How to Clean a Cat Tree and Scratching Posts

A cat tree gets used every day: your cat sleeps on the platforms, scratches the posts, sheds into the carpet covering and now and then brings up a hairball on the top perch. Because most cat trees are part carpet, part natural fiber and part wood board, one cleaning method does not fit the whole thing. Water that is fine for a board can ruin a sisal post. This guide covers each part, plus what to do about urine, vomit and smells.

It follows the cleaning guide of the cat furniture maker Catit for its Vesper cat trees, and Humane World for Animals on pet stains and odors. Check the instructions for your own cat tree first, since materials differ between makers.

What a cat tree is made of

• Sisal or seagrass: the rope or woven fiber on scratching posts and mats.
• Carpet or faux fur: glued over the posts, platforms and condos on many cat trees.
• Wood or MDF boards: bare, painted or laminated, on more modern designs.
• Removable fabric parts: cushions, hammocks, hideaways and covers.

Routine cleaning: every week

1. Vacuum the whole tree, top to bottom, with a brush attachment and a crevice tool for the corners and the inside of condos. Catit recommends vacuuming both the cat tree and the room it sits in regularly.
2. Pull hair out of carpet and fur covering with a damp rubber glove or a lint roller, then vacuum again.
3. Wipe the boards with a microfiber cloth.
4. Shake out removable cushions and hammocks outdoors.
5. Check the posts and platforms for loose rope, wobbly parts and wet or smelly spots.

Sisal and seagrass scratching posts

Catit says its scratching posts and mats are made of natural seagrass or sisal and, because these plant fibers are naturally absorbent, you should never clean them using water. Use a vacuum cleaner to clear away dust and dirt instead. If a post does get damp or wet, Catit advises acting fast and blowing it completely dry with a hairdryer on the cold setting.

• Vacuum along the rope and use a stiff dry brush to lift hair and bits of claw sheath out of the fibers.
• Do not soak, steam or spray a sisal post. A damp post dries slowly from the inside.
• Keep the tree out of humid rooms. Catit advises against placing its cat trees in a bathroom, kitchen, patio or laundry room, and recommends airing the room regularly, but not when it is wet outside.

Mold on a post

Catit says that if you spot mold on a scratching post, the affected post has to be removed, because there is no way to get rid of the mold that is both effective and safe for your cat. The rest of the tree can be cleaned as usual, and many makers, Catit included, sell replacement posts.

Carpet-covered platforms and condos

• Hair: vacuum, then drag a slightly damp rubber glove across the carpet in one direction to pull hair into clumps, and vacuum again.
• Small spots: blot with a cloth barely dampened with water and a little mild dish soap, then blot with a clean damp cloth. Use as little liquid as possible: the carpet is glued over wood or cardboard tubes, which can swell or come unglued if they get soaked.
• Dry it fully before your cat uses it again, with a fan or a hairdryer on the cold setting, and keep the cleaner off any sisal next to it.

Wood and laminate boards

For its MDF boards with a laminate finish, Catit’s method is to sweep dust off with a microfiber cloth and, for a more thorough clean, lightly scrub with a damp, non-abrasive sponge and a non-toxic cleaning agent such as dish soap, keeping the scratching posts and mats from getting wet. Then wipe the boards dry with a clean cloth.

Cushions, hammocks and hideaways

Catit’s instructions for removable fabric parts are to hand wash them in warm water with your regular laundry detergent, follow the instructions on the label, and make sure every part is completely dry before reattaching it. Some other makers’ covers can go in the washing machine, so check the label. Shake or lint roll the hair off first; see pet hair and odor in the washing machine and dryer.

Hairballs and vomit

1. Pick up solids with a paper towel or a plastic scraper, without pushing them into the carpet.
2. Blot the spot with a barely damp cloth, working from the outside in.
3. Treat the stain and smell with an enzymatic cleaner labeled safe for carpet, using a small amount. Humane World for Animals recommends enzymatic cleaners for pet stains because they break down pet waste odors.
4. Dry it completely before your cat climbs back up.

On a sisal post, scrape off what you can and let it dry, then brush the rest out. If the stain or smell stays, replacing the post is usually the only fix. For vomit on the floor around the tree, see how to clean pet vomit from carpet.

Urine on a cat tree

Urine is the hardest problem on a cat tree, because it soaks through carpet into the glued wood or tube underneath, and into sisal, which Catit says should never be cleaned with water.

1. Find every spot. A UV black light in a dark room shows dried urine on posts, platforms and the floor under the base. See how to find pet urine with a black light.
2. Removable parts: wash cushions and covers as the label says, then treat any lingering smell with an enzymatic cleaner.
3. Carpeted platforms: blot, then apply an enzymatic cleaner labeled safe for carpet, enough to reach as deep as the urine went, and let it work for the time on the label. Dry it fully.
4. Sisal posts and badly soaked platforms: if the smell comes back after drying, replace the post or the platform if your maker sells parts. A tree that still smells of urine invites the cat to go there again.
5. Clean the floor under the tree as well; see our cat urine smell guide.

If urine is sprayed on the posts or the sides of the tree, it may be marking; our guide to cat spraying on walls and furniture covers it. If your cat suddenly starts urinating outside the litter box, talk to your veterinarian, since it can have a medical cause.

What not to use

• Water, steam or carpet shampoo on sisal or seagrass. Catit says never to clean these fibers with water.
• Ammonia and vinegar on urine spots. Humane World for Animals advises avoiding them, because strong chemical smells may encourage a pet to mark the same spot again.
• Strongly scented cleaners and air fresheners. Your cat sleeps on the tree with its nose on the surface. Mild soap and an unscented enzyme product are better.
• Abrasive pads and harsh chemicals on laminate and painted boards. Follow each product label and never mix bleach with ammonia or acids.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit has gloves, an enzyme odor product, an absorbent powder and a UV black light in one pouch, so you can find and treat a spot on the cat tree before it soaks in. Check the label for which materials each product suits, and test it on a hidden spot first.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wash a sisal scratching post?

Catit says no: sisal and seagrass are naturally absorbent, so it advises never cleaning its scratching posts with water. Vacuum and brush them instead, and if a post gets wet, dry it straight away with a hairdryer on the cold setting.

How do I get the urine smell out of a cat tree?

Wash removable parts, treat carpeted areas with an enzymatic cleaner labeled for carpet and dry them fully. Sisal posts that soaked up urine usually need replacing if the smell comes back.

How often should I clean a cat tree?

Vacuum it weekly, deal with hairballs, vomit and accidents right away, and wash removable cushions and hammocks as their labels say.

Can I steam clean a cat tree?

Not the sisal or seagrass parts, which Catit says to keep dry. Steam and a lot of water can also loosen the glue under carpet coverings. Check your maker’s instructions before using steam on any part.

Sources

• Catit: Catit Vesper furniture cleaning guide
• Humane World for Animals: How to remove pet stains and odors

This guide is general cleaning information. Follow your cat tree maker’s instructions and the product label, and test cleaners on a hidden area first.