What can I use instead of a cat tree?

You can provide climbing, resting, hiding and scratching through several separate items rather than one combined tree. Depending on your home, that might include an appropriately installed shelf, a secure low perch, a roomy bed and a stable scratching surface. The alternative still needs to be safe for the cat's size and the way it moves. Ordinary furniture is not automatically suitable for jumping, especially if it can tip or holds fragile objects. Check access and descent as well as the top resting area.

A cardboard box can offer a simple hiding place at ground level, but it is not a structural substitute for an elevated platform. Think in terms of the activities being provided, then identify any gaps. This approach can suit limited space or a cat that ignores complex towers while still enjoying individual resting and scratching choices. Map each alternative to a need: a bed supplies rest, a scratcher supplies stretching, and neither alone creates an elevated lookout or a hiding place.