This post is in collaboration with Mau, who provided their Ivy cat tree in exchange for my honest review and experience using their product.
Aesthetic cat furniture has come a long way, and Mau is one of the brands raising the bar. From sculptural cat trees to modern sidetables, their pieces are undeniably beautiful. But are they actually worth the price?
If you’ve been eyeing the Ivy 4-tier cat tree, here are my honest thoughts after living with it in my bedroom. (Spoiler: one of my cats practically lives in it, while the other couldn’t care less.)
What We Love
- Safe and enriching climbing environment for cats
- It’s genuinely beautiful — a cat tree that’s visually calming
- Cat-approved — Luna uses it constantly
Why Cats Need Cat Trees
Cat trees are more than just furniture or a luxury, because cats see the world vertically. Giving them vertical space is a core part of how they navigate their environment, feel safe, and stave off boredom.
A well-placed cat tree gives your cat a chance to climb, observe from above, and claim their territory through scent soaking all in one structure. It’s one of the simplest ways we can help them thrive indoors.
Ivy Cat Tree Features
The Ivy cat tree has a solid wood base, a curved pole wrapped in sisal rope, and four baskets with removable faux fur cushions. The tree comes in two color ways, Cotton White and Bullet Gray. We chose the Cotton White.
Dimensions:
At 73” tall (roughly 6ft) the Ivy is a tall cat tree. The square base is pretty solid, weighing about 10-15 lbs. roughly with a width of 23” (almost 2 ft).
Each basket is roughly 17.5” wide giving an average sized cat plenty of room to lounge and curl up.
Installation
Unboxing the Ivy felt like opening a high-end piece of home decor, not cat furniture. Installation took maybe 30 minutes. Once it was upright, I honestly just stood there for a moment and admired it. With the late afternoon sun streaming in and basking my cats in light, it was like something out of a film or a dream.
The Ivy, with its sculptural curves and natural woven baskets, felt like a piece of art that just happened to also be for my cats.
I’ve admired Mau’s designs for a long time, they make cat furniture that feels like they belong in your home’s design rather than an afterthought. When they offered to gift me the Ivy, I was already sold on the aesthetics, but I still wanted to know if they really functioned for our cat's needs as well.
Luna and Leon would be the true test of the cat-friendly furniture.
My Cat’s Reactions
Luna: She loves spending time with me and is always nearby, whether it’s when I’m winding down at night, or getting up in the morning. Now that we have the Ivy in our bedroom you can find Luna sleeping peacefully there. She even spends some of her afternoons there while I’m working. When I say my cat lives in this cat tree, that’s an understatement.
Luna adores attacking the pom poms when she’s feeling frisky. I do wish they were a little longer for her, but they do stretch so she can grab and then they spring away from her, which I think adds to the fun. They also have a little bell that rings that I think excites her more.
Leon: On the other hand, Leon, doesn’t use this cat tree at all. It wobbles a bit on the higher levels and I think that makes him feel insecure about it. The wobble doesn’t seem to bother Luna, she’ll even get up in the higher tier but usually prefers the lower 3. I think that’s why Mau came up with the Ivy 3, which is shorter with only 3 levels. The reason I preferred the original Ivy is that I plan to add cat shelves to the bedroom and want this to be a part of the cat highway eventually.
F.A.Q
How stable is Mau’s Ivy cat tree?
I’d rate the stability 8/10.It has some wobble since it only connects at the base, and that can be a dealbreaker for more cautious cats. Mau gets it so they offer a 45-day trial with free shipping and returns. If your cat is on the fence, you’ve got a backup plan.
Can it support large or heavy cats?
Mau says up to 18 lbs. My 14 lb cat uses it fine, but it does wobble a bit on the top tiers. Larger or heavier cats might be better suited to a tree with multiple support points.
Is it easy to clean and maintain?
Yep. The faux fur cushions are machine-washable (on cold, no detergent). You can put it in the dryer, but I let mine air dry and fluffed it with a brush and it looked good as new. The baskets can be wiped clean, and Mau sells replacement parts if anything gets damaged.
What does Mau’s Ivy cost and is it worth it?
At the timing of writing this post, the Ivy retails for $399.00.
Some may find that quite an investment, but for the quality of this tree and how tall it is, in my opinion, you get your money’s worth.
Where to buy the Ivy cat tree?
The Ivy can be purchased through their website and on Amazon.
Is it worth it?
The Ivy is a piece that brings your cats comfort and helps you love your space more. That’s worth something.
That said, it’s not the perfect fit for every cat or person. If your cat is very large, anxious about movement, they might skip the top tiers (like Leon does). But for loungers, perch-lovers, or window gazers? This tree’s a dream.
And if you’re someone who wants cat furniture that enhances your space, not competes with it, that’s where the Ivy truly shines.
Best For:
- Single-cat households (or low-conflict duos)
- Cats under 18lbs
- Cats who enjoy cozy, enclosed spots to nap
- Small spaces where verticality matters
- Those with minimalist, modern home decor styles
Not Ideal For:
- Very large or heavy cats (especially for the top tiers)
- Cats who are sensitive to wobble or instability
- Multi-cat households with resource-guarding issues
- People looking for budget-friendly or utilitarian options
- Cats who prefer open platforms over baskets or enclosed nooks
Quick Recap:
Ease of Installation: ★★★★★
Style & Aesthetic: ★★★★★
Stability: ★★★★☆
Cat Approval: ★★★★★
Value for Money: ★★★★☆
Would I recommend it? Yes, especially for cat guardians who want something functional yet aesthetically pleasing.
Why Choose Mau’s Ivy?
Choosing the right cat tree for you and your cat is a very personal decision. My hope is that this post helped you in making that decision.
Not every cat tree fits every cat. But for us personally, the Ivy brought calm and climb to our space in a way that made both me and my cat feel more at home.
If this tree isn’t quite right, Mau has other options that might be or you can check out our post on Omlet's modular tension pole cat tree. What matters most is giving your cat safe, enriching vertical space that helps them feel secure and happy to share your home.
