Kyoto Ascent Cat Tree

The Kyoto Ascent cat tree is built from Japanese oak using udzukuri, a traditional woodworking technique that brushes the grain to create subtle texture. The surface gives cats traction without being abrasive. Karimoku, a furniture manufacturer in Aichi Prefecture with over 80 years of heritage, produces each unit in their own facilities.

The scratching posts use cotton rope rather than sisal. Cotton produces less debris when scratched and carries no odor. The fabric-covered platforms are water-resistant, a practical concession to the realities of living with cats.

Designer Hiroshi Komiyama shaped the structure around feline movement patterns. The staggered platforms accommodate jumping and climbing at angles that cats find instinctive. At 124cm tall, the height suits most cats through their senior years without requiring ceiling mounting.

The frame comes in five colorways, including smoked oak finished using a urethane technique that replicates Danish fumigation methods from the 1950s. The walnut option uses one of the three woods traditionally classified as global prestige timber.
Some limitations worth noting: the 15kg total weight capacity means this works best for one or two average-sized cats. The cotton rope will eventually need replacing, though Karimoku sells the parts separately.

The Kyoto Ascent received an iF Design Award in 2020. It ships assembled with a single hex wrench.