high-quality wood and sisal scratching surfaces. However, the thin carpet that covers the shelves isn’t quite on par with the level of quality we’ve come to expect from SmartCat products. Overall, the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is a well-made, durable piece of furniture that should last several years.
Pros
- Quality sisal scratching posts
- Novel, space-saving design
- Great for climbing
- Multi-cat friendly
- Affordable
Cons
- Too small for large cats
- Low quality carpet on steps
- Not very stable
- Noisy
- Assembly requires 2 people
Summary / Recommendations
The SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is an affordable cat shelving and cat scratching solution for small to average-sized cats. Due to the confined configuration of the shelves, the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber might not be suitable for large or obese cats. With that being considered, the SmartCat Multi-Level Cat Climber is very popular in multi-cat homes with space constraints.
