Do plush-carpet cat trees hold up better than wood ones?

It depends on the trade-off you want. Verified-purchase and community reviewers report carpeted towers are cozier and cheaper but that the carpet sheds and shows wear over a few years. Wood and rattan 'modern' trees photograph better in a living room and avoid carpet shedding, but reviewers note they tend to cost far more, sometimes offer less padding, and a few have been flagged for wobble.