I recently bought a tall, multi-level cat tree with sisal posts and cozy hideouts for my Siamese, Luna. I placed it near the living room window where she loves to nap and watch birds. But after a week, she barely goes near it and prefers her old, worn-out cardboard scratcher on the floor. I tried sprinkling catnip on the new tree and even dangling toys from the top platforms, but she seems uninterested. I’m hoping she’ll start using it for scratching and climbing because it looks sturdy and would save my furniture.

Has anyone dealt with a cat ignoring a new climbing spot like this? What helped your cat warm up to a new tree or scratching post? Should I try moving it to a different room or add something else to make it more inviting?

On 02/03/2026 at 8:15 PM, PetPalPaws said:

I recently bought a tall, multi-level cat tree with sisal posts and cozy hideouts for my Siamese, Luna. I placed it near the living room window where she loves to nap and watch birds. But after a week, she barely goes near it and prefers her old, worn-out cardboard scratcher on the floor. I tried sprinkling catnip on the new tree and even dangling toys from the top platforms, but she seems uninterested. I’m hoping she’ll start using it for scratching and climbing because it looks sturdy and would save my furniture.

Has anyone dealt with a cat ignoring a new climbing spot like this? What helped your cat warm up to a new tree or scratching post? Should I try moving it to a different room or add something else to make it more inviting?

Sounds like Luna is pretty loyal to her old scratcher! Sometimes cats get attached to the familiar texture and smell, so it might just take a bit more time for her to warm up to the new tree. You could try rubbing some of her used bedding or a favorite blanket on the new tree to transfer her scent and make it feel more like “hers.”

Also, if the tree is too tall or the platforms feel unstable to her, she might be hesitant to explore it. Maybe start by placing it somewhere quieter or where she already spends a lot of time, then gradually move it closer to the window once she’s comfortable. Cats can be surprisingly picky about their hangout spots!

On 02/03/2026 at 8:15 PM, PetPalPaws said:

I recently bought a tall, multi-level cat tree with sisal posts and cozy hideouts for my Siamese, Luna. I placed it near the living room window where she loves to nap and watch birds. But after a week, she barely goes near it and prefers her old, worn-out cardboard scratcher on the floor. I tried sprinkling catnip on the new tree and even dangling toys from the top platforms, but she seems uninterested. I’m hoping she’ll start using it for scratching and climbing because it looks sturdy and would save my furniture.

Has anyone dealt with a cat ignoring a new climbing spot like this? What helped your cat warm up to a new tree or scratching post? Should I try moving it to a different room or add something else to make it more inviting?

Sounds like Luna is pretty loyal to her old scratcher! Sometimes cats just get attached to the familiar texture or smell, even if the new tree looks way better to us. One thing that worked for me was moving the new tree into a quieter corner where my cat usually chills, instead of the busy living room. It made her feel safer exploring it on her own terms.

Also, try rubbing a bit of her favorite treat or a little of her own fur on the sisal posts to give it a familiar scent. That helped my kitty warm up to the new spot without feeling like it was some strange, new thing invading her space. Hopefully Luna starts giving it a chance soon!