Why Cats Love High Places: Understanding Your Cat’s Instinct to Climb
If you’ve ever found your cat perched on top of the fridge, bookcase, or even your wardrobe, you’re not alone. Cats loving high places isn’t just quirky behaviour—it’s instinctual. In the wild and at home, higher spots offer safety, control, and a perfect lookout post. Let’s explore what vertical territory means to your feline friend and how you can create a sky-high haven that keeps them healthy, happy, and purring contentedly.
What Is Vertical Territory?
Vertical territory refers to the elevated spaces that cats claim as part of their environment. Unlike dogs, cats are true climbers. In the wild, felines scale trees to hunt, hide or rest. Your companion might not need to escape predators, but their inner wildcat still seeks out higher ground.
In multi-cat homes, vertical spaces become even more vital, helping reduce tension and allowing cats to claim their own perches. Creating well-defined layers of space can prevent conflicts and promote a more peaceful home.
Why Do Cats Prefer High Places?
It all comes down to instincts, confidence, and comfort. Here’s why high places feel like the purr-fect spot:
- Safety and control: They offer a great vantage point to survey their environment for threats—or more likely, the zoomy dog.
- Warmth: Heat rises, and cats love cosy spaces, especially during cooler Kiwi months.
- Alone time: High spots let cats escape noise, young children, or other pets when they need a break.
- Exercise and enrichment: Climbing and jumping helps keep your cat fit, flexible, and mentally stimulated.
Understanding and respecting your cat’s need for vertical territory is a key part of a behaviourally enriching home. At Petdirect, we say it all the time: We Get Pet.
How To Create Safe Climbing Spaces At Home
Giving your cat access to vertical territory doesn’t require a full home reno. These easy ideas will help your feline find new heights indoors:
- Cat trees and towers: Create dedicated climbing zones with sturdy, multi-level furniture like scratching posts and cat towers.
- Window perches and shelves: Install window seats or cat shelves near natural light for sunbathing and neighbourhood watch duty.
- Cat wall furniture: Wall-mounted steps and bridges offer your cat a path to higher vantage points without sacrificing floor space.
- Raised beds and hideaways: Choose elevated cat bedding to give your kitty a comfortable window top view.
Always make sure furniture or shelves are secure and appropriate for your cat’s weight and jumping ability to avoid tumbles.
The Benefits Of Climbing For Cats
Catering to your cat’s climbing instincts offers heaps of benefits for their wellbeing, such as:
- Reduced stress and boredom, especially for indoor cats
- Better joint health and flexibility with regular low-impact movement
- Healthy weight management through natural activity
If your cat needs extra support with mobility or anxiety, you might explore calming care essentials or joint support supplements designed just for cats.
Top Tips To Encourage Vertical Exploration
Want to invite your cat to climb (without scaling your curtains)? Try these fun ways to encourage vertical play:
- Use toys: Dangle interactive toys and wands from top levels of cat trees to guide your cat upwards.
- Treat trails: Pop some natural cat treats on different tiers to reward climbing or create a climbing path.
- Windows with a view: A good lookout with bird activity can become a daily point of interest.
Just like us, cats enjoy variety. Swap climbing toys, relocate trees, or change up shelf setups regularly to keep things fresh and mentally stimulating.
Vertical Territory: A Key To Feline Happiness
Your cat’s love of high places isn’t random—it’s in their nature. By honouring their need for height and choice, you’re giving them a safer, less stressful environment and a richer daily routine. Whether it’s a multi-level cat tower or a sunny window ledge, enriched vertical territory is a simple way to say “I understand you” in feline language.
At Petdirect, we know that every cat needs their own corner of the sky. Explore our range of cat furniture and accessories to help your curious climber reach new heights—tail wags and happy purrs guaranteed.
PS: Join our Pet Perks Loyalty Programme to earn rewards while you shop for the things your cat loves most!