Etsy Keywords, Tags & SEO Guide for selling cat furniture

Understanding Your Ideal Target Customer

Before you dive into keywords, you need to understand who your target customer, including their needs, desires, and the language they use. Because when you know what they are looking for, you can target them with the same keywords that they would use in Etsy search. Here’s a closer look at your typical customer in the cat furniture niche:

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The typical customer for cat furniture is a dedicated "cat parent" who values their pet's health and happiness, and is looking for products that provide enrichment while also fitting into their home's aesthetic.

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What problems are they trying to solve or desires are they trying to fulfill when searching for cat furniture products?

Their indoor cat is bored or displaying destructive behaviors like scratching the sofa. They are seeking a solution that provides vertical climbing space and an appropriate outlet for natural scratching instincts to keep their cat stimulated and their own furniture safe.

This can lead them to search for terms like: cat tree for large cats with scratching post

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They dislike the look of traditional, bulky, carpeted cat trees and want furniture that complements their modern, minimalist, or stylish home decor. They are also often looking for clever ways to hide an unsightly litter box.

This can lead them to search for terms like: modern wood cat wall furniture

cat furniture is a pretty competitive niche with high demand and high competition, so it's important to use long-tail keywords to niche down and have a better chance of ranking on Etsy.

Top 10 Broad Keywords for cat furniture Sellers

Core keywords (also known as short-tail keywords) are the broad, popular terms that describe your main products. While they often have very high search volume and competition, they are the starting points for you to build your long-tail keywords for the next steps.

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Here are 10 popular broad keywords for the cat furniture market:

Cat Furniture

This is the broadest, all-encompassing keyword for the category. It's a foundational term for attracting customers at the beginning of their search for any type of product for their cat's environment.

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Cat Tree

A massive, high-volume keyword for the most common type of cat furniture. This is an essential term for any seller of multi-level climbing structures.

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Cat Scratching Post

This targets a fundamental need of every cat owner. It's a problem-solving keyword for customers looking specifically to redirect their cat's scratching behavior away from their own furniture.

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Cat Wall Furniture

A key term for the growing trend of vertical, wall-mounted enrichment. It attracts buyers in apartments or homes who want to maximize their cat's territory without sacrificing floor space.

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Litter Box Enclosure

This is a powerful, high-intent keyword for customers trying to solve a specific problem: hiding an unsightly litter pan. It signals a functional, decorative piece of furniture.

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Modern Cat Furniture

This is a major aesthetic keyword that targets design-conscious pet owners. It differentiates your products from traditional carpeted towers and attracts a premium customer.

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Cat Shelves

This term is searched by customers looking for individual components or full sets of wall-mounted perches. It's a core keyword for the cat "superhighway" trend.

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Cat Bed

A fundamental keyword for a core comfort item. It has a huge search volume and is often modified by terms related to size, style, or features like "heated" or "orthopedic."

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Cat Tower

Very similar to "Cat Tree," using this term helps capture a wider range of search queries. It often implies a taller, more vertical structure.

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Cat Condo

This popular term describes an enclosed hideaway, whether as a standalone piece or as part of a larger cat tree. It appeals to a cat's natural desire for secure, den-like spaces.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for cat furniture

While core keywords are important, long-tail keywords are how you can really get found on Etsy. These are longer, more specific phrases (usually 2-5 words) that buyers use when they have a clearer idea of what they want or are closer to making a purchase. They often have lower search volume than broad keywords but higher conversion rates because they target a more specific need.

How to Brainstorm Your Long-Tail Keywords

A systematic way to build long-tail keywords is by adding descriptive modifiers to your broad keywords. Here are the modifiers I recommend:

Style/Aesthetic Long-Tail Keywords

mid century modern cat tree
minimalist wood cat furniture
bohemian wicker cat bed
farmhouse style litter box cabinet
gothic coffin cat scratcher

Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords

new kitten welcome home gift
cat lover housewarming present
cat birthday gift box
cat bed for 3 cats
calming cat bed for anxious cats

Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords

cat furniture for large cats like maine coons
cat tree for small apartments
wall shelves for active kittens
cat steps for senior cats with arthritis
gift for a cat mom

Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords

File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords

solid wood cat tower with natural sisal
bent plywood modern cat lounger
soft sherpa fleece cat cave bed
handwoven wicker cat basket
natural branch real wood cat tree

Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords

handcrafted wooden cat house
crochet cat cave bed
welded industrial pipe cat shelves
laser cut plywood cat furniture
handwoven macrame cat hammock

Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords

modular cat wall furniture set
floor to ceiling tension pole cat tree
cat tree with integrated food bowls
machine washable cat bed cover
litter box enclosure with odor control

Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords

cactus cat scratching post
mushroom cat tree condo
castle themed cat tower for large cats
flower shaped cat bed
space rocket ship cat house

Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords

tall skinny cat tower for small spaces
corner cat tree with multiple levels
extra large cat bed for two cats
cat steps for getting on high bed
wide cat window perch for large cats

Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords

cat scratching furniture protector for couch
cat tree for heavy cats over 20 lbs
litter box cabinet to stop dog from eating
window perch for indoor cat entertainment
cat ramp for older cats with joint pain

To speed up the process and get even more relevant long-tail keyword ideas, consider using SEO research tools like Alura which you can get a big similar keyword list with information like estimated search volume and demand. Their free plan is pretty generous and you can sign up for free here.

Analysing Best Selling Listing Titles

One of the best ways to improve your Etsy SEO strategy is to see what's working for other successful sellers. By analysing best selling listings, you can gain valuable insights into what effective keywords they use, and how they structure the titles, so that you can apply to your own listings as well.

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Let's look at the listing titles from two cat furniture bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

28"x10" Two cats? No problem!_Cat Window Perch_Sturdy-Safe support legs_Installed 1 minute_No tools No nails_Cat Window Shelf_Cat Lover Gift by TheNamu

This title is exceptionally effective because it leads with solutions and benefits, not just keywords. Phrases like "Two cats? No problem!" and "Installed 1 minute_No tools No nails" directly address common customer concerns and pain points. It clearly states the product ("Cat Window Perch," "Cat Window Shelf") and highlights key selling points ("Sturdy-Safe support legs") to build immediate trust and appeal to buyers who want a simple, reliable solution.

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

Bungalow Cat House,Modern Cat House, Indoor cat Castle, Cat Furniture, Extra Large Cat House, Cat Bed, by SeventeenDesign17

This title succeeds by stacking multiple high-value keywords that describe the product from different angles. It starts with a specific style ("Bungalow Cat House") and aesthetic ("Modern"), then adds a whimsical, appealing term ("Indoor cat Castle"). Including "Extra Large Cat House" targets a specific customer need, while broader terms like "Cat Furniture" and "Cat Bed" ensure it appears in a wide range of related searches.

Click here to see more Etsy bestseller title inspirations

How to Use Keywords to Optimise Your Etsy Listings

Now that you have a list of descriptive long-tail keywords for your cat furniture, let's see how we can use them to optimise your Etsy listings.

How to Craft Highly Descriptive, Keyword-Rich Titles

Your listing title can make-or-break your Etsy SEO. Write your long-tail keywords to be highly descriptive. For example, compare these two:

Okay Title: Wood Cat Tree

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Better Title: Modern Cat Tree, Wooden Cat Tower for Large Cats, Minimalist Plywood Cat Furniture, Pet Lover Gift

Then put your strongest, most descriptive keyword in the front. Separate each long-tail keyword with symbols like commas or dashes so that the title is easy to read.

Use All 13 Tags with Specific, Long-Tail Keywords

Tags are another important place to tell the Etsy algorithm what your product is about. Use all 13 tags for your listings.

Focus on specific, long-tail keyword phrases
Tags have a 20-character limit
While it's ok for some broad keywords to appear in multiple tags, try to use a wide variety of descriptive terms across your 13 tags

Find Accurate Attributes & Categories

When you list a product on Etsy, you'll select a category and then be prompted to fill out attributes specific to that category (e.g., colour, material, size, occasion). These are just as important for SEO and helping buyers find your items through Etsy's filters.

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Be thorough and fill out as many relevant attributes as possible and be accurate for your product category.

Write Description for Shoppers & Etsy search algorithm

Etsy now uses keywords in your listing description for SEO. What I recommend to Etsy seller is to write compelling short paragraph (1-3 sentences) at the very beginning of your listing description that naturally include 3-5 relavant long-tail keywords for the product. Clearly communicate what the product is, its key features, and the benefits it offers the customer.

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Let's look at some listing description examples for cat furniture:

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Listing Description Example 01

Provide your cat with the ultimate lookout spot with our sturdy cat window perch, the perfect sunbathing and bird-watching station. This cozy window seat attaches securely in seconds with no tools required, providing a safe and elevated space for your curious cat. It's the ideal piece of cat furniture to enrich your indoor cat's environment without taking up valuable floor space.

Listing Description Example 02

Transform your wall into a feline paradise with our modular cat wall shelves, designed for climbing, lounging, and play. Handcrafted from solid, furniture-grade pine, this cat wall furniture allows you to create a custom "cat superhighway" that satisfies your cat's natural instinct to be up high. The modern, floating design is a stylish addition to any room and a fantastic space-saver for smaller homes.

Listing Description Example 03

Disguise your cat's litter box in plain sight with our elegant litter box enclosure, a functional piece of modern cat furniture. This stylish cabinet keeps the litter pan hidden, reduces litter tracking, and helps contain odors, all while doubling as a chic end table or plant stand. Give your cat the privacy they deserve and your home the clean, cohesive look you desire.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for cat furniture

Keyword research is an ongoing process. I recommend these 6 ways to find effective long-tail keywords for your listings:

Etsy Search Bar

Start typing your core keywords into Etsy's search bar and pay close attention to the auto-suggestions that appear (guide here). These are real searches from actual Etsy shoppers.

Competitor Research

Look at the titles of listings that rank on page 1 (especially those with "Bestseller" badges). Don't copy directly, but use their keyword choices as inspiration for terms you might have missed.

Your Own Shop Stats

Your shop stats show you the exact search terms shoppers used to find your listings. Pay special attention to those that you are not directly targeting, and consider targeting them in listing titles.

Alura

One of my favourite Etsy keyword research tools. Alura speeds up the process of giving you a list of related popular keywords, and analyse which ones are the best for you.

eRank

Another popular tool among Etsy sellers, eRank offers robust keyword tools, trend analysis, grading your current listings, and checking keyword strength.

Everbee

Another great keyword research tool. I especially love Everbee's Chrome extension that shows you the estimated search volume directly on Etsy.

Your cat furniture Etsy SEO Checklist

Phew, that's a lot of information. Let's do a little recap:

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Understand My Customer: Do I understand my target customer and their primary search motivations?
Core Keyword Research: Have I identified the top core keywords for the cat furniture niche?
Long-Tail Keywords: Have I brainstormed a diverse list of long-tail keywords using various modifiers?
Ongoing Etsy SEO: Am I using at least 2-3 methods (from Section 7) to regularly find new keyword opportunities for cat furniture?
Optimised Titles: Are my listing titles highly descriptive, front-loaded with strong keywords?
Maximised Tags: Am I using all 13 tags with specific, long-tail phrases?
Compelling Descriptions: Does the opening paragraph of my listing descriptions naturally include 3-5 important keywords and clearly state benefits/features?
Analyse & Improve: Am I reviewing my Etsy stats and competitor listings in the cat furniture niche regularly to improve my SEO strategy?